Brantingham Lake Vacation Rentals

 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRANTINGHAM LAKE.

BRANTINGHAM LAKE is within the Adirondack Park, located east of Brantingham, New York in Lewis County, New York.   Once primarily occupied by seasonal residents occupying their camps as summer destinations only,  Brantingham is more and more often becoming a year-round home.  Increased property expenses have made it difficult for seasonal only residents to maintain the expenses of two homes.

The Lake covers 341 acres (1.38 km²) with about eleven miles (18 km) of shoreline according to Wikipedia. The lake has a maximum depth of around 70 feet, and an average depth of 30 feet in accordance with fluctuating yearly water levels. There are two islands present, Grant (or Round) Island, and Dark Island. There are two sand bars on the lake,  one is referred to as ‘sunken island’ and is in the middle of the southwestern end of the lake.  It is a popular location for boaters, especially pontoon boats, to anchor and hang out.  Depending on the yearly water levels, these sand bars may only be covered by a few feet of water, requiring caution from boaters.   In the summer season, these shallow points are marked by large white and red buoys.   

On the southwestern side of the lake, is an inlet leading to the portion of the lake that is referred to as the “Brantingham Lily Pond”.   Two bridges cross over this inlet.  The wood walking bridge nearest the lake is a remaining remnant of the old Brantingham Inn Hotel which burned down in the 1970s.  The other about 200 feet in from the lake is a concrete bridge where Cottage Road crosses the inlet.  Both bridges are navigable by most motorboats as long as the motor is trimmed up.  The maximum width is about 10 feet and the height is only around 5 – 6 feet high.  The average water level is only around 2.5 feet deep through this inlet.   Any boats traveling under either bridge will need to take down their awnings and be physically cautious of the height so as not to hit their head.

At the far end of the Lily Pond is the dam that serves as the water outlet to the lake.   This outlet drains into Lake of the Pines, a small nearby non-motorized lake.   The lake level is controlled by this dam.   Lake levels are dropped in Mid October and are again raised up in Mid May every year.   The purpose is to prevent damage from drifting icebergs when the water is melting in the spring.  These floating icebergs regularly damage docks and boathouses in their path when water flow and/or wind move them.    This down period serves as an opportunity for the residents of the lakeshore to make repairs and maintenance to their shorelines.   

Due to wave action from boats over recent years the lakes shoreline recession has accelerated.  Many residents have built retaining walls to reclaim and protect their land from washing away.

 BRANTINGHAM LAKE BOATING

Brantingham is a popular boating lake.  You will find Ski boats, Pontoon boats, Jetski’s, Kayaks, SUP’s (stand-up paddleboards) Sailboats, and many other floating sporting equipments on the lake.    Residents often are found waterskiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing, and tubing behind boats.  The largest typical boat size on the lake is around 23 feet long.  Most larger boats are not found on the lake and would be frowned upon by local residents.