10 Most Beautiful Small Towns In The Adirondack Mountains You Should Visit
Well out of sight of the famous skyscrapers of New York City, the upstate region of New York is full of natural wonders, including the majestic Adirondack Mountains. For generations, tourists have flocked to the Adirondacks region to experience its beautiful landscape of mountains, forests, lakes, and more. While nature is the star attraction in the Adirondacks, the region also contains numerous lovely small towns that are delightful places to visit. Whether you are seeking out a great meal, a charming place to stay the night, a fun shopping experience, or a chance to chat with some of the locals, the region's ten most beautiful towns have what you are looking for.
Au Sable Forks
Located on the border of Clinton and Essex counties, the village of Au Sable Forks sits at the confluence of the east and west branches of the Au Sable River, which flows through the Au Sable Chasm into Lake Champlain. Home to a large paper mill for much of the twentieth century, Au Sable Forks is now a serene little community that serves mainly as a tourist destination. Several historic homes and businesses from the village's industrial heyday, such as the Graves Mansion, add to Au Sable Forks' beauty. That said, the real standout is the Au Sable Chasm, which contains trails leading to spectacular waterfalls and stunning cliffside views.
Canton
The charming town of Canton, which is only about a 20-minute drive from the border with Canada, is home to not one but two universities. The presence of SUNY Canton (3,200 students) and St. Lawrence University (2,400 students) gives a vibrant jolt to the downtown area, which is home to businesses like Nature's Storehouse and Grasse River Outfitters. Canton also maintains two historic districts that are great for walking tours amid early twentieth-century architecture. Additionally, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy boating along the nearby Grasse and Oswegatchie rivers. Like nearly all of the small towns in the Adirondacks, Canton is a great base of operations for outdoor exploration.
Lake Placid
Lake Placid has the greatest name recognition among communities in the Adirondacks because it hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980. Along with the lake that gives the village its name, nearby Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake form the picturesque tri-lakes region. The calm, clear waters of the lakes continue to bring in summer tourists, while the Lake Placid area's ski slopes and winter sports venues draw in winter visitors. The town's Olympic Center celebrates the history of the two winter games held there, including the famous 1980 "Miracle on Ice," and Lake Placid also maintains historic architecture from its time as a resort town for the well-to-do in the late 1800s.
Paul Smiths
The Franklin County hamlet of Paul Smiths gained its unique name from the owner of one of the area's wilderness resort hotels. When the hotel burned down in 1930, the land became home of Paul Smith's College, which has only 1,000 students but a campus that covers an amazing 14,000 acres. The spacious campus, like the village itself, is surrounded and infused with stunning natural beauty, most notably Lower St. Regis Lake. The college's Visitors Interpretive Center is a great starting point for nature lovers, with 25 miles of trails, including 6 miles of interpretive trails, as well as a butterfly house, an amphitheater, picnic pavilions, and more.
Plattsburgh
Unlike tiny hamlets like Paul Smiths Au Sable Forks, Plattsburgh is one of the larger communities in the Adirondacks. That said, the town still has a population of under 20,000, so it is by no means a big city. The Saranac River flows through town on its way into Lake Champlain, which is why the town was the site of the key 1814 Battle of Plattsburgh during the War of 1812. Along with this military history, Plattsburgh has deep French Canadian connections, with many bilingual signs and residents giving the town a distinctive feel. Plattsburgh is also a charming college town, with SUNY Plattsburgh's campus incorporated into the downtown area.
Potsdam
Situated in north-central St. Lawrence County, the village of Potsdam gets a big population boost when its two colleges, Clarkson University and SUNY Potsdam, are in session. Along with being a college town, Potsdam is one of the oldest communities in the region and maintains a nice collection of historic structures. The town earned the slogan "All Roads Lead to Potsdam" not only because of its central location, but also because of the charming downtown area and friendly locals that continue to draw in visitors. Summertime events like the Potsdam Farmers Market and Ives Park Concert Series are just a few of the reasons to take the road to Potsdam!
Queensbury
Sandwiched between the Hudson River to the south and Lake George to the north in southern Warren County, the picturesque community of Queensbury is one of the loveliest and most popular destinations in the southeastern Adirondacks. Queensbury has tourist draws for all four seasons, including the Six Flags Great Escape amusement park and West Mountain Ski Area. For visitors seeking outdoor recreation combined with stunning natural scenery, the Warren County Bike Path offers breathtaking views of Lake George along its winding route through the community. As the home of SUNY Adirondack, Queensbury has a nice college-town vibe, and it is also adjacent to another lovely Adirondacks community, Glens Falls.
Saranac Lake
To clear up some potential confusion: the village of Saranac Lake is located near the Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes but is actually located along Lake Flower and the Saranac River. (Saranac Lake is also not to be confused with the town of Saranac, located 33 miles to the northeast.) In any case, the village of Saranac Lake has been a nature getaway for well over a century, with famous vacationers, including Albert Einstein and Mark Twain. Historic structures like the resplendent Hotel Saranac speak to this grand history, and Saranac Lake was named the best small town in the state in 1995. But it could probably win the award every year!
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs has been a popular vacation destination for over two hundred years, due originally to the nearby mineral springs that gave the town its name. The first tourists came to enjoy the supposed health benefits of the springs, then by the mid-1800s to visit Saratoga Race Course, a horse track that is the oldest sporting venue in the United States. The other "H" in Saratoga Springs' town motto, "Health, History, and Horses," refers to the critical Battle of Saratoga (1777) during the Revolutionary War. Additionally, Saratoga Springs has a lively arts and culture scene, and is home to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Skidmore College, and Empire State University (SUNY Empire).
Ticonderoga
The town of Ticonderoga spans the short gap between Lake George and Lake Champlain along the fast-running Lachute River and also borders the state of Vermont to its east. This marked a key strategic point for centuries, and the preserved remnants of Fort Ticonderoga, occupied in turn by the French, British, and Americans, speak to the area's historic significance. The fort holds family-friendly educational programs, walking tours, and historical reenactments throughout the year. Ticonderoga also offers great sightseeing spots, including boat tours on the lakes and the picturesque Ticonderoga "Kissing" Bridge. While armies once battled over control of this beautiful landscape, today's tourists thankfully get to enjoy Ticonderoga in peaceful serenity.
The Adirondacks region is a land full of beauty, history, and charm and has long been a popular four-season tourist destination. Narrowing down any must-see list in the Adirondacks is a tall task, and it is nearly impossible to choose only ten beautiful small towns. So, instead, think of our list as just a starting point for your travels in the Adirondacks, and be ready to add some new discoveries to your own personal list of "must-visit" towns!
