11 Quirkiest The Adirondack Mountains Towns To Visit In 2026
The Adirondacks have a loyal following of vacationers seeking an escape from the city and family traditions that go back generations. After all, this is the place that perfected the rustic "Great Camp" retreats that drew wealthy Gilded Age families for years. But towns like Old Forge and Warrensburg appeal to a more down-to-earth crowd with attractions and activities that celebrate the region's playful side. In Ticonderoga, a superfan has rebuilt the original Star Trek sets right down to the Transporter Room. Speculator pairs a relocated 1916 steel fire tower with a miniature town called Route 66. Inlet once floated 3,150 canoes and kayaks on Fourth Lake to set a Guinness World Record. Santa's Workshop in Wilmington is one of the oldest theme parks in the US. These are 11 of the quirkiest towns in the Adirondacks for a little something different in 2026.
Old Forge
Old Forge joins several other hamlets in the area, including Big Moose, Eagle Bay, and Stillwater, in calling itself an "Adirondack Base Camp." Whatever you call it, it makes a good launching pad for exploring the expansive Adirondack Park, which attracts outdoor enthusiasts of all ages with hiking, camping, and fishing opportunities. For families, the 1.8-mile round-trip hike up to the top of Bald Mountain's 2,350-foot summit and the Rondaxe Fire Tower is a doable day hike that rewards you with a view of the Fulton Chain of Lakes. Post-hike, cool off at the circa 1956 Enchanted Forest Water Safari. After being welcomed to the storybook-themed water and amusement park by a 19-foot-tall fiberglass statue of Paul Bunyan, enjoy more than 50 attractions, like bumper cars, Tilt-O-Whirls, lazy rivers, and wave pools.
Ticonderoga
From old-school theme parks to a classic 60s television show that is still boldly going strong, Ticonderoga is home to a highly detailed recreation of the original Star Trek sets. The Star Trek Original Series Set Tour is the brainchild of superfan James Cawley, who also moonlights as an Elvis impersonator. The tour includes a walk around the Bridge, Captain Kirk's Quarters, and one room that always brings the wow-factor: the Transporter Room.
Ticonderoga gets its name from a Native American word meaning roughly "between two waters," referring to the town's location between Lake George and Lake Champlain. That strategic location proved important during both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, when it became home to Fort Ticonderoga. Today, you can visit the fort and museum, and hike to the top of Mount Defiance for panoramic views of the military fortifications and the surrounding landscape. The grounds span 2,000 acres.
Schroon Lake
Stay in the Lake George region for Schroon Lake, the surprising summer home of the Seagle Festival. As one of the oldest summer vocal training programs for wanna-be opera and musical-theatre singers, the festival was founded in 1915 as the Seagle Music Colony. This year, the 2026 season celebrates its 111th year, so be sure to catch the final performance on the schedule: "The Ladies of Phantom" on October 17th, 2026.
After the show at the Lodge at Schroon Lake, wander down to the village to window-shop at the country stores and antique shops. Stroll along Schroon Lake Town Beach, then grab dinner at Pitkin's Restaurant, a dining landmark in the small town that has served rustic comfort food for over 100 years.
Warrensburg
If treasure hunting is one of your not-so-secret hobbies, head to Warrensburg, New York, home of the "World's Largest Garage Sale," which takes place this year from October 2 to 4, 2026. With over 500 vendors taking over Main Street and beyond, you can spend three days browsing stalls and hunting for bargains. Stop for food at any of the food trucks and street vendors serving up everything from BBQ ribs to home-baked treats.
Stay overnight at The Bond 1786, a 10-room boutique hotel named for William Bond, the first settler in Warrensburg in 1786. For an adrenaline rush, the family-owned Wild Waters Outdoor Center leads whitewater rafting trips through the Hudson River Gorge, with its main base in Warrensburg. Spend 4 to 5 hours on the Class 3-4 whitewater trip along 17 miles, then enjoy a riverside picnic.
North Creek
For decades, North Creek was the end of the line (the northern terminus) of the Adirondack Railway after it reached the village in 1871, and train culture still seems to seep from the town's pores. Dig into its railroading past at the North Creek Depot Museum, which has remained remarkably intact since it was built in 1872. The station is famous in more ways than one: it was where then-Vice President Theodore Roosevelt learned of President McKinley's death and boarded an overnight train to Washington on what the museum calls his "ride to the presidency."
While you can't recreate Roosevelt's midnight ride, you can hop on a railbike from the Revolution Rail Company and ride along the old rail line. Choose from three different tours from the North Creek Station, depending on whether you want to ride over the river and through the woods, take a quick dash along the Hudson River, or ride into the sunset on a twilight tour. Toast the ride at the Barking Spider after riding the rails.
Speculator
There are so many fire towers in the Adirondacks that there's even a "Fire Tower Challenge" where visitors can hike seven towers in Hamilton County to receive a congratulatory full-color patch. Speculator has one of these former forest-fire lookouts: the Makomis Fire Tower. Originally erected in 1911 on Makomis Mountain in North Hudson, it was rebuilt in steel in 1916. After retiring from service in 1970, it was disassembled, then rebuilt in 2022 at Sacandaga River Community Park.
A boulder painted like a pig (Pig Rock) pops up alongside Route 30 a few miles north of the village; closer to town, you can check out the miniature town known as Route 66 (not that Route 66) near the fire tower. The tiny town has seven buildings, including a general store, fire station, schoolhouse, and others.
Long Lake
Soar high above miles and miles of Adirondack forests from Long Lake, a small town with a long tradition of seaplane sightseeing and flightseeing. Several tour companies, including Helms Aero Service, offer a bird's-eye view of the 6 million acres that make up the Adirondack Park. Back on terra firma, pitch a tent under the stars in the 15-site Hoss's Country Campground near the retro Hoss's Country Corner, an old-timey general store that boasts that if they don't have it, you probably don't need it. If camping isn't your style, then check into the Adirondack Hotel. Originally built in the 1850s and rebuilt after a fire in 1898, the once-grand hotel sits across from Long Lake Town Beach, where you can sit on its wide verandas and watch seaplanes taking off and landing.
Inlet
It's hard to resist visiting a record-setting town, so put Inlet on any tour of quirky Adirondack towns. On September 13, 2014, a fundraiser in Inlet put 3,150 canoes and kayaks on Fourth Lake, part of the Fulton Chain of Lakes, to set a Guinness World Record for the "longest floating line of canoes/kayaks." While the boats are long gone, you can walk Arrowhead Park's floating boardwalk in Inlet, a hub for paddling, swimming, and fishing. If you're feeling more energetic, tackle Fern Park, Inlet's recreation area, with more than 14 miles of loop hiking and mountain biking trails and lots of challenging elevation changes. Wind down with a pitcher of margaritas, chips and nachos, and live music at Archie's Alley on Main Street.
Tupper Lake
Tupper Lake is for the kids (or the little kid in all of us). Spend a day tiptoeing through the treetops on suspended platforms at the Wild Center. Explore a four-story treehouse, swing on a bridge, or climb across a giant spider web for a fun-filled, active day accessible to the whole family. Until October 31, 2026, the center welcomes "Trolls: Save the Humans," a touring exhibition that features six folklore-inspired Thomas Dambo trolls who explore themes of recycling, art, and gardening.
Browse the farm stores, antique shops, and outfitters downtown before taking a break at Little Italy, where you can order by the slice or create your own pizzas. For stargazing in the dark Adirondack sky, head to the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory, where the roll-off rooftop opens, giving the telescopes an unobstructed view.
Wilmington
After hiking, camping, and paddling your way through the Adirondacks, sit back and relax on a trip to Wilmington, with a drive up the Veterans Memorial Highway to the summit of 4,867-foot Whiteface Mountain. Opened in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the highway predates the popular ski mountain by more than 20 years, and rises over 2,300 feet in five miles from the Toll House. At the top, take in the view, go for a hike, or have lunch at the seasonal 4610' Cafe. Tack on a visit to one of the oldest theme parks in the US, Santa's Workshop. The Christmas village in the other North Pole is closed for renovations through the summer and fall, with its reopening set for November 20, 2026.
Jay
Jay takes a page from Vermont's covered-bridge playbook with the last surviving historic covered bridge in the Adirondacks. The Jay Covered Bridge was built in 1857 and fully restored in 2007. Now part of Douglas Memorial Park, the wooden bridge spans 175 feet over the Ausable River, offering plenty of opportunities for photography, bird watching, and fishing. Spend more time in nature on a hike to discover nearby Jay Falls, where you may be tempted to jump into the popular swimming hole, depending on the season. Visit the Jay Craft Center to admire the work of local Adirondack artists; it sells everything from handcrafted toys to Adirondack-themed books and handmade jewelry.
Small Towns, Big Adirondack Surprises
Somehow the Adirondacks still have plenty of surprises beyond their famous mountains and lakes, from old railways and covered bridges to giant spider webs and miniature towns. These 11 small towns combine classic Adirondack experiences with unusual attractions, quirky landmarks, and a throwback to simpler times. Explore a storybook water park, hunt for bargains at a massive garage sale, or visit a set from a beloved television show. Along the way, discover seaplanes, opera, fire towers, and plenty of small-town personality.
