Gilman Lake.
Gilman Lake is a 43-acre water in the Speculator region — quiet, unsponsored by the usual High Peaks traffic, and genuinely off most through-hiking itineraries. No formal species data on file, which often means either light stocking history or simply that no one's been filing reports; local knowledge and a conversation at the nearest tackle shop will tell you more than the DEC database. Access details are sparse in the standard trail guides, so if you're planning a trip, confirm the approach and any private-land considerations with the local ranger or the town office before you commit to the drive. This is the kind of water that rewards the extra legwork.
Gilman Lake has public access. Summits nearby include Guideboard Hill and Speculator Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
12 parking areas· 4 accessible
Closest parking lots within range, ranked by walking distance. Accessibility flags come from Google verified-data and NYSDEC records; surface and capacity from NYSDEC and OpenStreetMap. Confirm hours and seasonal closures before you go.
- 01Gilman LakeTrailhead0.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 02DEC parking 189292.8 mi
- 03Dot Row2.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Dot Row2.9 mi
- 05Town Parking3.2 mi
- 06Auger Falls Parking3.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 07DEC parking 189313.3 mi
- 08Griffin Connector Parking Lot At Route 84.6 miunpavedDirections →
+4 more on the map above
What’s in the water.
NYSDEC has stocked this water across 13 recent seasons — the ledger below is the public record.
The stocking record.
Launch & supply.
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
The peaks.
The waters.
The trails.
Read before you launch.
Make a weekend of it.
Closest editorial picks for a meal, a scoop, a pint, a bed, and a sight worth your time.
Eat.
4- Firetower Pizza3.7 mi
Hand-tossed pizzeria in Speculator with specialty pies named after Adirondack peaks (Mt Marcy, Snowy Mountain, Whiteface). Wings, baked ziti, white clam pie. Cozy waiting area with retro jukebox and arcade.
- Charlie Johns Store3.7 mi
Opened in 1939, Charlie Johns Store is Speculator's anchor general store — 12,000 square feet of full grocery selection, produce, fresh meats, a full deli, bakery, and hardware. Purchased from Charlie Johns in 1971 by Dean Lane, the Lane family has owned and operated it since.
- Alpine Grille8.3 mi
A long-running roadside steak-and-seafood house on the Sacandaga, between Northville and Wells. Generous portions, a lively bar, and the kind of dining room where the staff knows the regulars by name. Reservations recommended on weekends.
- Oxbow Inn9.0 mi
Oxbow Inn is a welcoming restaurant and bar in Lake Pleasant offering great pizza, local beef burgers, and a wide selection of 16 draft beers. Enjoy casual dining, live music, and an outdoor deck with fire pits and lake views.
Sip.
3- The PERKS of Speculator3.3 mi
Speculator coffee shop and bakery at 2855 NY-30. Specialty coffee, espresso, fresh-baked bagels and pastries, plus breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Gluten-free options across the bakery case.
- Uncle Carl's Coffee4.1 mi
Uncle Carl's Coffee serves expertly crafted coffees, artisan teas, pastries, and light savory bites. They also offer daily quiche and bagels, along with homemade soups, frozen meals, local meats, and cheeses.
- ADK Blend18.2 mi
Northville smoothie & açaí-bowl spot in the Great Sacandaga Lake corridor.
Sweet.
4- Speculator Creamery3.5 mi
A family-run village creamery anchoring Speculator's tiny downtown near Lake Pleasant — a genuine community summer hub. Wide-ranging soft-serve flavors, the 16oz Nor'Easter blend, and hand-dipped hard ice cream. Roughly May through September.
- The Village Scoop18.1 mi
A walk-up ice cream shop on Northville's Main Street at the north tip of Great Sacandaga Lake — hard ice cream and soft serve with a wide flavor selection.
- Cree-Mee Freeze19.8 mi
A summer soft-serve stand near Northville on the Great Sacandaga Lake shore, with twists and specialty sundaes.
- The Hungry Crow Market & Café23.0 mi
A downtown North Creek market and cafe serving soft serve alongside scratch-made desserts, next to Hudson River Trading Co. — the cone stop in the Gore and Upper Hudson area.
Drink.
4- Lemon Tree Brewery3.3 mi
Lemon Tree Brewery is a brewery and taproom located in Speculator, NY, steps from Lake Pleasant. It offers house brews like SASQUATCH HAZY IPA and Blueberry Wheat, along with other local NY State micro-brewed beers and wines in a relaxed s…
- Acorn Pub & Eatery at Oak Mountain4.2 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- Sport Island Pub18.3 mi
Sport Island Pub offers great food, refreshing drinks, and friendly entertainment on the Great Sacandaga Lake. This family-run restaurant, with three generations of service, invites you to enjoy exquisite dishes for dine-in or take-out.
- South Shore Dive21.5 mi
South Shore Dive: Casual dining on Great Sacandaga Lake. Made-to-order meals, craft cocktails, lake views. Book now in upstate NY!
Stay.
4- Bearhurst Lakeside Cottages2.3 mi
Five renovated outbuildings from a turn-of-the-century Adirondack Great Camp on Lake Pleasant in Speculator, run as lakefront rental cottages by the Armstrong family. Boathouse, Icehouse, Cubhurst, and two Cherry duplex halves.
- Red Pines Bed & Breakfast3.2 mi
Red Pines Bed & Breakfast is a year-round getaway on Lake Pleasant in Speculator, NY, offering a relaxed and friendly setting with private beach access and beautiful lake views.
- Cedarhurst Motor Lodge3.4 mi
A family-owned year-round motor lodge in Speculator, on the route between Lake Pleasant and Indian Lake, with free Wi-Fi and weekly rates. Standard rooms, no frills.
- Inn At Speculator3.5 mi
The Inn at Speculator offers a full-service dining experience featuring classic dishes and local flavors, along with comfortable lodging options including private and shared bath rooms. Breakfast is included for guests.
See.
4- Ampersand Christine Falls3.5 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
- Speculator Historical Museum3.6 mi
A small local-history museum on Route 8 in Speculator inside the original Lake Pleasant Town Hall and Library. Open weekends Memorial Day through August, plus weekday hours in summer.
- Historic Copeland Covered Bridge19.9 mi
The Historic Copeland Covered Bridge is a 35-foot Queenpost truss bridge built in 1879 by Arad Copeland in Edinburg, Saratoga County. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is the only covered bridge remaining in Saratoga C…
- Revolution Rail Co. - Thurman Station23.3 mi
A pedal-powered rail biking operation at Thurman Station on the Adirondack Railroad bed near North Creek, with family-friendly seasonal tours rolling alongside the Hudson River corridor through forest and open river-bank country.
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Wrong elevation, outdated access notes, a coordinate that's drifted. We'd rather hear it than miss it.
Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Gilman Lake located?Gilman Lake is a lake in the Speculator region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Gilman Lake?Gilman Lake has a surface area of approximately 43 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- Is Gilman Lake open to the public?Yes, Gilman Lake has public access. See the listing page for current trailhead, parking, and boat-launch details, and check active DEC advisories before visiting.
- Can you camp at Gilman Lake?Within roughly seven miles of Gilman Lake: 17 designated campsites, 1 lean-to or shelter, 2 listed campgrounds. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.