If you are thinking about visiting Red Lake near Theresa, New York, you will find details about the lake in this post that will help you plan your trip.
You will find out:
- How to get to Red Lake from Watertown and Fort Drum
- Where Red Lake is located and where to park to enjoy the lake
- What you can do at Red Lake
- Details about birdwatching and fishing at the lake
Where is New York’s Red Lake?
Red lake is a 366 acre lake located a few miles north of Theresa, New York. This lake is one of the many lakes located in Jefferson County, NY.
Red Lake is a relatively deep lake compared to other nearby lakes. The deepest part of the lake, due east of the boat launch, is about 47 feet, and the mean depth is about 27 feet.
This means that there is plenty of opportunity for boating and fishing a variety of species at this lake.
Interestingly, Red Lake is located near the settlement of Bartletts Corners, which you might miss while driving by, one of the oldest hamlets in Jefferson County.
How to get to Red Lake
Red Lake is a short drive from Theresa, New York, a small, quiet town off NY Hwy 26. Fittingly, all you need to do is follow Red Lake Road right from the center of the town of Theresa.
Red Lake is about 35 minutes away from Watertown, and the best route to get there from downtown Watertown is to go east on Hwy 37 towards Theresa.
If you are coming from Fort Drum area, Red Lake is about the same distance, except you will want to take US Hwy 11 to Dutch Settlement Road (Rt 46), and then connect with Hwy 37 towards Theresa.
If you aren’t familiar with the area, don’t worry. You can click the link below to open up Google Maps with the boat launch already entered in:
Open Google Maps to the Red Lake Boat Launch in Theresa, New York.
Where do you park at Red Lake?
There is a large public parking space a very short walk from the public boat launch on New York State property. It is a very beautiful parking area lots of shade and trees and beautiful views of the lake and nearby marshes.
During my visits to Red Lake, I observed several different bird species right from the parking lot. It is also usually a very quiet place to go to, so you won’t see too many crowds scaring off the birds and other animals.
Parking is free at Red Lake, NY.
Is there a beach at Red Lake, NY?
No, there is no beach at Red Lake, and swimming is not allowed on the Indian River Wildlife Management Area, which is where the boat launch is located.
Can you visit Red Lake New York in winter?
The Indian River Wildlife Management Area is open to the public year-round, but certain areas are not plowed or maintained during the winter. Roads maintained by the state or village of Theresa should usually be accessible, but you might have trouble getting to the boat launch.
By the middle of winter, there is usually a significant layer of snow on the ground in the area. However, it is possible to access the lake to go ice fishing:
Can you camp at Red Lake New NY?
There is no camping permitted on state property at Red Lake, which is also part of the Indian River Wildlife Management Area . There are many private campgrounds in the area, however.
Choosing a private campground near Theresa, NY would allow you easy access to Red Lake.
What can you do at Red Lake?
Red Lake is a great place for boating, fishing, birdwatching, and spotting New York’s native wildlife. It is a quiet, secluded lake.
Visiting Red Lake is a wonderful way to explore the Indian River Wildlife Management Area, a 966-acre area on the north shore of the lake and the nearby Indian River. This area was established to help protect the forest, swamps, and ecological systems of the area.
Is Red Lake a good place for bird watching?
Yes, Red Lake is a great place for watching birds. You are almost guaranteed to see many beautiful red-winged blackbirds, herons, turkey vultures, and many other species.
Northern New York is an excellent place to spot wildlife, especially birds, as there are close to 500 species that have been spotted in the state over the past year. Of course, not all of these birds can be seen in Jefferson County, but dozens of them might be spotted on occasion.
You are likely to find migratory species of birds during when the seasons change, and so I would recommend bringing your binoculars and a camera on your visit, especially in the spring.
What type of fish are in Red Lake NY?
Red Lake is a great place to catch Yellow Perch, Bass (both Largemouth and Smallmouth), Bluegill, Brown Bullhead Catfish, Nothern Pike, and Crappie.
You might even find Chain Pickerel (big enough to keep!) and Walleye!
You can fish from the boat launch area, which does have some shade trees nearby for a break from the sun, but according to people who fish the lake regularly, the best fishing is had in the middle of the lake. Of course, this means that the best fishing in Red Lake is from a boat.
Some bodies of water in New York do have special fishing regulations that people must follow in order to protect the populations of the species that we love to fish. Red Lake is subject to special regulations, as well as the general regulations that must be followed:
Is Red Lake connected to the Indian River?
Red Lake is connected to the Indian River, which is part of the Oswegatchie River watershed. There is direct access to Red Lake from the Indian River by boat.
Those who would prefer to launch their boat directly into the Indian River do not need to go far. There is a public access boat launch for the Indian River near the Red Lake boat launch.
To access the boat launch for the Indian River at Red Lake, instead of staying on Red Lake Road, veer to the left at Nelson Rd. You can click below to access the coordinates of the Indian River boat launch, also part of the Indian River Wildlife Management Area, below:
Conclusion
I hope that this post has helped you understand more about how to enjoy Red Lake on your next visit. New York has so much to offer in the form of outdoor adventures, and Red Lake is a very important part.
If you have visited Red Lake and have a tip on how to make the most of your visit, post a comment below!