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Highway 30: Northville to Speculator, Adirondacks, New York
Photo: MJPlante1 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Drives New York The Adirondacks and the North Country

Highway 30: Northville to Speculator

NY 30, Adirondack Trail · Northville → Speculator

Leisurely29 mi35 min1,700 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,800 ftOne way
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The drive

Highway 30 north from Northville starts with open water. Since about 1961 the highway has run along the west shore of Great Sacandaga Lake, bypassing Northville village, and the big reservoir, formed when the Conklingville Dam closed in 1930 and covering about 42 square miles, spreads out beside the road at the start.

Past the head of the lake the road follows the Sacandaga River north up its valley, part of the Adirondack Trail scenic byway, to the hamlet of Wells, which wraps around Lake Algonquin, a small reservoir on the river with a town beach near the Highway 30 bridge.

Just north of Wells, Highway 8 joins, and the two run together about 13 miles through forest to Speculator, on the shore of Lake Pleasant, where the drive ends.

Along the way

  1. Northville
  2. Wells
  3. Speculator
Elevation
1,700 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,800 ft
NorthvilleSpeculator
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
NorthvilleSpeculator
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Wells has a small town beach and boat launch on Lake Algonquin, an easy place to stop halfway.
  • Deer and moose are most active from October through December and at dawn and dusk, New York's DMV and DEC warn.
  • The Highway 8 drive from Hague ends at Highway 30 in Wells, so the two link up.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check 511NY.

Questions about this drive

How long is the drive from Northville to Speculator on Highway 30?

Highway 30 from Northville through Wells to Speculator is 28.6 miles and takes about 35 minutes.

Does Highway 30 go along Great Sacandaga Lake?

Yes. North of Northville, Highway 30 runs along the west shore of Great Sacandaga Lake, a reservoir created by the Conklingville Dam in 1930.

Is Highway 30 from Northville to Speculator a scenic byway?

Yes. Highway 30 through this part of the Adirondacks is the Adirondack Trail scenic byway.

Is Highway 30 to Speculator a twisty road?

No. Highway 30 from Northville to Speculator has mostly gentle curves and about 1,700 feet of climbing; the lake and the river valley are the draw.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Highway 30: Northville to Speculator, from Northville to Speculator