It lies within the boundaries of the Mount Aspiring National Park near the Queenstown start of the Routeburn Track.

[1] The lake is surrounded by native red beech forest and is fed by two small streams.

Its outflow leads past a swampy area southeast of the lake and into Dart River.

A walking track leads from a Department of Conservation campsite,[2] along the lower Route Burn to a viewing platform on the southern shore of the lake.

The campsite at start of the Lake Sylvan Track has a parking area and can be accessed by a short gravel road off Routeburn Road.