LOW'S LAKE / WHITNEY AREA
LOW'S LAKE / WHITNEY AREA
Boat launches:
Lows Lower Dam, Little Tupper, Lake Lila
Camping?
Primitive camp sites available
Motorized vessels allowed?
No motors on Little Tupper, Lila or Lows Lake.
Little Tupper Lake and Lake Lila, located in the William C. Whitney Wilderness Area, offer some of the finest motorless paddling experiences in the Adirondacks. Little Tupper, the largest motor-free lake in the region, provides a serene setting for both day trips and overnight camping, with a challenging but rewarding traverse to Lake Lila for skilled adventurers. Lake Lila, accessible via a short carry, features scenic campsites, sandy beaches, and the opportunity to hike Mount Fredrica. For those seeking an even greater challenge, the Bog River Flow and Lows Lake offer extended backcountry routes, including the Oswegatchie-Lows Lake traverse and a rugged connection to Lake Lila via Bog Lake, requiring strong navigation skills and determination.
Little Tupper Lake and Lake Lila
Little Tupper Lake is located between Tupper Lake and Long Lake in the William C. Whitney Wilderness Area, which was purchased by New York State in 1997 and is now the largest motorless lake in the Adirondacks. This lake is suitable for day trips and overnights in canoes and kayaks. Camping on the lake is first come, first served. Little Tupper Lake has one access point located on the northern shore. Hardy adventurers can make the traverse to Lake Lila via Rock Pond, Hardigan Pond, Salmon Lake Outlet, Lilypad Pond, and Shingle Shanty Brook. It has been done, but not by many.
Lake Lila is a large motorless lake west of Little Tupper Lake suitable for canoes and kayaks, day trips and overnights. The access point is on the northeastern shore and involves a short carry to the water. Lake Lila offers great camping. Many of the first come, first served sites have sandy beaches. From Lake Lila, hike up Mount Fredrica or explore Shingle Shanty Brook. Lake Lila is a great place for the whole family to get away from it all.
Bog River Flow, Hitchins Pond, and Lows Lake
The Bog River and Lows Lake are located south of Tupper Lake and offer a great variety of paddling options. The Bog River wanders west towards Hitchins Pond and is suitable for both day trips and overnights. Continuing west with a short carry around Lows Upper Dam, the river leads to Lows Lake. Lows is a large lake with miles of beautiful shoreline. Given the distance between the put-in and Lows Lake, many paddler's choose Lows as an overnight camping option. Lows Lake is also part of the Oswegatchie - Low's Lake traverse, a popular route for a rugged backcountry experience; paddlers start their traverse on the Bog River and travel west carrying from Lows to the upper reaches of the Oswegatchie River. This trip challenges many paddlers with a difficult portage and many beaver dams. Setting up a shuttle is necessary.