Chapel Pond is seen on Tuesday, July 15 near St. Huberts. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

ST. HUBERTS — Tucked in a narrow valley between the towering cliffs and lush mountain slope forests of Round Mountain and Giant’s Nubble, Chapel Pond’s backdrop is among the most iconic in the Adirondacks. On Tuesday, July 15, it seemed to sparkle endlessly under deep blue skies.

On a day that saw temperatures soaring into the 90s, the pond had an added allure. Having driven by it so many times while commuting between Lake Placid and the Northway, but never actually stopping, I decided it was time. I strapped my kayak to the roof rack, threw a paddle and life jacket in the car and made the drive down into the Keene Valley.

Like the Cascade lakes between Lake Placid and Keene, Chapel Pond is accessible directly off of state Route 73 — about 24 miles from downtown Lake Placid and 6 miles from Interstate 87’s Exit 30.

The Keene and Keene Valley communities were both as busy as could be. Being such a nice day, I worried that parking might be limited. It’s a fairly small lot, and I was not about to lug a kayak over from the nearest lot. I planned an alternative slate of hikes, but admittedly, the temperatures tempered my enthusiasm for those.

Driving up the hill from St. Huberts heading east on state Route 73, my growing sense of dread snapped when I caught sight of an open parking spot. I peeled off the road and, within minutes, I was paddling Chapel Pond, looking up at intrepid climbers setting rope lines and making their way up the popular climbing routes on the namesake rock slab above the pond.

From left, Harlan Hooper, Vera Hooper and Reece Brown, of Elizabethtown, smile while enjoying the day at Chapel Pond on Tuesday, July 15 near St. Huberts. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

Though a short distance, only about a hundred feet or so, there is a fairly steep hill between the parking area and the lake’s shore, requiring caution and good physical condition if carrying a boat down — a task made immeasurably easier with the assistance of a second person.

Once on the pond, I was gobsmacked by how stunning the views were — and that’s coming from someone who’s been paddling and hiking the Adirondacks since I could walk. They are unique to Chapel Pond and glimpsing them demands being on the water or its shoreline — an experience not able to be replicated by a passing glance out the window while driving along the highway.

The pond itself isn’t a long paddle. Circumnavigating its shoreline, at a leisurely pace, only took about 15 minutes and totaled to just under a mile.

While most of the shoreline is rocky, there are a few sandy spots, particularly on the ponds southeast side, that could provide a beach for swimmers.

Suffice it to say, those looking for an extended paddle should probably consider an alternative water body. However, for those looking for a leisurely float or swim, surrounded by some of the most beautiful terrain in the Adirondacks, I would humbly place Chapel Pond to at or near the top of the list.