Looking for brook trout? Helms Pond in the Sargent Ponds Wild Forest is a good option with a hike of a few miles to get there.

Key takeaways

• Distance: about 4.2 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 625 feet
• Hike includes a road walk, unmarked trail (bushwhack), and a bridge

Fishing

The pond's access is limited to a short off-trail hike. Some paths from the Sargent Pond trail will get you to the shore.

Insider information:

• The maximum depth of Helms Pond is only about 6 feet, so the fish will not be of record setting size.
• Use a bobber or weedless hook for retrieval in this pond.

Special regulations: always follow state fishing regulations and be sure to pick up a NYS Freshwater Fishing Guide at your local outfitters or regional DEC office.

Hiking to Helms Pond

This small pond is obscure with no real trail to the shore. GPS, map and compass, and navigation experience is a must for the final 0.2 miles to access the shore. Bushwhacks are not recommended for inexperienced hikers.

Follow the private roads for a short distance to where the trail leaves on the right and becomes an actual foot trail. The roads and trail are well marked.

At the footbridge, take a right along the Sargent Pond trail, which is a bit wet in certain spots. It's a moderate climb to the intersection with the Castle Rock Loop, which will appear on the left. Continue straight at this point.

The trail becomes much less used and narrower. Continue for roughly 0.5 mile along this section of trail, then take a north compass bearing to head toward Helms Pond. Helms Pond is a 0.15 mile bushwhack, and is quite tough. Helms Pond can be a series of swampy areas, and is guarded by some thick trees. The scenery from the shore of this pond is wonderful and worth the added effort to reach it.

Helms Pond in the winter

Helms Pond shares a trailhead with Castle Rock, which is plowed in the winter and receives a lot of use. Expect some of the hike to be broken out in the winter, and the bushwhack to not be. Being prepared is necessary for any winter hike, especially a bushwhack.

Experience more trails in Hamilton County

Does Helms Pond sound amazing, but a little more than you want to tackle right now? With hundreds of miles of trails, we can help find the right hike for you in the big outdoors.

How to get there

From the intersection of Route 28 and Route 30 in the hamlet of Blue Mountain Lake, follow Route 28/30 toward Long Lake for 0.6 miles, then turn left on Maple Lodge Road. Follow Maple Lodge Road to its end at the hiker parking area. Along the way you'll drive on a very narrow and seemingly private road. Just continue to the well-designated hiker parking area for Sargent Pond and Castle Rock.