11 Best Small Towns In Upstate New York For A Crowd-Free Summer
A 60-foot steel fire tower has stood on Hunter Mountain since 1917. It marks the highest summit you can climb in the Catskills. The small ski towns spread below it go quiet once the snow melts. Their chairlifts keep running all summer for hikers. Their lakes hold trout in water 100 feet deep. These are 11 Upstate New York towns made for a crowd-free summer.
Blue Mountain Lake
This tiny hamlet sits just northwest of the more popular Indian Lake, drawing far fewer visitors than many Adirondack lake destinations. The lake that the town is named after covers over 1,200 acres with 12 miles of shoreline, and is filled with trout, bass, and smelt. With a few 100-foot deep areas of the lake, cold-water fish can thrive here.
The Adirondack lakes also offer birdwatchers great opportunities to see loons and warblers. For the truly lucky, there are hundreds of breeding pairs of bald eagles in New York State, with several having been spotted on Blue Mountain Lake. There's more than just lake activities here, though. Blue Mountain Lake is home to the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, bringing theater, workshops, speakers, and kids' camps to the shores of the lake.
Cairo
This tiny town in the Catskill Mountains offers a less busy alternative to nearby Catskill, New York, and puts you even closer to mountain hiking. The Cairo Nature Center has trails around an old reservoir and picnic tables for an outdoor meal. Grab a coffee and pastry from Red Star Cafe and Bakery, a Main Street shop with sit-down or take-away service. The nearby Stoneledge Farm operates a farm store that opens in May, selling organic vegetables and locally produced meat, dairy, and fish from a connected marketplace. After a long day of outdoor fun, you can grab a drink at Old Factory Brewing, located right on Main Street. And if you're traveling with your four-legged family members, the taproom is dog-friendly.
Hunter
Best known as a winter ski destination, the town of Hunter is a great off-season destination, without the crowds you'll find in the peak of the winter sporting season. The Hunter Mountain ski area offers scenic views of the Catskill Mountains, with the six-person chairlift carrying visitors up the mountain in summer. Hikers can also reach the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower, built in 1917 and standing at the 4,040-foot summit, the highest fire tower in New York State.
Along Main Street, you'll find the Catskill Mountain Foundation hosting live dance and theater performances at their Doctorow Center for the Arts, a 165-seater venue. The foundation also hosts art workshops and supports films at the Mountain Cinema. The town includes numerous villages and landmarks, such as the 260-foot-tall eponymous Kaaterskill Falls, though this spot can get crowded year-round thanks to social media.
Windham
Continuing northward, you'll come across the town of Windham, better known as a skier's destination, home to the Windham Mountain Club. The best part about visiting a well-known winter resort community in the summer is that there are far fewer crowds, but plenty of activities to keep you busy. For instance, the ski mountain offers clay shooting on a gun range, though you do have to either be a club member or stay at a Windham Mountain property. The club's 18-hole golf course, on the other hand, is open to the general public.
Mountain bikers can also enjoy the challenging terrain of the Catskill Mountains in the Elm Ridge Trail System, including a 1.5-mile loop with five bridges that offer fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. It's just 2 miles from the center of Windham and includes "FUN Loops" for beginners and entry-level riders. If you'd rather shop than explore the outdoors, the Windham Trading Post in Hensonville offers a unique selection of local products and antiques.
Sharon Springs
Tourists flocked here in the 19th century to enjoy natural sulfur mineral springs and luxury spa hotels. Hard times hit the area in the 20th century, and during the Great Depression, New York State invested in similar mineral baths in Saratoga Springs. Sharon Springs couldn't compete.
The community and the giant old hotels gradually fell into disrepair until recently, when the town's fortunes reversed. There's now a thriving artists' community attracted to the empty landscapes and architecturally significant buildings, with Klinkhart Hall Arts Center hosting live events. The Sharon Historical Society and Museum has documented the rise, fall, and resurrection of the town and provides a self-guided tour of Main Street, including the historic hotels that once defined the spa town.
Main Street sports two shops dedicated to goat-milk soaps and bath products, McGillycuddy's Naturals and Beekman 1802 Kindness Shop. These specialty soaps are sourced locally. You can also meet the goats behind the soap at the nearby Beekman Farm in small guided tours of the grounds.
Cobleskill
This Schoharie County town is home to SUNY Cobleskill, an agricultural and technology-focused school that includes an equestrian center. By mid-May, the college students have left for their summer break, making the town the perfect place to escape without feeling crowded. Downtown Cobleskill has great dining options, whether you want a casual meal from The Brick House Bakery or a more substantial sit-down dinner from the Bulls Head Inn, established in 1802, and one of the region's oldest landmarks.
The nearby Petersburg State Forest offers 1,094 acres of woodlands for hiking, camping, and wildlife watching, but if you prefer exploring underground rather than above ground, there are two cave systems nearby. The Howe Caverns are limestone caves with a guided walking tour that stretches nearly 8,000 feet, while the Secret Caverns are slightly smaller, with a show length of 2,640 feet, but feature a 100-foot underground waterfall.
All across Schoharie County, local farms produce fresh produce, like Cold Spring Farm, which also has a farm stand open 7 days a week, stocked with local fruits, vegetables, and specialty products like jams, jellies, and salsas.
Hillsdale
Sitting on the Massachusetts border, Hillsdale offers a unique summer experience for visitors entering the state. The Catamount Mountain Resort, a winter ski destination, straddles the state border. While in the winter you may end up waiting in line for a ski lift, there are fewer people in the summer months. The summer attractions here include a zipline tour and an aerial adventure park. For visitors who would rather stay grounded, the Catamount Mountain Trail will let you keep your feet on the ground.
The Harlem Valley Rail Trail connects the outlying areas of Hillsdale all the way to Wassaic, where Metro-North commuter rail services connect to New York City. The 26-mile trail wends its way through the valley, passing through towns like Amenia and the Taconic State Park - Copake Falls Area. Copake Falls features hiking trails in both New York and Massachusetts, plus the ruins of an abandoned iron works.
If the great outdoors is a little too much effort, you can always grab a beer at the Roe Jan Brewing Co, or if you'd rather have a little energy pick-me-up, try the Twisted Sisters Coffee House next door. Either way, you're sure to stay hydrated.
Chatham
Traveling further north, closer to Albany, New York, near the northern end of the Hudson Valley, Chatham is well outside New York City's commuter belt. The downtown is filled with local, independent businesses like Bimi's Cheese Shop, stocked with curated selections of cheese and dry goods, or Crow Cottage, a country store filled with decorative arts and home goods.
The Mac-Haydn Theatre on the outskirts of town has been producing innovative, professional musical theater productions since 1969. This classic summer stock theater is a nonprofit that runs numerous shows throughout the season, making it a great opportunity for repeat visits.
Chatham is also home to the Columbia County Fairgrounds, which hosts the week-long county fair as well as other events throughout the summer, like the Kinderhook Elks Car Show, featuring all kinds of classic cars and trucks, with awards handed out to the best rides. There is also a design class for cars, wherein people can design their own pieces for just $55 per person.
North Creek
There's no better way to escape the crowds than heading into the wilderness. The Adirondack Mountains and surrounding state park have the lowest population density in the East, making it the perfect place to get away. The town sits at the base of Gore Mountain, the state's largest ski resort, and like the other upstate ski mountains, Gore opens the chair lift for summer hiking and scenic skyrides.
Once the terminus for the Adirondack Railway, North Creek is also now home to the North Creek Depot Museum. The complex is listed on the State and National Registers, in part because it was here that then-Vice President Theodore Roosevelt learned he had become President following the death of President William McKinley.
North Creek sits on the Hudson River, but here the banks narrow and the flow slows, making it great for floating in a tube. Beaver Brook Outfitters is just upstream of the downtown and offers tube and kayak trips, along with shuttle buses, so you don't have to worry about hitchhiking back to town.
Schroon Lake
A little farther north of Lake George, New York, Schroon Lake offers a similar big-lake experience but with fewer crowds. There are great hiking opportunities, such as the Severance Mountain Trail and Spectacle Pond Trail, which lead to overlooks with views of the lakes and the valley below. Just north of town, you'll find Schroon Falls, just a two-foot drop, but still an impressive rush of water. The falls are hidden under a bridge, so you'll have to hike down to the viewing point.
Located directly on the lake, the Boathouse Theater hosts live music through the summer season, offering a wide selection of styles including rock, folk, Afro-Caribbean, and chamber music. If you prefer more elaborate staging, the nearby Seagle Festival is a seasonal celebration of opera and musical theater, with productions of Gilbert & Sullivan and Rodgers & Hammerstein alongside more traditional opera.
The village downtown offers a few dining options, including the classic Stewart's Shops, and the local Schroon Lake Department Store has you covered with clothing, gifts, bric-à-brac, and other supplies essential for any vacation.
Saranac Lake
You might think heading to the middle of the wilderness would make finding a crowd-free summer destination easy. Yet, Lake Placid, known as a two-time Olympic Village, has become a busy summer destination. If you want a crowd-free experience with similar vibes, just look to the nearby Saranac Lake.
Saranac Lake is adjacent to the 37,616-acre McKenzie Mountain Wilderness Area. Here you'll find mountain trails, like Baker Mountain, that ascend 900 feet from the trailhead and offer 180-degree views of the east, south, and west. The mountain itself is over 2,400 feet tall, and the surrounding area is ideal for exploration, with eight bodies of water that are great for cooling off in the summer.
Saranac Lake also has a rich history as a health and wellness destination. The village became famous in the late 19th century for Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau's pioneering tuberculosis treatment center, and visitors can learn more at the Saranac Laboratory Museum, the first laboratory in the United States dedicated to tuberculosis research.
Escaping Upstate for a Summer Without All The People
Upstate New York is a recreational destination for the nation's largest city, but that doesn't mean you have to face the same crowds as you would in the middle of Manhattan. Getting away can mean the quiet of a laid-back small town while still finding plenty of culture, shopping, and dining close to the region's best hiking, biking, and paddling. The towns here trade the lift lines and lake-day traffic of the marquee destinations for the same mountains, water, and stages with room to breathe.
