7 Of The Quietest Towns In The Adirondacks
South of the Canadian border and hours away from the Big Apple reside vast areas of woodland, mountains, lakes, and rivers. It is in this fresh air of the cold countryside of the northernmost part of New York State where the beautiful Adirondack Mountains rest. It is a mountain range with an astonishing 46 high peaks and roughly 5,000 mi2 to its name. But Earth's creations are not the only appeal to the Adirondacks: the small towns that have sprouted from its soil are just as worthy. Though most are beautiful, the silent kind of beauty within these towns is a bit more rare. For that reason, here are 7 of the quietest Adirondack mountain towns.
Elizabethtown
The definition of quiet—this town is home to only around 1,000 people, and a large part of its appeal comes in the form of its positioning along the numerous trails that are right at the heart of the Adirondacks, such as the Blueberry Hill Trails and Heron Rookery (a wildlife park with a focus on native heron birds). Though the town itself is small, it should not be slept on, for it has everything a passing traveler or visitor can want. There is proper lodging like at Stoneleigh Bed & Breakfast, which provides the views and comfortable atmosphere of a 17th-century cottage, and for the history lovers, there is a tiny but dedicated museum that describes the history of Elizabethtown and the entire Adirondack mountain range. Needless to say, the mountains and their greenery are at the town's doorstep.
Old Forge
Partly on the banks of First Lake with Little Moose Lake not far in the distance, Old Forge surprisingly has options when it comes to family entertainment. Calypso's Cove Family Fun Park, for instance, makes use of the town's easy-to-access miles and miles of water for some wholesome tubing, swimming, and eating. Doubling as a restaurant, the close-by Enchanted Forest Water Safari complements the water of Calypso's, providing rides, roller coasters, and plenty of games for everyone.
But what about the quiet Old Forge? Rest assured, there is plenty in this small town to enjoy in peace and quietude, despite some parts of it being geared towards amusement goers. Old Forge Camping Resort is evidence of this and is there as a return to nature, a place where one can fish, canoe, or just simply pass the time on the shores of Beaver Brooke. Or, during the winter, one can enjoy the silent snowfall and ski at the McCauley Mountain Ski Center. Truly, Old Forge is an all-arounder, but its more serene moments belong to the nature it offers.
Wells
A thru-town nestled between wilderness and creeks, Wells is incredibly simple, but this is exactly its charm—it is a town that thrives off relaxation lakeside, and with its pride and joy, Lake Algonquin, running through it, plenty of its quiet activities revolve around the art of fishing and setting up chairs while the mountain breeze dances across the lake.
Perhaps the best-known location is that of the aforementioned Lake Algonquin and its accompanying Wells Town Beach at the center of it all. Surrounding the beach are some notable local businesses, such as Torts Twist, an ice cream shop for the sweet tooth, and on the artistic side, there is the John Van Alstine and Caroline Ramersdorfer Sculpture Studios, Gallery and Garden, a name so self-explanatory that it does no justice to the numerous modern art exhibitions and sculptures inside.
A little bit to the north is well worth the trip from Wells as well, as Auger Falls connects to Griffin Gorge and Waterfall, a dazzling site of rapids amongst trees and trailheads—and though not technically in Wells, Wells' prime proximity and roads make the drive both easy and accessible.
Keeseville
Away from the clamor of the city and residing not far from the massive Lake Champlain, Keeseville makes use of the Ausable River that flows from the lake, empowering the hamlet in a literal and figurative sense—there even is the notable Anderson Falls Park, a park known for its sparkling waterfalls, which does a service in showing the relationship between the river and the hamlet, all while carving out a crucial piece of the latter's identity.
There are also cozy places such as GiGi's on the River (a restaurant that serves anything from clubs to prime rib) and the Stewart's Shops (a specialty sweets store with a focus on ice cream and desserts), run by locals, but forever open for out-of-towners. But perhaps Keeseville's more impressive attraction is just up the road on the Empire State Trail, which leads to Ausable Chasm—The Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks—which boasts everything from rapid rafting, rappelling, hiking, to tube floating and touring. A holdover from the last Ice Age, the Ausable Chasm is one of the oldest natural attractions in the United States and has not lost its fame to this day.
Minerva
A rarity among rarities, Minerva claims to be a genuine town of the Adirondacks and a paradise for lovers of nature. The reason being that nearly half of the town's land is supposedly considered state land; in other words, it is not ruined by development and the noise pollution that comes with it. Instead, time in Minerva is passed by the lake that shares its name, typically at Donnelly Beach, a fully-fledged, regularly cleaned beach with active lifeguards and the clear waters of Lake Minerva.
And with plenty of hiking trails, ponds, and campsites (like that of Morningside Camps and Cottages), Minerva cements itself as a proper town lost somewhere in the mountainside—its uniqueness also comes to coalesce into Sporty Iron Duke Saloon, a biker restaurant, bar, and museum—and who does not like to enjoy some good burgers while the cool breath of the mountains is right outside? Little Minerva is not to be underestimated.
North Creek
At the foot of Gore Mountain (home to New York's largest alpine ski resort that bears the same name), North Creek acts as a sort of hub and key point of interest that connects many of the nearby smaller towns, such as Minerva, to the north and Johnsburg to the south. It is no wonder that there are many local businesses in this often snowy and heavily wooded area—there have to be accommodations for the traveler and the nearby residents, and mix them together, and its product is a strangely artistic place.
The Adirondack Glassblowing Studio, for instance, offers courses and live demonstrations to show the art of glass and what can be created with a substance that, under heat, can be shaped to be nearly anything, and it is the virtue of the studio to let their students pick a color and instructor, and then the learning process can begin. Afterwards, one can see the town's most famous mosaic, aptly named the North Creek Mosaic Project; carefully created on the side of a wall, the long art piece glistens as the sun hits this multicolored glass nature scene.
North Creek, as previously mentioned, is the site of many businesses as well, ranging from cafes (like Cafe Sarah) to luxury lodgings (such as the Alpine Lodge), and for good measure, plenty of eateries and restaurants (like Marsha's Family Restaurant). But truthfully, there is too much in North Creek to mention; as such, this is non-exhaustive.
Paul Smiths
Imagine quiet lakeside properties on a tiny strip of land surrounded by ponds and lakes from the north to the south. The serenity of such a sight is enough to supply a lifetime's worth of reminiscing, and Paul Smiths is a town worthy of that feeling. Its nature preserve, properly addressed as the Paul Smith's Visitor Interpretative Center, has 25 miles of trails, a butterfly house, and annual events such as the Great Adirondack Birding Celebration every June.
But outside Paul Smith's VIC is the greater area of Adirondack Park, and while admittedly, there may be less in the way of shops or businesses in the town, there are still a plethora of things to see, do, and explore. Lower Saint Regis Lake, along with Heron Marsh and Osgood Pond, ensures that those who can appreciate nature will come to appreciate this blip on the map. Considering that, besides nature, the town's next and most recognized site is its college, it being as peaceful and quiet as it is may as well be a miracle.
Why These Towns?
Though the typical town from the Adirondacks may be wonderful, what matters the most is whether they are undisturbed and if they are as peaceful and silent during the day as they are at night. These seven towns do not just so happen to be from the Adirondacks; they are its most serene products, the crème de la crème, and its most precious creations. For that circumstance, every entry belongs on the list, as they bridge peace with quietude and, in the process, make beauty.
