Rift Hill.
Rift Hill rises to 2,162 feet in the southern Adirondacks. A modest peak with no formal trail — bushwhack access only through mixed hardwood forest.
Nearby waters include Sacandaga River and Kunjamuk River.
The summit, surveyed.
What the summit is doing today.
Where to leave the car.
Seasonal pattern for this peak · tops out ~2,162 ft · live closures appear above
Nearby points of interest.
- Sacandaga RiverRiver · in 3 segments0.5 mi
- Kunjamuk RiverStream1.1 mi
- Sacandaga Lake (small)Lake1.1 mi
- Pine LakesPond · in 2 segments1.6 mi
- Elm LakeLake2.1 mi
- Echo LakeLake2.9 mi
- Old Route 8 Campsite2.3 mi
Peaks that share the range.
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- Charlie Johns Store1.7 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.
- Firetower Pizza1.7 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.
- Oxbow Inn9.6 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.
- Alpine Grille11.7 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.
Sip.
4- The PERKS of Speculator1.7 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.
- Uncle Carl's Coffee7.5 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 Blend21.5 mi
Northville smoothie & açaí-bowl spot in the Great Sacandaga Lake corridor.
- Schoolhouse Grounds Coffee Shop24.7 mi
Seasonal coffee shop inside the 1895 schoolhouse that houses Blue Mountain Designs. Espresso, locally roasted coffee, loose-leaf tea, baked goods, avocado toast, sandwiches, and soups. May through October.
Sweet.
4- Speculator Creamery2.0 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 Hungry Crow Market & Café21.5 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.
- The Village Scoop21.5 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 Freeze23.2 mi
A summer soft-serve stand near Northville on the Great Sacandaga Lake shore, with twists and specialty sundaes.
Drink.
4- Acorn Pub & Eatery at Oak Mountain1.4 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- Lemon Tree Brewery1.7 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…
- Indian Lake Restaurant, Tavern and Liquor Store19.1 mi
Indian Lake Restaurant, Tavern and Liquor Store offers a full bar with an extensive bottle selection and local drafts, alongside a menu featuring appetizers, sandwiches, and entrees. The restaurant is currently closed for mud season and wi…
- Sport Island Pub21.7 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.
Stay.
4- Cedarhurst Motor Lodge1.7 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 Speculator2.2 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.
- Bearhurst Lakeside Cottages2.5 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 & Breakfast3.3 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.
See.
4- Ampersand Christine Falls1.2 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
- Speculator Historical Museum1.8 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.
- Revolution Rail Co. - Thurman Station21.7 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.
- North Creek Depot Museum21.7 mi
Saved from demolition, this 1872 landmark station is now a museum, heritage center, and cultural hub in historic North Creek, featuring a fabulous diorama and exhibits on the Adirondack Railroad, Theodore Roosevelt, and local history.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Rift Hill located?Rift Hill is a summit in the Speculator region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How tall is Rift Hill?Rift Hill rises to 2,162 feet above sea level.
- Is Rift Hill one of the Adirondack 46?No. The 46 Adirondack High Peaks are summits above 4,000 feet identified by the Adirondack Forty-Sixers club; Rift Hill is not on that list (it stands at 2,162 feet).
- How difficult is Rift Hill to climb?Rift Hill is moderate-elevation summit — a half-day to full-day hike depending on the route. Check the specific trail's length, elevation gain, and current DEC advisories before going.