Lake Lila Road.
8 miles through the William C. Whitney Wilderness, serving as the primary access route to one of the largest lakes in the Adirondack Forest Preserve. The road is closed to motor vehicles but open to foot traffic and mountain bikes, offering relatively flat terrain suitable for families and those looking for a moderate approach to backcountry camping.
Seasonal pattern for this trail · tops out ~2,011 ft · live closures appear above
Read the line before you walk it.
The trail in 2 sections.
At 5.8 miles, few hike it in a single push. It breaks into 2 trailhead-to-trailhead sections — tap Favorite to save a stretch, then hike it in the app instead of the whole line.
Sections auto-derived from trailhead & parking access · refined by editors
What the trailhead is doing today.
Where the hike begins.
What the route itself carries.
Summits reached, waters touched, and the lean-tos along the way — read it like a cue sheet, mile posts ascending.
Guides, outfitters & shuttles.
If you’re already out here.
Long Lake.
The corner of the Park this trail calls home — its hamlets, waters, lodging, and the rest of its field record.
Read the Region→
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- Long View Lodge Restaurant14.7 mi
Long View Lodge Restaurant on Long Lake offers a full-service dining experience with an award-winning chef. Known for its quality ingredients and an ever-changing menu in a warm, inviting Adirondack setting, no reservations are necessary.
- Tony Harper's Pizza & Clam Shack15.4 mi
Tony Harper's Pizza & Clam Shack is a family restaurant and bar with four Adirondack locations, offering homemade pizza, wings, and seafood. Guests can enjoy sports on high-def TVs, a full bar, and live music.
- Northern Borne15.6 mi
Family-owned grocery and outdoor-supply store on Long Lake's Main Street, with organic, gluten-free, and vegan options plus a made-to-order deli counter. Camping and outdoor gear stocked alongside the grocery.
- Long Lake Diner & Owl’s Head Pub15.8 mi
Long Lake Diner & Owl's Head Pub has been proudly serving food, beverages, and memories since 2004.
Sip.
4- Waypoint Cafe15.5 mi
Long Lake cafe at 1265 Main St. La Colombe coffee, homemade quiche, avocado toast, artisan sandwiches, salads, poke bowls, soups, and charcuterie. Closed Mondays; weeknight happy hour 4–6 p.m.
- Schoolhouse Grounds Coffee Shop18.4 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.
- Tamarack Cafe18.7 mi
Tamarack Cafe in downtown Inlet serves a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options, from traditional favorites and specialty bowls to creative salads, sandwiches, and burgers. The cafe also features an 18-hole mini-golf course.
- Blue Line Coffee House18.7 mi
Blue Line Coffee House offers Adirondack-inspired apparel, handcrafted mugs, and mountain-themed gifts, along with pre-packaged coffee and coffee accessories. Products are available for nationwide shipping, and local customers can order dr…
— 15.5 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Sweet.
4- The Park15.8 mi
Trying to find a fast food restaurant in Long Lake? Pay a visit to The Park. We offer a range of burgers, sides, ice cream, drinks and coffee options.
- Custard’s Last Stand15.8 mi
Custard's Last Stand is a historic ice cream shop in Long Lake, established in 1958, serving a variety of soft frozen custard & hard ice cream, sundaes, specialty shakes, floats, and ice cream sodas. They also offer merchandise and gift cards.
- Northern Lights Creamery Inc.19.0 mi
An Inlet institution for 40-plus years, a short walk from Arrowhead Park on Fourth Lake — soft serve, homemade gelato, floats, flurries, and specialty sundaes.
- Skyline Ice Cream19.3 mi
A roadside soft-serve stand on Route 30 in Tupper Lake since 1985 — vanilla and black-raspberry twists, gelato, Dole Whip, and Michigans, now with an expanded burger-and-fries menu.
— 15.8 mi to the nearest scoop; save it for the ride home.
Drink.
4- Brookside Hops & Hoagies15.9 mi
Brookside Hops & Hoagies is a casual, family-friendly shop in Long Lake, founded in 2023, offering craft beers and hoagies made with fresh ingredients and Boars Head deli meats. It operates Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM.
- Lakeview Lanes & The Foul Line Sports Bar18.5 mi
Lakeview Lanes & The Foul Line Sports Bar in Tupper Lake offers 8 lanes of bowling, an arcade, a sports bar, and outdoor seating with food and drinks for family fun.
- Hex and Hop Tasting Room - Blue Mountain Lake18.6 mi
Hex and Hop is a craft brewery and meadery located in Bloomingdale, New York. They offer full-flavored, high-quality craft beer and mead, made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, emphasizing community and craft.
- Raquette River Brewing18.9 mi
A family- and dog-friendly taproom pouring year-round craft beer alongside four permanent food trucks, from wood-fired pizza to Carolina barbecue.
— 15.9 mi to the nearest pint; appoint a driver.
Stay.
4- Norridgewock Lodge11.9 mi
NORRIDGEWOCK LODGE, an oasis in the Adirondack Mountains. Our lakeside resort is the perfect remote vacation in the wilderness of the Beaver River. Book online!
- Forked Lake Campground12.8 mi
Forked Lake Campground is situated on the east shore of 1248-acre Forked Lake. This remote campground offers a great wilderness experience, featuring beautiful surroundings and comprehensive planning for visitors.
- Tioga Point Campground - Lean-To - Site #612.9 mi
Tioga Point Campground is a primitive campground located in Raquette Lake, NY with 15 lean-tos and 10 tent sites.
- Tioga Point Campground - Lean-To - Site #712.9 mi
A specific lean-to site (Site #7) at the DEC's Tioga Point Campground on Long Lake, with shoreline access reachable primarily by boat. Reservations through DEC.
See.
4- John Dillon Park11.9 mi
John Dillon Park, run by Paul Smith's College, is an accessible outdoor recreation area in Long Lake featuring a 3.5-mile accessible trail system, lean-tos, and fishing access. It is closed for the summer 2026 season for water system impro…
- Camp Pine Knot14.6 mi
William West Durant's 1877 compound on Raquette Lake — the camp that invented the Adirondack Great Camp style. Now SUNY Cortland's Huntington Memorial Camp, an outdoor-education center with occasional public programs.
- Raquette Lake Navigation Cruise14.6 mi
Raquette Lake Navigation Company offers dining, sightseeing, and special event cruises on Raquette Lake in New York. This family-owned and operated business has been providing scenic experiences aboard the W.W. Durant since 1991.
- BLUE MOUNTAIN CENTER17.0 mi
Blue Mountain Center is a working community of writers, artists, and activists set in the heart of the Adirondacks, the largest state park in the continental U.S.
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Frequently asked.
- How long is the Lake Lila Road?The Lake Lila Road is approximately 5.82 miles (9.4 kilometers) — a typical day-hike length.
- How long does it take to hike the Lake Lila Road?Most hikers complete the Lake Lila Road in about 3 hours 15 minutes at a steady pace with roughly 772 feet of elevation gain. Allow extra time for rest stops, photos, weather, and trail conditions.
- How difficult is the Lake Lila Road?Based on its length and elevation gain, the Lake Lila Road is a demanding hike (772 ft of climbing over the route) — sustained climbing best suited to fit, experienced hikers. This is an estimate from route data, not an official trail rating — check current DEC advisories before heading out.