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163 Tap Room, Lake George, New York (winter).jpg

Tyler A. McNeil · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lakes → New York → Lake George

Lake George

New York · Natural · near Lake George

28,200 acres 196 ft deep 30 ft clarity Water A

Compare

7.0SCORE

Survey summary · New York

28,200

Surface acres

196 ft

Max depth

109 mi

Shoreline

30 ft

Typical clarity

320 ft

Elevation

Arcade, Lake George, New York (winter).jpg

Photographs of Lake George via Wikimedia Commons. Credit and licence on each image — hover to view, click through to the source.

Lake George covers 28,200 acres in New York and drops to 196 feet at its deepest point. It is a natural lake, which generally means a more stable shoreline and fewer drawdown surprises than an impoundment. Level is unusually stable, which protects dock usability and shoreline appearance year round. Water clarity averages around 30 feet, placing it among the clearer bodies of water in the country. Short-term rental posture: Town by town; strict. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

Exceptional clarity, roughly 30 ft
Very stable water level year-round
Boating
Diving

Watch outs

Short-term rental rules are restrictive — do not assume rental income

Score breakdown

Water 9.0

Recreation 7.2

Value 3.5

Access 7.3

Investment 7.2

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade

Water A

ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.

Water B

GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.

Water C

FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.

Water D

PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10

8.0+

ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.

7.0–7.9

StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.

6.0–6.9

SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.

5.0–5.9

MixedReal strengths and real compromises.

Under 5

CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Lake troutLandlocked salmonSmallmouth bassNorthern pike

On the water

BoatingDivingPaddlingHistoric sites

Live from LAKE GEORGE AT ROGERS ROCK NY. This is a lake or reservoir station measuring lake elevation (navd88) on this water body — direct sensor readings, not estimates.

2.52 ft

Gage height

2026-08-04

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 116 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 496 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 196 ft, average 63 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityNatural Typical drawdown2 ft Drawdown seasonAutumn Trophic stateOligotrophic Typical clarity30 ft Water quality gradeA Elevation320 ft Managing authorityLake George Park Commission

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityLake George Park Commission Wake / speed rulesNo-wake within 100ft

A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with Lake George Park Commission that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Town by town; strict

Restrictions apply and vary by jurisdiction. Verify at the municipal level before you offer.

Model rental income →

Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.

$855,000

Median waterfront

$5,950

Per shoreline foot

+7.7%

Year over year

267

Est. inventory

Avg days on market

$464

Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy53% Booked nights / yr139 Gross revenue$72,680 Net operating income$34,729 Yield on median price4.06%

Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Lake George actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$6,898

All-in per month

$194,770

Cash to close + setup

$16,145

Beyond P&I, tax, insurance

Where the annual cost goes

Principal & interest $54,058 (66%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $9,405 (12%) Property taxes $8,978 (11%) Hazard insurance $3,591 (4%) Utilities $2,700 (3%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%) Winterization / seasonal close $750 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest	$54,058
Property taxes	$8,978
Hazard insurance	$3,591
Flood insurance	$650
Utilities	$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)	$9,405
Septic service	$520
Well & water testing	$260
Dock maintenance	$900
Winterization / seasonal close	$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve	$960
Total	$82,771

Model your own numbers →

4.0 / 5 from 1 review

Good value compared to nearby lakes

Steve & Kate P. · Summer 2026

4/5

Prices here are meaningfully lower than the lake an hour north for water that is nearly as clear. Fewer restaurants and services, which is the tradeoff.