11 Best Lakeside Towns in the Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Region’s beautiful lakes (over 3000 of them), carved by glaciers, have shaped the area’s recreational landscape for generations. Lake Placid stands out for its Olympic legacy and lively waterfront setting. Lake George draws visitors with its long history as a vacation destination and its striking shoreline framed by forested hills. Together, these lakeside towns help explain why the Adirondack Region attracts visitors from around the world in every season.
Lake Placid
Nestled on the shore of picturesque Mirror Lake, Lake Placid is renowned as a year-round destination for its proximity to some of New York state’s highest mountains, its Olympic history, and its charming lakeside downtown.
Mirror Lake is the centerpiece of Lake Placid and offers a relaxed hike as a 2.7-mile flat loop that takes you past shops, inns, and restaurants, including Jimmy’s 21 Lakeside Italian Restaurant, which features multiple decks overlooking the lake. In summer, Mirror Lake is popular with canoeists, paddleboarders, swimmers, and anglers. It also provides a great place to watch the annual July 4th fireworks. In winter, the lake freezes over for skating, ice fishing, and hockey. Lake Placid is where the Miracle On Ice occurred in 1980, when the men’s US Olympic hockey team upset the Russians to win the gold medal. Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980, and its Olympic history has been beautifully captured in the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, located in the heart of the town’s downtown.
Lake George
Lake George is an historic vacation town tucked along the southern end of the lake with the same name and surrounded by protected old-growth forest. But it wasn’t always calm and peaceful. In 1755, Lake George was the site of the pivotal Battle of Lake George during the French-Indian War, followed by the Fort William Henry massacre in 1757 and ongoing battles between British, French, and American armies. Today, these historic events are preserved at the Fort William Henry museum, where visitors can explore battlefield parks. Following the military conflicts, the area developed into a major summer resort destination in the late 1800s, complete with grand hotels like the iconic Fort William Henry Hotel, and steamboat tours highlighting the lake’s marine transport history. Million Dollar Beach, which features a boat launch, sandy beach, and scenic picnic areas, represents a much more peaceful era.
Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, the largest village in Adirondack Park with a population of about 5,000 people, is considered one of the most peaceful towns in the area thanks to its easy access to Flower Lake, a playground for kayakers, canoeists, and anglers. Riverfront Park features a boardwalk and walkway that offers stunning views of the greater lake and downtown area. Nearby, a walkable downtown hosts a vibrant arts community, showcased at the Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery. But it’s the town’s scientific background that put Saranac Lake on the map. For seventy years, Saranac Lake was known as a worldwide center for scientific research and patient care for tuberculosis treatment, focusing on fresh air, rest, good nutrition, and time spent in nature to manage the disease until antibiotics were discovered in the 1950s, nurturing values the town still celebrates today at the Saranac Laboratory Museum.
Tupper Lake
Located on the east shore of Raquette Pond, the northern end of greater Tupper Lake, the quaint town of Tupper Lake takes advantage of its location to offer unmatched outdoor activities. In the summer, Raquette Pond provides the perfect place to sail, with peaks like Mt. Arab and Santanoni Peak providing a scenic backdrop, as well as fish or swim. For those who prefer to stay on land, Flanders Park has been transformed into a lakeside outdoor performance area with a new bandshell while still being a great spot for a picnic or walk along the shoreline to the connected Tupper Lake Waterfront Park.
To learn more about the surrounding environment, visit the renowned Wild Center, where nature lovers can see owls, otters, and other native wildlife on nature walks or participate in interactive displays. When the sun sets and the stars emerge over the Adirondacks, the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory is where adventure and education collide. Visitors can learn about planets, constellations, and other celestial objects at one of the best destinations in the eastern US for stargazing.
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs has a lakeside side centered around Saratoga Lake. Just a few miles from downtown, the lake gives residents and visitors access to boating, paddling, fishing, and waterfront dining. Public spaces like Waterfront Park provide kayak launches, picnic areas, lake views, and community gathering spaces, making the shoreline accessible for public use. Saratoga Springs combines a lively downtown steeped in the community’s historic ties to horse racing; the town is home to the famous Saratoga Race Course and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. For a day of relaxation, residents and visitors can enjoy the mineral baths at Saratoga Spa State Park, the original draw for New Yorkers in the late 1800s. When it is dinner time, be sure to visit Mama Mia’s, one of the most authentic Italian restaurants in the state.
Inlet
Set along Fourth Lake in the Fulton Chain, Inlet is one of the Adirondacks’ most welcoming and charming villages. Arrowhead Park offers a public beach, recreation area, and scenic shoreline within walking distance of Main Street, where ice cream is on the menu at Northern Lights Creamery. The surrounding lakes are ideal for boating, paddling, swimming, and fishing, and the town is also known for snowshoeing and snowmobiling when winter arrives. Inlet manages to balance tourism with a genuine year-round community feel and has been dubbed “the little town that could” after setting a Guinness World Record for creating a 3,150-boat raft.
Old Forge
Often considered the gateway to the Adirondacks, Old Forge sits at the start of the Fulton Chain of Lakes and offers some of the best lake access in the region. Visitors can easily reach Old Forge Pond, First Lake, and nearby public beaches from the village center, while marinas, boat rentals, and waterfront lodging make it easy to spend time on the water. Where the Middle Branch Moose River empties into Old Forge Pond, be sure to visit the Old Forge Dam, a delightful little attraction that has the important task of holding back water from the Fulton Chain to avoid flooding. Just outside the hamlet lies the Enchanted Forest Water Safari, the state’s largest water theme park. In winter, with nearly 500 miles of snowmobile trails and the McCauley Mountain Ski Center nearby, Old Forge remains lively well beyond the summer months.
Long Lake
Stretching along the shores of its namesake lake, Long Lake is one of the Adirondacks’ most scenic waterfront communities. From the soothing sound of a loon calling for its mate in the morning mist or the rushing waters of stunning Buttermilk Falls, nature is everywhere in this hamlet of 800 people. Long Lake Town Beach is the hub of summer activities, where visitors can cool off in the lake with lovely views of the rolling hillsides in the distance, or hop in a float plane for scenic views of the surrounding area. For those who would rather walk, trails like Coney Mountain or Owl’s Head Mountain Trail are a destination for backpacking enthusiasts and day hikers keen to take in the beautiful vistas.
Plattsburgh
Located on the western shore of famous Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh offers a larger urban feel while still maintaining close ties to the water. The waterfront is dotted with several parks, including Peace Point Park, featuring walking trails, picnic areas, and beautiful views of Lake Champlain; Sailors Point Park for a lakeside barbecue or bicycle ride; or Cumberland Bay State Park, which features shallow water for wading or swimming and well-serviced amenities.
Just south of Sailor’s Point Park, Plattsburgh’s rich history comes to life at the War of 1812 Museum. The Battle of Plattsburgh, a turning point in American history, is on full display here, reminding residents and visitors of the region’s important past.
Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga, derived from the Haudenosaunee term for “between two waters,” is situated between Lake George and Lake Champlain. The hamlet of about 4,800 people is a popular summer destination for its water activities like paddling, swimming, and fishing at Black Point Beach.
Mount Defiance, located in the town center, offers a pleasant 2.1-mile hiking experience with more than 800 feet of elevation gain, providing spectacular views of the surrounding area, including Mount Independence, just across Lake Champlain. Mount Independence is the site of extensive fortifications built during the American Revolutionary War by the American army to stop a British invasion and is considered one of the nation’s most important historical military areas.
Bolton Landing
Overlooking Lake George’s western shoreline, Bolton Landing is an aquatic gem for residents and visitors alike. With protected waters and lots to see, paddlers can spend the day paddling around scenic Green Island, or, if they want to go a little further, Crown Island. At Rogers Memorial Park, the water is clear and blue, allowing for great swimming and even snorkeling.
Land-based attractions include hiking the Pinnacle, a 73-acre nature reserve with three different trails, all offering breathtaking panoramas of Lake George. Just north of town is the Up Yonda Farm, a 75-acre environmental education center with nature trails and a butterfly farm that is great for kids and adults.
If all of that leaves you feeling like royalty, be sure to book a room at Highlands Castle, which features stunning views of the lake and some of the finest lodging in the entire Adirondacks Region.
The Adirondack Region, the largest protected natural area in the contiguous United States, is defined by ancient mountains, thousands of pristine lakes and ponds, Olympic heritage, and a foundational role in American military history. It is these attributes that make the villages and hamlets that dot the shorelines shine, blending rugged wilderness and cultural heritage. It is for these reasons that tens of thousands of people from around the globe visit the area annually, learning about the region from locals who are more than happy to welcome them and share their knowledge.
