Pertinent information regarding camping and paddling Lake Lila in the Adirondack Park of New York State.
Have you ever wanted to lie in your tent in a cozy sleeping bag and listen to the cry of the loon and the soft sloughing of the wind through white pine branches without any interference from the noises and lights of civilization? Would you like to know the feeling that comes from the end of a long day of paddling a canoe or kayak and finishing up around a campfire with a clear view of the billions of stars that light up the night sky, a cup of coffee or cocoa in your hand and pleasant companions to keep you from being entirely alone in the universe? The Lake Lila Primitive Area in the Adirondack Park of New York State can provide you with just that experience. This is one of the prettiest of New York State lakes and the favorite of many paddlers.
Where is Lake Lila located?
Lake Lila Primitive Area is located in the town of Long Lake in Hamilton County, New York. Long Lake is in the Adirondack Park. From the south it can be found by driving the New York State Thruway (I-87) to the Northway just north of Albany. Exit in Warrensburg and follow Route 28 to Blue Mountain Lake (home of the Museum of the Adirondacks) where you then head north on Route 30 to the Village of Long Lake. Drive through Long Lake towards Tupper Lake until you meet the Sabattis Road which is clearly marked by a Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) sign for the William C. Whitney (Little Tupper Lake) Area and Lake Lila which will be on your left. Follow this road past the entrance for Little Tupper Lake until you meet the road that will take you to Lake Lila, clearly marked again by a DEC brown and yellow sign, and which will be on your left after approximately 7 miles.
If you are coming from the western portion of New York State, you will take the New York State Thruway (I-90) exiting at Utica and taking Route 12 north to Alder Creek where you will turn off on Route 28 which will take you to Blue Mountain Lake through the villages of Old Forge and Raquette Lake. In Blue Mountain Lake you will then follow the above directions.
The road to the Lake Lila Primitive Area is a rough logging road ( do not drive faster than 15 miles per hour unless you don't care about your car's suspension) that extends approximately six miles. There is absolutely no parking along this road since the property that abuts the road is all private and posted. At the end of the road is a parking area that will hold about 30 cars, depending on how creatively people have parked. If you cannot find a parking spot, you will have to drive back out to the Sabattis Road to park and hike back in. There are, however, many day-trippers who hike this area to climb Mount Frederica, so you may be able to wait it out to find an overnight parking spot.
What kind of access is there for paddling?
In the middle of the parking area is a clearly marked trail that leads down to the boat launching area. Is is a downhill hike of .3 miles. It is reasonably maintained and well-used. Remember though that what goes downhill coming in, goes uphill going out and you will be carrying your boat and whatever camping equipment you have. While it is not a teribly distressing hike, it is relatively strenuous. You can divide it up into several trips since the time needed for them is not overly long.
Some other paddlers have told us that it is possible, if you have a cart or wheels for your boat, to use the hiking road that leads around the lake to Mt. Frederica. There are a few spots that come close to the road where you could launch your canoe or kayak. Or, since it is only about 3 miles to the far shore along a flat hiking road, one could simply hike with the canoe and put in on the farthest side of the lake. There are absolutely no motors allowed on this lake, so human power is necessary.
Is there camping on the lake?
There are 15 designated campsites marked by yellow DEC disks which you can locate by using the map provided at the check-in at the parking area. There is also over-flow camping available (group sites) at the extreme western end of the lake. You may do low impact camping anywhere if there are no sites available except within a quarter mile of the put-in and within 150 feet of any stream, lake, pond, road or trail. There is a lean-to near the over-flow camping area. Everything is on a first come, first serve basis. If you arrive late in the afternoon and you see that the parking area is full, plan on spending the night in your car. If you do decide to chance going out on the lake and possibly paddling in the dark, head directly to the over-flow camping area, which is a 2.5 mile paddle to the other side of the lake, in all likelihood against the prevailing west to east wind which occurs during most of the day. Plan to then find a campsite the next day. There is a limit of three days for each site unless you get a permit from the forest ranger.
What else is there to do on Lake Lila?
You mean besides relaxing and getting rid of the stress of day to day life? Well, Lake Lila presents paddlers with quite a variety of paddling experiences. It is a beautiful tannic-colored lake surround with small mountains and woods. The lake has several white sand beaches for those brave enough to face the cold water. A paddler may advance up Shingle Shanty Brook which meanders through a swamp or paddle down the Beaver River for awhile until he reaches a dam which is posted as private. (This is a contested issue in the Adirondacks in regards to navigable waterways. More information can be found in other websites.)
There are several islands, some of which have camp sites. Osprey have been spotted here and bald eagles. There are bears, so make sure your food is secure. Fishing is superb. A fisherman can catch small mouth bass, horned pout (catfish, bullheads), trout, land-locked salmon and perch.
A hike to the top of Mount Frederica ia easily accomplished by most hikers and can be reached by paddling to the over-flow area and hiking 1.5 miles to the top. The view is spectacular, with a wonderful overlook that is well cleared and suitable for picnicing and oohing and aahing.
I want to know more! Where can I get more information?
You can write or call NYSDEC, Box 458, Northville, New York 12134, (518) 863-4545.
