New York · Hiking

Spectacle Lake Trail

Spectacle Lake TrailPhoto: markcbrennan, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.1 mi
round trip
268 ft
climb
1,806 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Spectacle Lake Trail is a short, easy hike in the Ferris Lake Wild Forest in New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail is about 2.3 miles long and is an out-and-back route, with the high point at 1,806 feet and the low at 1,712 feet. The climb is gentle, with a total gain of 268 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about mile 1, where the grade reaches 11 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 77°F with lows near 56°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. The trail takes about an hour to complete. Good Luck Cliffs Trail starts just 0.2 miles away, and Good Luck Mountain, a climbing area, is about half a mile off. West Stoner Lake Trail and Long Lake Trail are both within about 2 miles.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Spectacle Lake Trail

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      24° / 7°

    2. Feb

      27° / 8°

    3. Mar

      35° / 16°

    4. Apr

      48° / 29°

    5. May

      63° / 42°

    6. Jun

      72° / 52°

    7. Jul

      77° / 56°

    8. Aug

      73° / 54°

    9. Sep

      67° / 46°

    10. Oct

      53° / 36°

    11. Nov

      40° / 25°

    12. Dec

      30° / 16°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gloversville 7nw (Peck Lake), NY, 11 mi away at 1,455 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors