William C. Whitney Wilderness Area

The William C. Whitney Wilderness Area is a protected forest in the Adirondacks containing four major lakes, including Lake Lila and Little Tupper Lake, connected by streams. Primitive camping sites and hiking trails weave through the landscape, offering visitors multiple ways to explore the terrain.

William Collins Whitney established a private park spanning 68,000 acres in 1897, creating an exclusive retreat in the Adirondack region. New York State acquired a significant portion of this land in 1997 and designated it as public wilderness to preserve its natural condition.

The area is named after William Collins Whitney, who shaped the landscape as a private retreat, and visitors can experience the natural character through sandy beaches and dense forests. Walking or paddling through these undeveloped shores reveals how the Adirondack forest has been allowed to remain largely untouched by development.

The area provides 60 primitive camping sites and 13.5 miles of trails suitable for different experience levels. Visitors must bring their own non-motorized boats or enter the water at designated launch points, as the wilderness is intentionally underdeveloped.

Lake Lila is the largest publicly owned lake in the entire Adirondack region, spanning 1,400 acres within this wilderness. Its size makes it unusual since many Adirondack waters have long remained private or restricted to certain users.

Location: New York

GPS coordinates: 44.00130,-74.64790

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:25