Willis Lake.
Willis Lake is a 35-acre water in the Speculator region — quiet, low-profile, and off the standard lake-hopping routes that dominate the southern Adirondacks. No fish species data on record, which often signals either limited stocking history or simply a pond that doesn't pull angling pressure. The lake sits in mixed hardwood and conifer country typical of the lower-elevation Hamilton County waters — less dramatic than the High Peaks corridor, more forgiving in shoulder seasons. Check local access and ownership status before heading in; many smaller lakes in this region mix private shoreline with informal public use.
Willis Lake reaches a maximum depth of 9 feet, with a mean depth of 5 feet. Willis Lake has public access. Summits nearby include Freds Mountain and Moose Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
12 parking areas· 2 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.
- 01Pumpkin Hollow Rd Parking LotTrailhead0.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Wilcox-Willis Trail Parking Area1.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 03DEC parking 189172.6 mi
- 04Dorr Rd Parking Area3.0 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Tenant Creek Falls Parking Area3.0 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Trail Parking3.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Blackbridge Road Parking Area4.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 08DEC parking 189314.6 mi
+4 more on the map above
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
The peaks.
The waters.
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- Alpine Grille1.7 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.
- Klippel's Kozy Korner Cafe10.5 mi
India’s largest Food Delivery, Dining and Restaurant Discovery Service. Better food for more people.
- The Local10.8 mi
Fine-dining restaurant in the Great Sacandaga Lake region.
- Firetower Pizza11.1 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.
Sip.
3- Uncle Carl's Coffee3.4 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.
- The PERKS of Speculator10.7 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.
- ADK Blend10.8 mi
Northville smoothie & açaí-bowl spot in the Great Sacandaga Lake corridor.
Sweet.
4- The Village Scoop10.7 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.
- Speculator Creamery10.8 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.
- Cree-Mee Freeze12.3 mi
A summer soft-serve stand near Northville on the Great Sacandaga Lake shore, with twists and specialty sundaes.
- Zippy's Ice Cream18.2 mi
A roadside soft-serve stand on Route 30 in Mayfield near the Park's southern gateway and Great Sacandaga Lake, known for dense, cold soft serve with weekly flavors like maple and coffee.
Drink.
4- Lemon Tree Brewery10.7 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…
- Sport Island Pub11.0 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.
- Acorn Pub & Eatery at Oak Mountain11.6 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- South Shore Dive14.1 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- The Lodge at Harrisburg Lake8.8 mi
A 12-bedroom group lodge in Stony Creek sleeping up to 42 across 20 beds and 11 full baths, with Alpine-style architecture, lakefront, pool, multiple sport courts, and a historic tavern.
- Bearhurst Lakeside Cottages9.5 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 & Breakfast10.0 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.
- Inn At the Bridge10.4 mi
A historic six-room inn on the shore of the Great Sacandaga Lake in Northville, with its own marina, full-property rentals, and a setup built for small weddings.
See.
4- Ampersand Christine Falls10.5 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
- Speculator Historical Museum11.0 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 Bridge12.5 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…
- Grandview Mini Golf18.3 mi
An 18-hole lakeside mini golf course on Great Sacandaga Lake in Mayfield, with an arcade, ice cream novelties, snacks, and party hosting — reachable by boat or car. Open seven days, noon to 8pm; $8 unlimited all-day play.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Willis Lake located?Willis Lake is a lake in the Speculator region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Willis Lake?Willis Lake has a surface area of approximately 35 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- How deep is Willis Lake?Willis Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet, with a mean depth of 5.2 feet.
- Is Willis Lake open to the public?Yes, Willis 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 Willis Lake?Within roughly seven miles of Willis Lake: 29 designated campsites, 4 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.