10 Best Small Towns To Visit In The Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondacks are the largest protected area in the contiguous United States, with over 2,000 miles of hiking trails, more than 3,000 lakes, and 1,200 miles of rivers. Formed over millennia but geologically newborn after glaciation carved away the landscape, unlike the Rockies, the mountainous region in New York is not a connected range. Escape the harrowing game of life for a weekend getaway into the Adirondacks, where the refreshing lakes and revitalizing mountain air will bring you back to life. Choose a town in between the peaks rising to anywhere from 1,200 feet tall to over 5,000 feet tall, where 46 "High Peaks" are taller than 4,000 feet. These towns offer an unforgettable mountain feel, views, and memories to create and cherish forever with your closest peeps.
Champlain
This small town, the northeasternmost in Clinton County, sits scenically against the Canadian border along the Great Chazy River. Dive into the waters with recreation and relaxation for all, just five miles from the western shore of Lake Champlain. Paquette Public Park's cozy trails overlook the river, with several new cycling paths. If you catch the travel bug or wake up with a sudden urge for some French culture, enjoy easy access via Champlain Port of Entry or Interstate 87, connecting Quebec Autoroute 15 from Montreal to New York City.
The riverbanks attract fishing enthusiasts in the summer and golf lovers to the North Country Golf Club, while the wintertime hosts many snow bunnies for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling recreational trails. The lake's pristine beaches are blissful on a hot summer's day, with swimming, leisurely kayaking, fishing, and boating in the vistas around. Dry off on a hike or a chill stroll through the surrounding forests along amazing trails for all levels.
Lake Placid
Lake Placid, home to the 1936 and 1980 Winter Olympics, is a must-visit at least once in your life, particularly in the wintertime. Find cultural Olympic remnants scattered around the Olympic village and some of the best hiking and stunning trails in Lake Placid. The Cobble Lookout, Indian Head, and summit of Whiteface Mountain offer epic scenery, while the town itself is also freshening up to host the imminent 2023 World University Games. Take on the 56-mile Iron Loop on two wheels, along the gorgeous Cascade Lakes and the Ausable River. Brimming with pursuits in the snow, you can take a cross-country skiing class, enjoy a leisurely snowshoe trail, or hit Whiteface Mountain like a pro, all in winter wonderland's embrace.
There is also whitewater rafting through Ausable Chasm and Indian Lake along the Hudson River, and all-season, relaxing scenic drives along Adirondack Loj Road, overlooking the most stunning of the range, the High Peaks. Choose the gorgeous Mirror Lake Inn with a resort vibe, a spa by the sensational lake, and quick access to the ski slopes with a restaurant on site. The luxurious Whiteface Lodge is cozy and atmospheric, with a rustic feel featured in HBO's "Succession," while the waterfront Lake Placid Lodge offers year-round activities, including boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and rock climbing.
Lake Pleasant
The all-season vacationland of Lake Pleasant consistently delights new and returning faces with the most attractive streetscape, making it one of the Adirondacks most beautiful towns. Located in the southern reaches of the Adirondacks, Lake Pleasant is blessed with a verdant and varying landscape under balmy summertime temperatures. Enjoy the friendly atmosphere all around—an alluring tourist hotspot without being a trap.
Visit Lake Pleasant to find out what is so special about the Adirondack Mountains, as well as some of their most unique sights, during your favorite outdoor excursions. From fishing for the many species in the lake, like smallmouth bass and largemouth bass, to the surrounding Adirondack Forest Preserve, which hosts wildlife and pretty nature trails, you can enjoy a getaway or a whole vacation spent in the natural embrace of the mountainous scenery.
Long Lake
Standing behind its name, the town in the midst of a 450-square-mile naturally beautiful area is an unmissable destination for the outdoorsy, particularly water fans. Aside from its own namesake natural feature, the town boasts massive waterways with many water bodies, along with easy access to Raquete Lake and its connecting Raquete River. You can spend a whole vacation trying something different, from the Long Lake Beach to Buttermilk Falls hikes to exploratory ones around the Lake Lila Primitive Area.
Despite a population of some 350, Long Lake stays busy year-round, hosting tourists with delightful on-the-town attractions for all groups and tastes. Check out the iconic Hoss's Country Corner store for everything you might have forgotten for the best Adirondack getaway. With boating during the day and nights under the stars in Lake Eaton, scenic flights over the sparkling waters, or simple picnicking on the banks after a hike, Long Lake has got you covered.
North Elba
North Elba, a small town in Essex County, New York, offers unforgettable getaways for any group in the heart of the Adirondacks. Visit in the summer for your favorite warm-weather pursuits, with fantastic scenery all around and vestiges in town from the time it played host to the Winter Olympic Games in 1932 and 1980. With something for everyone, it is no wonder that North Elba is among the top choices for a whole vacation in the small town atmosphere and natural embrace of the mountains. Everything here seems close by, from thrilling mountain climbing to popular hiking routes. The family-friendly atmosphere invites you to simply relax over a picnic amid the stunning mountain views or soak in the scenery anytime of the year on a stroll.
Saranac Lake
The town of Saranac Lake, under a never-ending vacation vibe, hosts vibrant year-round opportunities for all tastes. Visit for the 10-day Winter Carnival by the lake, with family-friendly games, exhibits, live music, and a parade. Support local artists through several on-demand art galleries in town like Saranac Lake Artworks and the Adirondacks Artists Guild, and visit the Saranac Laboratory Museum from 1984—the country's first to study tuberculosis.
Seek more history along a brick path in the downtown area with vintage sights from its logging past, restaurants, and quick bite shops. The quaint town is your gateway to an all-year hiking trail, Ampersand Hike, with varying epic mountain lake vistas. In wintertime, the area around turns into a snowshoeing paradise, popular among locals, with a range of trails from beginner to expert and the Dewey Mountain Recreation Center just a quick drive away. Join them in some ice fishing, another favorite lifestyle activity you can enjoy here at Lake Colby.
Schroon Lake
The small and cozy town on Schroon Lake is deeply historic and naturally vibrant. Trace its cultural heritage back to the 19th century, when affluent New Yorkers retired here from the hustle into nature. Enjoy the serenity, with a quaint population of under 1,000, in all the fresh mountain air and views of the surrounding peaks throughout your easy-going getaway pursuits or on the way to the crystal-clear Schroon Lake itself.
Cross the picturesque scenery over the Schroon Lake Stone Arch Bridge and delve into the old-timey atmosphere at the Schroon Lake Fish and Game Club with a guided tour. Set sail from the Schroon Lake Marina or stroll through the modern-day cultural sights still offering the same respite vibe for families with attractions, and check out the notable Strand Theater in the evening.
Speculator
Speculator is an unmissable Adirondacks gem with a population of only 400 and a personality bigger than life. It is a lovely destination to visit year-round, with mountain culture at its best packed into a small-town atmosphere. Find your game amid the peaks, including Oak Mountain, with wintertime skiing and snowboarding, summertime camping at Sacandaga Lake, and visits to the Morehouse Historical Museum and the Judy Nelson Art Gallery in between.
Come for the stunning Sacandaga Lake views, with nearby Mason Lake and the spectacular Pillsbury Mountain to diversify a whole summer vacation. From well-manicured hiking trails, like the famed loop to Auger Falls, to other outdoor activities, including relaxing and adrenaline-rushing, Speculator is an all-season vacationland. Enjoy paddling and boating through the many lakes around, and find charming street hotspots to keep you happily busy away from nature.
Wells
Wells is a mighty contender for the title of the best small Adirondacks town to realize your summertime fantasies, with Lake Algonquin to one side and pristine forestland on the other. Enjoy easy, anytime access to all of the sections you desire right off NY-30, and choose from charming summer cottages or cozy winter cabins. Start exploring the town on foot or head straight for the public beach, where the pristine Lake Algonquin's shore offers boating, kayaking, and fishing.
The recently revived town enchants right from the get-go with plentiful cozy cafes to waste a morning, a historic country store, and lakeside views through your daily paroles. Wells hosts one of the best hikes in the whole region—a lush and well-marked 1.3-mile forest trail for a relaxing stroll sloping down to the scenic Sacandaga riverside view of Auger Falls. Chase five more waterfalls in the Heart of the Adirondacks Waterfall Challenge, including Griffin, Falls on the West Branch and Cold Brook, East Jimmy Creek, Tenant Creek, and Austin Falls—some of New York's finest.
Wilmington
This stunning town is a real summertime beehive of activity, with easy access to exchange the mundane city sights and soot for the refreshing neverland with romantic mountain sunsets. Wilmington's surrounding network of scenic trails for every level includes thrilling lakeside adventures and the foothills of the enchanting Whiteface. The charming town is also popular for setting up base and exploring nearby Lake Placid, a more touristy town with lake access for all, just twenty minutes away from Wilmington.
Spend your best vacation exploring this slice of heaven in the Adirondacks by interacting with nature, like at the spectacular High Falls Gorge and the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge. The sparkling mountain lakes beckon you to dip your toes in the cooling waters post-hike and let the alpine atmosphere envelop you with mind-soothing mountainscapes—a real eye feast.
Enjoy easy access to a whole other atmosphere in the Adirondack Mountains, a real outdoor paradise just a few hours north of New York City. The pristine and expansive range with its natural gems—from riversides and lakeshore beaches to forested landscapes—allows you to play in dry and wet nature, like paddling however you like. Choose an alpine town from this list of ten to make your year-round getaway dreams come true in ways you've never dreamed possible. Each town is a real portal into this boundless adventureland as you discover the Adirondacks' unfailing beauty, unique ecology, and historic legacy.
