Lake Lila is situated in serene Hamilton County between Long Lake and Tupper Lake. To get to the lake you drive 6 miles down a logging road the speed limit is 15 and don't break it or your mechanic  will be laughing all the way to the bank when you get home (over the past 5 years this road has gotten much easier, not sure this is a good thing). The parking area holds enough cars for the number of sites on the lake. All sites are first come first serve so if the parking lot is full, you might be out of luck. There is an outhouse at the parking lot and that is the closest thing to a toilet you'll find. The island sites have outhouses without the house on them ( a wood box with toilet seat over a hole in the ground). The trek to the lake is 3/10 of a mile up and down a trail. You have to carry all your gear and don't plan on any wheeled cart getting down the trail. No motors are allowed on the lake so it's basically all canoe and kayak.  Campsites are designated around the lake, and consist of a fire pit, and usually one or two flat places for a tent. If you have a large group, more then 2 tents, or more then a 5 person tent, then the far end at the old lodge site will be about the only place that will accommodate your stuff. There is one lean-to on the lake.

If coming between May and June, beware of blackflies they will eat you alive. from July to September the mosquitoes are crazy. Weekends can get crowded. Bears are common so precautions must be taken. There is a limit to 3 nights at the lake, and you check in and check out at the parking area (just a log book).

Above can be found all the difficulties surrounding camping at Lake Lila, but  this is a little price to pay for what you get. What you get is one the Adirondacks most beautiful sites. Lake Lila is over 2 square miles of tannic water surrounded by mountains and gorgeous white pines. At the West end of Spruce island there is an Osprey nest which in the spring always has one or two chicks in it. Bald eagles are common around the lake. The fishing is superb and 3-5 lb smallmouths are common. You awake each morning to the loons serenading the rising salmon on a calm lake with a mirror finish. The wind picks up in the afternoon cooling things off and pushing the bugs away with a steady alpine breeze. At night, even with no moon, the sky is bright with billions of stars.

Lake Lila is not for the faint of heart, or the amateur day camper. But for the true outdoors-man, nature lover, or canoeist it is a diamond in the rough. When you come home from Lila your shoulders will be sore from paddling, your back may ache from sleeping on the rock, you'll smell of campfire smoke, and your car might need a whole front end alignment, but your mind and soul will be at peace, you will calmed, your batteries will be recharged, and you won't be able to wait to come back.