About this location
Lake Harris — properly Harris Lake, a 275-acre lake in Newcomb, Essex County, in the Adirondacks — is home to a New York State DEC campground open seasonally from mid-May through early September. It's genuinely inside interesting mineral country: the Adirondacks host a pegmatite mineral belt, and Newcomb specifically produced the first U.S. occurrence of rossmanite, an extremely rare tourmaline-group mineral, in nearby marble. But here's what matters more than any specimen list: this is Adirondack Forest Preserve land, which is protected as "forever wild" under Article XIV of the New York State Constitution. Removing rocks, minerals, or any natural material from Forest Preserve land is illegal without specific DEC authorization. Whatever the mineral suite here looks like on paper, this is not a legal collecting site as it stands.
Always seek permission where required, follow local laws, and practice Leave No Trace. Locations and details are community-submitted and may be inaccurate. Not sure what's legal here? Read our full guide to rockhounding laws by land type.
Found Here
UNVERIFIED as a site-specific list — our database's specimens (albite, amphibole, apatite, diopside, graphite, muscovite, phlogopite, pyrite, pyroxene, smoky quartz, scapolite, tourmaline, tremolite) describe a plausible Adirondack pegmatite/marble mineral suite in general terms, consistent with documented regional finds like the Newcomb rossmanite discovery, but no source we found ties this list to Harris Lake specifically. Given the access situation below, verifying it further wasn't the priority.
Difficulty
Getting there
Newcomb, Essex County, New York, in the central Adirondacks, off Route 28N. Lake Harris Campground has a defined entrance and DEC-maintained access road.
Collecting here
Not legal. New York DEC enforces strict rules against removing rocks, minerals, fossils, or artifacts from any state land, and the Adirondack Forest Preserve carries an additional constitutional layer of protection — no mineral removal without either DEC authorization or a constitutional amendment.
Know before you go
This is a DEC-run campground (mid-May to early September) on Adirondack Forest Preserve land, protected as "forever wild" by the New York State Constitution. Do not collect here. If you're looking for legal Adirondack mineral collecting, private land and fee-dig sites (like the Barton/Gore Mountain garnet operation near North Creek) are the standard path — Forest Preserve land is not.
Location on Map
Coordinates: 43.97364, -74.14667
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Frequently asked questions
Can you collect rocks or minerals at Lake Harris in Newcomb, New York?
No — Lake Harris (Harris Lake) sits on Adirondack Forest Preserve land, which is constitutionally protected as "forever wild," and removing rocks or minerals there is illegal without specific DEC authorization.
Is Lake Harris Campground open year-round?
No — Lake Harris Campground in Newcomb, New York, operated by the state DEC, is open seasonally from mid-May through early September.
Why can't you collect minerals in the Adirondack Forest Preserve?
The Adirondack Forest Preserve, which includes the land around Lake Harris in Newcomb, New York, is protected under Article XIV of the New York State Constitution as "forever wild," making mineral and rock removal illegal without DEC authorization.
⚠️ Always verify current regulations, weather conditions, and access requirements before visiting any location. Information provided is based on community submissions and may not be current or accurate.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Harris_Campground — confirms DEC ownership, Harris Lake size (275 acres), Newcomb/Essex County location, seasonal operation dates.
- WebSearch synthesis (Adirondack Forest Preserve DEC rock/mineral collecting rules queries) — confirms "forever wild" constitutional protection (NY Constitution Article XIV) and DEC prohibition on removing rocks/minerals/fossils from state land without a permit.
- WebSearch synthesis (Newcomb NY mineral collecting queries) — reports the first U.S. occurrence of rossmanite from marble in Newcomb, Essex County, as regional context for the area's pegmatite/marble mineralization.
Recommended Gear for New York
Estwing E3-22P Rock Pick
The industry-standard 22oz geological hammer. One-piece forged steel with shock-reduction grip.
Clear Anti-Fog Safety Glasses (4 Pack)
Adjustable, anti-fog lenses for clear vision in any conditions. About $5 per pair.
Watertight Medical Kit
Compact, waterproof first aid kit with bandages, moleskin, and field essentials.
Rockhounding New York: A Guide To The State's Best Rockhounding Sites
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