About this spot
Bluff Island is a popular local jumping destination on Lower Saranac Lake featuring multiple jump options between 10 and 67 feet. Access is by watercraft only. All cliff heights and water depths have been verified using multiple methods including a height/depth gauge, depth meters, physics calculations based on video frame analysis, and photographic comparison to human figures (measurements rounded to the nearest foot). Video timestamps reference footage shot in 2008 showing various jump sites in the Saranac Lake and Wilmington area. Launch from Second Pond Boat Launch (44.287405, -74.184596), located 3.5 miles southwest of Saranac Lake village on Route 3. Travel north/northwest through First Pond and into Lower Saranac Lake. Bluff Island's cliffs become visible when facing north across the lake. For kayaks or canoes, dock on the island's western shore at 44.298153, -74.198935. Larger boats should anchor on the northern shore at 44.298356, -74.198581, where a day camp area with a picnic table is located. Mini-Bluff serves as a warm-up jump on the right side as you approach. This 10-15 foot jump has 10+ feet of water depth (coordinates 44.29783, -74.19894). Climb access is to the right of the cliff face. A well-established path heads east across the island to access the main cliff face, which faces south. Heading right from the top leads to Half Bluff (32 feet, 18-22 feet of water, coordinates 44.297546, -74.196998) and Upper-Half (40-45 feet, 18-22 feet of water, same coordinates). Heading left provides access to Bluff (63 feet, 18-22 feet of water, coordinates 44.297707, -74.196623) and Super Bluff (67 feet, 18-22 feet of water, same coordinates). The cliff face between these points offers intermediate 50-foot options. The main climb is located immediately left of Half Bluff as viewed from the water. An additional 14-foot jump exists north/northeast across the lake near Camp Guggenheim (44.31953, -74.175788) with 10+ feet of water depth, though reaching it by kayak requires considerable effort.