Lake Lila: The Most Underrated Adirondack Lake
My first view of Lake Lila, from the trail to Mt. Frederica
I have a long list of 'someday' adventures (I'll show you mine if you show me yours), and most involve ponds or lakes. I'm glad peak-bagging is so popular because it makes pond-hopping all the more appealing to me. Fewer people, more solitude, happier me. How I ended up at Lake Lila isn't a particularly exciting story. In fact, unlike the lake (60'+ deep), my rationale was quite shallow—I like the name "Lila," and it's accessible, yet remote. There is a certain baseline appeal for a day on an Adirondack lake, but Lila far exceeded my expectations.
A Timberdoodle/American Woodcock (Scolopax Minor) pair greeted me at the beginning of the Lake Lila Road
I'll include a map here, so there's no need to go into great detail about how to get there, but it's worth noting how the drive is both pretty yet, for low-riding vehicles, far from ideal. From Route 30, down Circle Road, and onto Sabattis, you should have no problems, but shortly after turning onto Lake Lila Road, you'll meet many a pothole and problematic protruding rock.
Reaching the parking area 0.3 miles away from the lake itself, I found only a handful of cars (yay). With no particular destination in mind, my intention was to walk the road/trail along the north end of the lake for as long as I wanted—it was a very hot and humid day, so it was up in the air how far I'd go. I'd done very little homework beyond looking up directions to the lake, but walking along a lakeside road, I felt comfortable with the spontaneity of my hike.
Some woodpeckers use snags (standing dead trees) as a food source, and as a home (as do many other cavity dwelling birds)
Making a few stops along the way to sneak a different view from the shore or to admire a plant, I was reaching that I am going to have to walk X miles back, maybe it's time to turn around point. Thank goodness I kept going because I saw a sign for Mount Frederica, which indicated I was just more than a mile away from a lakeside peak.
One of my favorite flowers: Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata), which is considered “exploitably vulnerable” in New York State
Not having any idea what to expect—Lord knows there are many peaks without much of any view—I decided to roll the dice. The hike up the mountain itself was underwhelming, and though I was too far in to turn around, I did question whether or not adding more than two miles to the trip was going to be worthwhile.
Crossing the tracks on the Mt. Frederica trail. These tracks extend from Utica to Tupper Lake, passing thru Thendara and Beaver River
When I turned the corner and saw a preview of the view-shed, I internally said, "yup." To say the extra distance was worth it would be a radical understatement! Immediately, this view jumped onto my 'top 10 Adirondack views' list (it's only a mental list at this point).
Birch atop Mt. Federica. Lake Lila is a stunner!
I sat down in the shade to soak it all in, enjoy a pair of peanut butter cups, and a few sips of ice-cold lemonade. The sky was mottled with cartoon-like fluffy clouds in contrast with the deepest of blue skies, and the breeze felt like the predictable oscillation of a household fan. Perhaps it was just late enough in the day for the temperature to drop a bit, but though it was hot and muggy earlier in the day, I couldn't find a single thing I would change about those moments atop Mt. Frederica.
I stepped down to another section of the peak to get a different view of Lake Lila
Aside from two groups of folks leaving near the parking lot, I saw no people, heard no jets or engines, and failed to find a single piece of litter to take out with me.
Bulrush in the sedge family
For a moment, I strongly considered leaving from the parking lot, but the 0.3-mile canoe carry to the lake seemed like one I couldn't ignore. And, much like the summit of the mountain, I was so glad I made the right choice. A charming wood path leading through a grove of very large cedar trees perfectly framed a preview of the lake. What I found was one of the most stunning Adirondack beaches I've yet seen—the sand was a fine light khaki color, the shoreline betrayed not an ounce of wildness, and as I ambled into the lake, I stepped in no muck but instead found a gentle sandy grade to a point at which I felt compelled to dive in.
I kicked around and floated as the sun drifted down toward the horizon, played on the beach with Birch, and did everything in my power to soak it all in. Moments like these become a balm to my soul during the doldrums of winter and remind me living here is worth the seasonal challenges.
Birch, happy as a clam!
For roughly 9 miles, most of which follows flat lake grade, I have no doubt you'd enjoy this adventure. It's worth the effort. I will be back with a kayak—stay tuned.