Quiet, pristine Yankee Lake is located in New York State's Sullivan County (41°35'0"N and 74°32'41"W), four miles west of Wurtsboro, on the top of the West Shawaugunk Ridge in the scenic Catskill Mountains.

Rising 1430 feet above sea level, Yankee Lake is two-and-a-half miles long and varies from one to two miles wide. The lake is fed by small streams from the north and west, as well as springs under the lake and is from thirty to forty feet in depth. 

According to legend, in the early 19th century, a Yankee named Ellsworth used a canoe or dugout for hunting and fishing and kept it concealed near the shore of a large pond. Dutch hunters found the boat and named the body of water, "The Yankee's Pond."

No one knows when the pond changed to a lake, but one thing has never changed in over two centuries: Yankee Lake has always been known as an outstanding "fishin' hole." And indeed, today it still lives up to that reputation.

For more about the history of Yankee Lake, please go to the history link, and to learn more about the YLPA and the work we do to preserve the tranquil lake and its beautiful environs, take a trip around our webpage. More questions? Please contact us.