Welcome to the

Star Lake Protective Association

The SLPA has been dedicated to the preservation of Star Lake since 1901.

The Star Lake Protective Association's mission is "to promote the protection and improvement of Star Lake and the surrounding property and environment". We are a non-regulatory, non-profit organization which conducts meetings twice a year and sponsors recreational events and activities for lake residents and visitors. See About the SLPA for more information.

Star Lake, located in northern New York State, is a small, pristine lake situated in the western foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Star Lake shares its borders with a hamlet of the same name. About half of its lake residents live here year-round in winterized homes, enjoying four true "north country" seasons. Others come to Star Lake on vacations, week-ends or "for the summer" to visit their vacation cottages, some of which are well over 100 years old, built in the true Adirondack camp fashion. All enjoy the cool, crystal-clear lake water in a great variety of ways. Fishing, swimming, and all types of water sports and boating are popular. There is a Star Lake Regatta every year for sailing enthusiasts. Canoes and kayaks are in abundance. Many consider their "rafts" the vehicle of choice as they slowly motor around the lake in relative luxury and comfort. Motor boats and jet skis are also popular for tubing, knee boarding and water skiing. No matter what your favorite watercraft, you can enter the annual Poker Run. Star Lake has a sandbar that has been referred to as the "village green," where Star Lakers get together to socialize. There is something for everyone on this very special little lake.

This site was developed in March, 2007 and is constantly evolving as new new content is being planned and articles are revised. You are invited to browse around and come back often for updated or new information. If you are a member, look for Association news, particularly in the Members' Area (you will need to be a member with a username and password). If you are not a member, please consider joining us in our endeavor to keep Star Lake beautiful, clean and safe for all to enjoy for generations to come. Please feel free to use the multi-purpose Feedback form to comment on the site or ask for information.

It's Ice-Out, 4/8/2022! A replay of last year, April started with mild, breezy days--conditions ripe for ice-melting.

4/6/22 A picture-perfect sunny day in the fifties gave us hope for an early ice-out, like last year on this day! Ice has receded around the shoreline and during the day, it became darker and more open water became visible.

4/7/22 A prediction of rain all day with temps in the low fifties saw the ice starting to break up. The wind was pushing it from the east. It won't be long now. Perhaps a raft ride, later in the day, if the rain lets up. It rained all day and no rafts made it on the lake in spite of there being a clear path to the cut.

4/8/22 It's officially "ice-out" when a raft can make it to and through the cut. So, we can say the ice was out on 4/8/2022. It was still raining early in the morning; but by 8:00, it had stopped and we headed the raft out toward the cut. We got about half-way across and saw Mike S. headed our way. We both motored through and tied up on the other side of the cut, took pictures, and had a nice visit.

Click a picture for a larger view; click the browser's "back" button to return.


4/8/2022 Wind had shifted remaining ice on third lake, with a misty Maple Mountain in the background.	4/8/2022 There was still quite a bit of ice around Lulu Island.	4/8/2022 It was fitting that the first loon sighting occurred on our first day on open water.	4/8/2022 Post Office Bay was still pretty ice-locked. Most of the bays still had considerable ice in them.

4/8/2022 Looking back, Mike S. was a very close second raft to navigate the cut for 2022 (not to rub it in... ).	4/8/2022 "First raft through the cut" goes to the Pat/Bo team for the 2nd year in a row.	4/8/2022 We fired up the raft, not a moment too soon, as we saw Mike S. headed for the cut also.	4/8/2022 Early morning showed that the ice had shifted a bit, but there still was a clear path to the cut.

4/7/2022 No rafts were seen, but this zoomed in pic showed the cut clearly accessible. ICE OUT DAY 4/7/2022!	4/7/2022 By 3:05 pm, a vast area had opened up. Remaining ice was dark and honeycombed.	4/7/2022 At 2:20 pm, a clear path to the cut opened, as the wind shifted the ice to the west side of third lake.	4/7/2022 By noon, quite a bit more open water was seen--great progress!

4/7/2022 At 9 am, the ice had broken up considerably. Later in the day it might be navigable.	4/7/2022 An even warmer day with rain and a good breeze opened up much of the bay around Swiss Point.	4/6/2022 The nice weather also provided incentive to put the motor on, to be ready.	4/6/2022 A sunny, breezy day, with temps in the 50's, saw significant darkening of the ice.

Visit Us Through the Star Lake Handbook

Postcard Gallery--Take a Historical Tour

The Star Lake Handbook is a 20-page color booklet describing scenic Star Lake and the Star Lake Protective Association. Contents include historical facts about the lake, pictures, a map and fishing and boating information. The Handbook is a compilation of many people's efforts and is provided to inform and entertain.

Click here to access and read the most recent edition of the Handbook. Use the feedback link to order printed copies, if you like. Past editions are available for viewing in PDF format.

2/5/2017 The Postcard Gallery has been recently updated with 36 new (old) postcards in the Members' Area. Take a tour of Star Lake as our great-grandparents knew it. Many of the postcards date back to the early 1900's, when Star Lake was a thriving recreational summer retreat. Visit "Post Cards" to see Star Lake in a totally different way. (A username and password is required)

2023 SLPA Meetings and Events
Date	Event	Place	Time
Sat, June 24	Regular Meeting, socializing/refreshments; meeting to follow	SOS Adirondack Exhibit Center	10:00 am
Weds. July 5	First Lake Road Clean-up	Meet at CFCS (school) parking lot	9:00 am
Weds. Aug 9	Lake Shoreline Clean-up	Meet at the Sandbar	10:00 am
Sat, Aug 12	17th Annual Poker-Run	Meet at the sandbar to register	12:00 noon
Sat. Aug 26	Annual Meeting, socializing/refreshments; meeting to follow	SOS Adirondack Exhibit Center	10:00 am
Sat. Aug 26	Potluck Picnic?	TBA	TBA
Weds, Sept 13	Second Lake Road Clean-up	Meet at CFCS (school) parking lot	9:00 am

Boating Safety Class Now On-line

Please Use the New DEC Boat Washing Station

The NYS Parks and Recreation people have announced that anyone can now receive a boating safety certificate by taking the course on-line. This course is equivalent to the 8-hour classroom course offered locally in the past. Once the course has been successfully completed, a written certificate is issued and boaters can, at their option, have the certification stated on their driver's license, learning permit or non-driver ID, much like motorcycle certification is indicated on the license.

For more information about fees and how to enroll, follow this link. If you are local and would like to know more about enrolling in a classroom Boating Safety course this summer, use our feedback form and we will provide local instructor contact information.

Currently, it is a legal requirement for all jet ski (pwc) operators and for all boat operators born after May 1, 1996 to successfully complete the boaters' safety course. For jet ski operation, only children 14 and up can take the course and operate a PWC legally. Children from 10 to 19 cannot operate a boat alone unless they take and pass the course.

The SLPA supports any effort to keep our lake and the people who use it safe and we encourage anyone who operates a motorized boat or jet ski to take this course. Hopefully this will lead to the safe, responsible operation of watercraft.

A New Boat Washing Station is in operation for the Clifton-Fine area as part of a pilot program by the State to keep invasive species at bay. The site is located at the corner of Rt. 3 and County Rt. 60, near J&L. The wash station is manned by volunteers from Paul Smith's College five days a week from 7 am to 4 pm and will eventually be available seven days a week.

The DEC advises boaters and anglers to check their boats, trailers and other fishing and boating equipment for any plants or animals that may be clinging to it. It's the law: "Following a thorough inspection, boats should be cleaned, drained and dried." If you stop in with your boat, you will receive a free careful inspection and a 140-degree power washing to kill free-loading plants and creatures.

Lakes in the Adirondack Park are relatively free of invasive plants and animals so far; but there has been a recent push by New York State to insure that they do not get introduced into our pristine lakes and streams. Invasive species like milfoil, zebra mussels, clams, and water fleas can be introduced to clean lakes by careless boaters and fishermen. Invasive species generally come from Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence river or other contaminated bodies of water clinging to boat bottoms, trailors and fishing gear. Boats, trailers, livewells, and gear need to be properly inspected and cleaned before launch into another body of water. This new washing station should make it easier for those who move boats from lake to lake. So, if you are heading across the Route 3 corridor, please stop in for this free inspection and washing. And please, help us to keep our lakes and waterways free of invasives.

For more info, go here; click graphic to enlarge for viewing; press back to return.

New York State Boater's Guide

SLPA Hosts Cycle Adirondacks to Star Lake

The New York State Boater's Guide, which we have made available to members at meetings in printed form, provides a wealth of boating information. Included in this guide are useful links to various New York agencies and current legal requirements for boating registration, licensing and operation in New York State.

"This guide provides basic boating safety information on such topics as registration, operation, equipment and rules of the road, however we strongly encourage every boater to sign up for some formal boating instruction before venturing out on their own."

If you are new to boating; or if you would like to know more about New York boating regulations, you should read this booklet. The free guide can be downloaded here in .pdf form to be read or printed.

On Sunday, August 23, 2015, 150 to 200 cyclists stopped in Star Lake, one of six stops on their 450+ mile journey through the Adirondacks. While in town, SLPA volunteers took those interested on a raft ride, culminating in a get-together on the sandbar where refreshments were served. One of Star Lake's distinctive features is the more than 100 motorized rafts that slowly cruise around the lake. Cyclists got to see what makes this lake so special to all of us as they rode on these unique water crafts. After being picked up at the Star Lake Haven's shore, they rode over to the sandbar to partake of some true Star Lake hospitality and socializing, sandbar-style. Many other activities were planned by community leaders including a free concert at the school. The raft ride was just one of them, but as many said later, it was the most memorable, pleasurable experience--much positive feedback was received by the Cycle Adirondacks participants.

To read the article about Cycle Adirondacks and Star Lake rafts in Vermont Sports, go here. An article from Adventure Cycling Magazine can be found here. To Learn more about Cycle Adirondacks, go to their website here.

Articles about Star Lake Rafts...

2022 Poker Run--A Great Day on the Lake!

Click the picture on the left to read a June 27, 2010 article about Star Lake rafts in The Plain Dealer of Cleveland, OH, written by Evelyn Theiss, recent visitor to Star Lake. (press "back" to return to this page).

Read another article in Vermont Sports about Star Lake rafts and Cycle Adirondacks' visit to Star Lake on 8/23/2015.

	It was another beautiful day on Star Lake for the 2022 Poker Run. The sun came out and stayed out, helping to make this year's event even more successful. A great time was had by all! This year’s theme was "Countries Around the World" and decorations were amazing. (more)
Vessels of all sizes returned to the sandbar to compare hands and party!

Recent Meeting Minutes:

Member Information & Logon

If you're interested in what happened at the last meeting, visit the recent meetings link. While the archives are for members only, we are providing minutes from the most recent meetings in order to keep everyone in the community informed of SLPA activities and events. Also, a copy of the latest spring mailing is found here. If you are on the lake, perhaps you might come to the next meeting? (photo by Rod Miller)

We maintain a members' area that is password-protected to insure the privacy of our members. If you already have your logon info, feel free to visit the Members' Area. If you are a member and don't yet have a username and password; or, if you would like to join the SLPA, please use the feedback form to contact us. Currently, dues are $20 per calendar year. (photo by Leon Zois)

Local Star Lake Weather at a Glance...

Live-view of Weather on Star Lake

The weather station on Swiss Point came on-line August, 2012. Real-time data is sent out to Weather Underground and Davis WeatherLink (on the left).

An almost real-time view Star Lake is provided by a webcam on Swiss Point, installed in 2014. The picture above is updated every five minutes to provide an up-to-the minute view of the weather.

For more weather info, visit the Star Lake Weather Page. (A username and password is required)

Weather Underground Station KNYSTARL3 (data from Davis VantageVue station on Swiss Point)

Clifton-Fine Central School Weather Station (data via Weatherbug)

(Follow the links above for more detailed information; press "back" to return to this page)

'Tis the Season... Here are the most recent seasonal pictures of the lake, in chronological order. Go to the 'Tis the Season page to see more than 12 complete years of seasonal pictures of Star Lake! To go to the 'Tis the Season page in the Members' Area, a username/password is required. Members can use the feedback link and fill out the form to request the current username and password. (click on a picture for a larger view; press "back" to return to this page).

3/25/2023 Another view of a gorgeous sunrise reflecting across the ice. Temps in the 40's all week!

3/25/2023 The first really colorful sunrise of spring. Rain and snow fell later in the day.

3/22/2023 'Tis the season for the first robin sighting on the second day of spring. Snow is slowly melting.

3/21/2023 The first day of spring!

3/19/2023 And, after the clean-up, the dogs enjoy the new paths.

3/19/2023 Up and down the weather roller coaster, another foot of snow.

3/15/2023 And, another clean-up for a few days.

3/14/2023 Yet another snow fall overnight.

3/7/2023 A very typical view of Star Lake. Hopefully, we are on our way to an early spring!

3/3/2023 March began with some chilly, misty mornings.

2/21/2023 Snow, all but gone, started to return, slowly covering the exposed green grass.

2/15/2023 February had many temperature swings, bringing a snow meltdown on the lake.

2/12/2023 A sun pillar graced this morning's sunrise.

2/9/2023 The sunrise just kept getting better as the morning progressed.

2/9/2023 A red fox takes a morning stroll across the lake.

2/9/2023 Another nice start to the day!

11/6/2010 A wintry panorama of Star Lake, looking east off Swiss Point, kind of makes you shiver as cloudy sky and early snow showers blanketed the lake in shades of gray, devoid of any remnants of recently-departed fall colors.