Adirondacks Spotlight: Nature, Adventure and Olympic History

The Adirondacks is a year-round destination in New York known for its mountain landscapes, outdoor activities, historic sites and charming communities. The Adirondack Park is described as a “forever wild” natural destination and offers access to the 46 High Peaks, scenic lakes, forests and numerous recreational attractions.

Visitors can explore mountain trails, family attractions, Olympic venues, historic fortresses, local restaurants and communities throughout the region.

Three Adirondack Experiences Not to Miss

Wild Center and Wild Walk

The Wild Center is a 115-acre natural history museum offering visitors an immersive introduction to the Adirondack Park. Its Wild Walk treetop trail features elevated bridges, a giant woven spider web and an observation deck designed like a nest.

Olympic Experiences in Lake Placid

Lake Placid, which hosted the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, offers visitors opportunities to explore the region’s Olympic history.

The Olympic Museum showcases memorabilia from the Games, while the Cloudsplitter Gondola provides aerial views of Whiteface Mountain and the surrounding landscape. Visitors can also experience activities at Mt. Van Hoevenberg and other Olympic venues.

The 46 High Peaks

The Adirondack High Peaks include 46 mountain summits offering views of lakes, forests and granite landscapes. Among the destinations are Cascade Mountain and Porter Mountain, while experienced hikers can tackle Mount Marcy, New York’s highest peak at 5,344 feet.

Family Attractions

Families can explore High Falls Gorge, a 22-acre nature park featuring four waterfalls, accessible trails, scenic viewpoints and the Ausable River.

Other family attractions include Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course, which features aerial obstacle courses, zip lines, rope swings and other activities, and Natural Stone Bridge and Caves Park, home to a large natural marble stone entrance, waterfalls, gorges and gemstone-mining activities.

Adirondack Coast and Lake Champlain

The Adirondack Coast along Lake Champlain combines waterfront destinations, geological attractions and historic sites.

Ausable Chasm offers trails through a 150-foot sandstone gorge as well as rafting opportunities, while the North Star Underground Railroad Museum explores the history of the Champlain Line and its role in journeys to freedom.

Visitors can also explore Point Au Roche State Park, Plattsburgh City Beach and the region’s waterways through kayaking and other outdoor activities.

Lake George and Regional Attractions

Lake George offers scenic cruises, waterfront dining, specialty shops and seasonal activities. Visitors can explore Lake George Village, Shepard Park and Million Dollar Beach, while winter activities include ice fishing and the Lake George Winter Carnival.

The region also features cultural attractions such as The Hyde Collection Art Museum and Historic House in Glens Falls, which houses collections ranging from Renaissance paintings to contemporary photography.

Historic Adirondack Great Camps

The Adirondacks is home to historic Great Camps built during the Gilded Age. These properties combined rustic architecture with luxury and were designed to blend into the surrounding landscape.

Visitors can explore destinations including Great Camp Sagamore and the Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake.

Outdoor Adventures

The region offers hiking, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, horseback riding, snowmobiling, skiing and other outdoor activities.

Visitors can hike Prospect Mountain, explore the High Peaks, paddle the Saranac Lake Chain or take guided horseback rides through the Adirondack Park. The Saranac Lake Chain provides a 17-mile paddling route connecting three lakes.

Hotels and Dining

Accommodation options across the Adirondacks range from budget properties and cabins to luxury resorts and historic retreats. The region includes properties such as Great Camp Sagamore, Whiteface Lodge, Mirror Lake Inn and The Sagamore Resort.

The dining scene includes local diners, delis, breweries, Mediterranean and Italian restaurants, lakeside dining and upscale establishments.

Getting to the Adirondacks

The Adirondacks can be reached by train, plane, car and bus. Amtrak and other rail services connect the region through stations including Westport, Plattsburgh, Ticonderoga and Port Kent.

Regional air service is available through Adirondack Regional Airport and Plattsburgh International Airport, while Albany International Airport provides another access point. Interstate 87 and Interstate 81 connect the region by road, and Greyhound, Trailways and Megabus provide bus service from New York City and other parts of New York State.