Public Beach
In the mood to build a sand castle? Visit the home-town Chazy Lake Beach on the North side of the Lake (off Route 374). Sun, swim and play on the life-guarded beach while enjoying a perfect view of the majestic Lyon Mountain. The Town of Dannemora provides Red Cross-certified lifeguards, who are on duty from 10:30 am until 6 pm daily. The Town also maintains playground equipment and picnic pavilions. For additional information about Chazy Lake Beach, contact the Town of Dannemora at 518-492-7541, ext. 2 or visit www.townofdannemora.com/chazy-lake-beach. On Google Maps, follow directions to “Chazy Lake Beach.”
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Lyon MountainAt 3,830 feet, Lyon Mountain stands sentry over the West side of Chazy Lake in the Chazy Highland Forest. Hikers can take the new 3.4-mile, well-maintained switch-back trail or the older and much steeper 2.5-mile creek bed trail. The new trail meets up with the old trail near the bald summit for a steep final ascent that is rewarded with a restored fire tower and 360 degree views – Montreal to the North, Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains to the East, the Adirondack High Peaks to the South, and the Canadian plains to the West.
From Chazy Lake, take Route 374 West to Route 29/Chazy Lake Road. Follow Chazy Lake Road for 1.7 miles, then turn right onto Lowenburg Road, a gravel road with no road sign. On Google Maps, follow directions to “Lyon Mountain Firetower Trailhead Parking.” |
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SailingThe Chazy Lake Sail Race Association is a “social club with a sailing problem”. Since its establishment 15 years ago, the club holds weekly races on Saturdays with socials frequently held at the Commodore’s Broken Mast Pub (where every day is smooth sailing) or at a member’s home. CLSRA members range from beginner to veteran sailors, with ages spanning three generations. Trophy races include the Great Magellan Challenge, Chazy Lake Regatta, and the Can-Am Platter. For more information, contact Christian Borger at [email protected] or phone 518-764-9581.
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Ice Fishing TournamentChazy Lake is home to the annual Reeling for Recovery Ice Fishing Tournament in February. All proceeds benefit the substance abuse prevention services of the Champlain Valley Family Center. The Tournament provides fun for all ages, including a Snow Shoe Race, Snow Sculpting Contest, Dog Sled Exhibit, a Kids Casting Contest, and a Lake History/Early Ice Fishing exhibit. For additional information, visit http://www.reeling4recovery.com/ or email [email protected].
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Pump House
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In 1931, New York State acquired a one-third-acre parcel of property on the northeastern shore of Chazy Lake for $1,130 from the Chazy Lake Realty Corporation.
Shortly thereafter, New York State hired a local contractor, John McCambley & Sons, to construct a stone, Elizabethan Revival-style, pump house on the newly acquired property. The original purpose of the pump house was to pump water a distance of seven miles over Dannemora Mountain to Clinton Prison and the Dannemora State Hospital. At the direction of New York State, John McCambley & Sons constructed a one-story, stone pump house with a steeply pitched slate roof. The building’s overall rectangular plan is accented by large gables that project from the north and south façades. The roof is also punctuated by gable-roof wall dormers, two on each of the north and south façades. The building’s beautiful stone walls are enhanced with a series of symmetrically placed windows. The land surrounding the pump house is owned by the Town of Dannemora. Still today, many decades later, hardly a day goes by without people picnicking, swimming, or taking a walk on the picturesque grounds of our beloved pump house. Recently, New York State stopped using the pump house as a source of water for the Clinton Prison. Since then, maintenance of the pump house has lapsed, but this well-built stone building still remains a viable structure and an important gateway to our past. |
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