Aldrich Pond Wild Forest
Managed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
244 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
–Not graded
Outdoors in Star Lake
17% of Star Lake’s land is conserved, and 96% of residents live within a half mile of a park
17% of Star Lake’s land is conserved, about 479 acres. 309 acres are parks and preserves, 433 per 1,000 residents. 0.4 miles of mapped trail cross Star Lake, 0.1 per square mile of land.
Conserved land
17%
479 acres · of 4.3 sq mi of land
Trails
0.4 mi
0.1 per sq mi of land
Park land
309 ac
433 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
96%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
4
2 beaches
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Five Ponds Wilderness
Nature preserve
170 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Who protects it
479 conserved acres
17% of Star Lake’s land. Water is left out: Star Lake has 4.3 square miles of land and 0.4 of water, so the share counts land only. Who manages Star Lake’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation418 ac
Town or city60 ac
Other or Unknown Local Government1 ac
State Conservation Area · 246 acState Wilderness · 171 acLocal Park · 60 acLocal Resource Management Area · 1 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. Public access isn’t recorded for 2 of 5 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldrich Pond Wild Forest State Conservation Area | State conservation | 246 | Open |
| Five Ponds Wilderness State Wilderness | State conservation | 171 | Open |
| Towns of Clifton & Fine Land Local Park | Town or city | 33 | Unknown |
| Town of Clifton Land Local Park | Town or city | 27 | Unknown |
| Fine Town Lands Local Resource Management Area | Other or Unknown Local Government | 1 | Open |
Things to do
2 places to go in Star Lake
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Star Lake
2 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Trails & water
4 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
2Baseball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Star Lake: May to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.5 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 27 | 29 | 38 | 52 | 66 | 74 | 77 | 76 | 69 | 56 | 43 | 32 |
| Rain (in) | 3.3 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 3.8 | 3.6 |
February is the driest month (2.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 77 °F). 4.9 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Star Lake →
Questions about parks and trails in Star Lake
Are dogs allowed on Star Lake’s trails?
Aldrich Pond Wild Forest and Five Ponds Wilderness don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Star Lake?
117,992 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Star Lake or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 480 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Star Lake neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →