Wilcox Lake - Willis Lake Trail.
This short connector runs just two-tenths of a mile between Wilcox Lake and Willis Lake in the southern Adirondacks. The brief distance makes it useful for loop-building or lake-hopping rather than a destination in itself. Expect typical Adirondack forest corridor between the two water bodies.
Seasonal pattern for this trail · tops out ~1,457 ft · live closures appear above
- GroundSurface
Read the line before you walk it.
What the trailhead is doing today.
Where the hike begins.
Guides, outfitters & shuttles.
If you’re already out here.
Speculator.
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- Alpine Grille2.7 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 Cafe10.6 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 Pizza11.4 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 Coffee3.9 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 Blend10.8 mi
Northville smoothie & açaí-bowl spot in the Great Sacandaga Lake corridor.
- The PERKS of Speculator11.1 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.
Sweet.
4- The Village Scoop10.8 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 Creamery11.2 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 Cream18.7 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 Brewery11.0 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 Pub11.1 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 Mountain11.9 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- South Shore Dive13.9 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 Lake7.7 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 Cottages9.9 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 & Breakfast10.5 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 Bridge10.5 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 Museum11.3 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 Bridge12.2 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 Golf18.9 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.
Add to the record.
Free, takes thirty seconds. Yours forever.
Every page on this site gets better when readers contribute. Mark a peak you’ve climbed, drop a photo, file a field note, or flag a correction — every addition makes the next visitor’s page better.
Add a shot.
Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
Add a photo →File a report.
Trail conditions, water level, bug pressure, blowdown. The kind of detail that helps the next person plan.
Write a field note →Spot something off?
Wrong elevation, outdated access notes, a coordinate that's drifted. We'd rather hear it than miss it.
Suggest an edit →
Frequently asked.
- How long is the Wilcox Lake - Willis Lake Trail?The Wilcox Lake - Willis Lake Trail is approximately 0.19 miles (0.3 kilometers) — a short out-and-back suitable for most fitness levels.
- How long does it take to hike the Wilcox Lake - Willis Lake Trail?Most hikers complete the Wilcox Lake - Willis Lake Trail in about 5 minutes at a steady pace with roughly 27 feet of elevation gain. Allow extra time for rest stops, photos, weather, and trail conditions.
- How difficult is the Wilcox Lake - Willis Lake Trail?Based on its length and elevation gain, the Wilcox Lake - Willis Lake Trail is an easy hike (27 ft of climbing over the route) — gentle grades suitable for most fitness levels and families. This is an estimate from route data, not an official trail rating — check current DEC advisories before heading out.