Kayaking Big Pond
Big Pond is one of the two larger ponds in the Catskills accessible to the public. Located in the Western Catskills, near Alder Pond, it has eight paddle in or hike in tent sites, and some pretty views.
I paddled in on August 17, 2010. These are the pictures I took paddling around the lake.
Night is Creeping Up on Me. I didn’t realize how quickly it got late at Big Pond, and I had even started dinner. To make matters worst, my white-gas lantern wouldn’t start, so I had to do everything by flash light.
Towards the Dam. On this valley fog morning.
Barkaboom Mountain Before Dawn. The early rays of sun have yet to hit it on this beautiful morning.
Fishermen. Out before the crack of dawn, dropping their line and testing their luck on Big Pond.
Light Hits Bank. The first rays hit the western bank of the lake, providing some of the greens of the day once again.
Sunrises. Through the fog as I’m paddling around the lake.
Fog is Burning Off. Along the Western Edge of the lake towards Barkaboom Mountain.
Rays of Sun. Sparkle down on the lake as it continues to clear on out.
Fishing. Man covers his eyes as he looks out across the water.
South. Looking down and across the lake as morning arrives.
Sunlight sparkles through the trees. Good Morning on Big Pond.
Barkaboom Mountain Reflects On the Lake.
Across the Lake. As I am making breakfast on this Sunday morning in the Catskills.
Inholding. While most of Big Pond is part of the Middle Mountain Wild Forest, about 200 feet of shore line is privately owned. The folks in the cabin where really friendly when they stopped by in their electric pontoon boat, but it did kind of wreck the scenic view especially from where I was camping.
Dogs Swimming in Big Pond. This is at one of the other campsites at Big Pond.
Big Pond, as seen from the Parking Area.
Here is a map of Big Pond. The inholding is not shown on this map, and the DEC land boundaries are incorrect, extending farther north then the map shows.
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I went to Camp Beaverkill with my cousins at Big Pond for a five summers back in the 1950s. We learned to swim, canoe, and camp on that beautiful lake. The view of that humpback mountain above the end of lake is indelibly etched in my mind’s eye. Some of us campers were able to swim the entire length of the lake along the shoreline. We were ten and eleven years old when we started going to Camp Beaverkill. Those were wonderful memorable summers – great times.