Spy Lake #3 (Silver Lake Wilderness)
FREE primitive camping in the Silver Lake Wilderness, part of New York's Adirondack Forest Preserve, in the southern Adirondacks west of the Sacandaga River -- Hamilton County (Towns of Arietta, Lake Pleasant, Wells and Benson) in DEC Region 5, reached from NY 8 on the north, NY 30 on the east and the Benson / Godfrey Road side roads on the south. This is a DEC-designated primitive tent site ('Spy Lake #3'). New York provides these designated sites at NO CHARGE -- the DEC unit page lists the fee as 'Free' -- and they are first-come, first-served and cannot be reserved. This one is WATER ACCESS ONLY, and it is a genuine effort to reach. DEC's page is blunt about it: "Spy Lake has seven sites along its shore, all accessible by boat only. The only legal access is a 2.0-mile carry via a trail from Route 8." That means carrying a canoe or kayak two miles in before you ever get on the water -- there is no drive-up boat launch on this lake. Our own measurement backs DEC's number up: this site is about 3.0 miles in a straight line from the Route 8 parking area. DEC also notes a designated snowmobile trail running from the Route 8 parking lot to Spy Lake. PERMITS: a free New York State Forest Ranger permit is required for any stay of more than three nights at one spot, or for a group of ten or more (the DEC unit page sets no stricter local threshold, so the statewide rule governs). Arrange any permit in advance through the DEC Region 5 Northville Office at 518-863-4545 (Mon-Fri, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM). Camp only at the marked site (look for the yellow 'Camp Here' disc) -- elsewhere on the Forest Preserve, camping is prohibited within 150 feet of any road, trail, spring, stream, pond or other water. These are primitive sites: typically just a fire ring, no hookups, no potable water and no dump station, and designated TENT sites are for tents only. If you want amenities, DEC points you at its own Sacandaga Campground nearby, but that one CHARGES -- the sites listed here are the free ones. Pack out all trash, follow Leave No Trace and the DEC fire rules, and store food away from black bears. The unit is open year-round, but winter travel here is on ski or snowshoe -- confirm current conditions, road status, closures and this site's access with the DEC unit page (dec.ny.gov/places/silver-lake-wilderness) or the Northville office before you go; we have not visited.
Everything you need — measured from camp
- ShShower8 mi
- DDump9 mi
- WWater10 mi
- LLaundry11 mi
- +Urgent care11 mi
- FFuel11 mi
- GGrocery11 mi
- @Mail11 mi
- RxPharmacy21 mi
- HHardware21 mi
- MMechanic21 mi
- OOutfitter24 mi
- AAir-up28 mi
The read: water's a short hop out, fuel & food sit about 11 mi out.
Not within 60 mi: Propane. Plan those before you head up.
One dot per need — the nearest of each kind, straight-line from camp. Places from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Open in Google Maps ↗
The site
Nearby & resupply (OpenStreetMap)
- Resupply lookup unavailable — try the map links below.
Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- Highway rest areaIroquois Travel Plaza WB · ~29.4 mi SW
- Highway rest areaIndian Castle Travel Plaza EB · ~29.5 mi SW
Open this spot elsewhere
Other camps nearby
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Spy Lake #2 (Silver Lake Wilderness)~0.6 mi
- Spy Lake #1 (Silver Lake Wilderness)~1.1 mi
- Big Bay #3 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest)~1.6 mi
- Big Bay #2 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest)~1.9 mi
How we know this
What we don’t know
A land record can put you within a few metres of a spot. It cannot tell you any of this — so check it yourself, and treat anything below as the open question it is.
- Road surface & last-mile access
- How many rigs actually fit
- Cell coverage by carrier
- Seasonal & winter access
- Current fire restrictions
- Whether any water here is drinkable
- Shade & wind exposure
- Noise and who else shows up