12 Quirkiest Adirondacks Towns You Didn't Know Existed
Covering over six million acres, including 3,000 lakes or ponds, 2,000 trails, and 30,000 miles of rivers, the protected natural area of the Adirondacks includes numerous quirky small towns and villages worth visiting. These spots in Upstate New York provide the extraordinary soul and colorful nature of the Adirondack Mountains. For those looking to enjoy pristine forests, mountains, rivers, and waterfalls, with a dash of the unexpected, the Adirondacks is the place to go.
Lake Placid
Lake Placid offers a unique blend of experiences, both indoors and outdoors. As the site of two Winter Olympic Games, the town is set up for winter and summer adventures. Visitors can take in the local history at John Brown Farm and learn about his ill-fated 19th-century efforts in the abolition of slavery. Take a picnic and enjoy the park-like amenities, including multiple hiking and walking trails.
You can also check out the Lake Placid Olympic Museum with exhibits and artifacts from both the 1980 and 1932 Games, featuring memorable events like the hockey match between the US and then Soviet Union, dubbed the Miracle On Ice. Take the adventure outside and hike to the High Falls Gorge. The gorge offers easy, short, accessible trails to the heart of several waterfalls, and even out onto glass floor walkways for those brave enough to experience looking between their toes to the raging falls and river below.
Looking for more? Don’t miss visiting the Lake Placid/North Elba Historical Museum located at the old Lake Placid Railroad Station. From the museum, visitors can hit the Adirondack Rail Trail on foot or by bike. For those seeking water activities, head to Mirror Lake, right in the center of town. Paddle, fish, swim, skate, or ice fish, depending on the season.
Tupper Lake
Just west of Lake Placid is Tupper Lake. To say this community embraces its natural environment would be a serious understatement. Between the Sky Center & Observatory, which offers free public programming and stargazing events, to The Wild Center, which boasts a four-story twig treehouse and human-sized bald eagle's nest, there is no shortage of ways to truly immerse yourself in the splendor of the Adirondacks.
Visitors can enjoy Tupper Lake year-round, but summer is when those set on completing the Tupper Lake Paddling Triad get down to business. The challenge includes completing three paddling routes to earn a patch and a sticker, not to mention bragging rights. Looking for a more leisurely experience? Little Wolf Beach offers a campground, floating dock, and a healthy dose of serenity. Back in town, take in an MLB-affiliate Riverpigs baseball game and watch tomorrow's star athletes shine today.
Ticonderoga
Ticonderoga is a tiny hamlet situated between Lake George and Lake Champlain, meaning water lovers can enjoy access to both. At the southern end of Lake Champlain, visitors can also tour Fort Ticonderoga, which offers daily programs, exhibitions, and special events, including historical reenactments. The fort is also home to the remarkable King’s Garden, the oldest cultivated landscape in the US. Walking the grounds is like seeing a living, breathing self-sustained manor estate, with animals, herbs, heirloom vegetables, and a stunning assortment of ornmental shrubs and flowers. For a different view of the landscape, you can take a boat cruise aboard The Carillon and see both the Adirondack Mountains of New York and Vermont’s Green Mountains in a single tour. Nature lovers can hit the La Chute River Trail and enjoy several waterfalls along the way. The three-mile trail ends in Bicentennial Park, where visitors of all ages can enjoy a playground and a public dock—fish right off the dock or from a small boat or kayak.
Apart from the countryside, however, Ticonderoga has a most intriguing exhibit. The Star Trek: Original Series Set Tour is a truly unique experience. When the popular show was canceled in 1969, the set was dismantled and sold off to private buyers. This exhibit is a collection of original set pieces and recreations, and is the most accurate of its kind in the world - so much so, in fact, that the exhibit is endorsed and licensed by CBS. Stand on the bridge, walk the halls of the U.S.S. Enterprise, and beam yourself up to wherever your imagination will take you.
Warrensburg
A visit to the Adirondacks includes spending time in the charming town of Warrensburg. Sitting on the banks of the clear water of the Upper Hudson River, Warrensburg is the local Adirondack hub for golfing and summer camps. The town offers visitors multiple natural campgrounds and top-of-the-line resorts. Enjoy the public beach or paddle down the Upper Hudson, which connects to additional rivers, ponds, or trails. Get outdoors and hike or bike the Hackensack Mountain Recreation Trail. Or, take advantage of two professional-level golf courses. The Green Mansions Golf Course is a nine-hole, USGA-rated, PAR 36 course that hosts numerous tournaments, while Cronin's Golf Resort offers championship-level golf with resort lodging and dining experiences. Enjoy the swimming, canoeing, or fishing on the river, warm up in the evening at the nightly campfire.
No matter how you experience Warrensburg, however, nothing compares to the main event each October, when the town comes together to host the World's Largest Garage Sale. Since 1980, Warrensburg has been inviting vendors and visitors for a full day of bargain hunting with a highly ecclectic mix of antiques, crafts, hand-me-downs, and trinkets. There is truly nothing like it.
Lake George
Lake George graces the shores of its namesake. The town started as a British fort in the late 1700s, so history buffs will love the Fort William Henry Museum and restored original fort. The town is also home to Million Dollar Beach, featuring picnic areas and a public boat launch, but while enjoying the lake, be sure to keep an eye out for Georgie, the famed sea (lake) monster. What began as a hoax in the early 20th century has become a beloved piece of folklore. The original Georgie can be found at the Cinton F. West Historical Museum, but a replica is on display at the Lake George Historical Museum.
Take Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway experience the exquisite views from the high peaks of the Adirondacks. Visitors can also opt to hit the trails via horseback. Take a long, leisurely ride through wooded trails and around the lake with a guided tour from one of several vendors in town. There are also helicopter tours of the area or, you can experience Lake George by parasailing above the water. By land, water, and sea, there are endless ways to discover Lake George.
Lake Luzerne
When visiting the Adirondacks, be sure to stop by Lake Luzerne at any time of year for a wealth of water-based adventures, complemented by art, history, and a popular music camp. Experience the thrills of whitewater rafting or kayaking, or quietly paddle down the Sacandaga and Hudson Rivers. Ride a bike or a horse along multiple trails leading in and out of town, or enjoy the same shared trails on foot.
The Painted Pony Championship Rodeo sets Lake Luzerne apart from other towns within the Adirondacks. Check out the local performances and competitions, along with authentic BBQ. Experience the Wild West in the heart of New York State, where you least expect it. For something a little more traditional, the town has public tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts along the Hudson River, and the Luzerne Music Center hosts outdoor concert during the summer at several local lakeside parks. There’s even a music camp available, as well as courses on offer at the Adirondack Folk School.
Speculator
A trip to the Adirondacks is not complete without visiting the town of Speculator. Speculator sits on the shores of Lake Pleasant with amongst the nearly-pristine wilderness. Mountain biking is a popular activity, and the Kunjamuk Loop will challenge riders of all skill levels. For non-mountain bikers, there’s plenty of additional hiking and opportunities to enjoy both nature and the scenery, like Kunjamuk Cave and the adjacent Kunjamuk Trail. The cave itself is 15 feet deep and around 8 feet wide. Go ahead and look in the cave. It's Interesting to squeeze in and take a quick look around without the risk of unknown openings or caverns.
In terms of man-made attractions, the Mini Route 66 display is not to be missed. This collection of small buildings are replicas of the real Route 66, heading west. They were crafted as a labor of love by John Van Buiten, and includes a small-scale gas station, church, general store, and a growing list of other buildings. Speculator also offers a busy, life-sized downtown with local shops like Tracy’s Rustic Relics and the Speculator Creamery, so you can find a new favorite piece and pair it with two scoops of exceptional ice cream.
Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake offers the usual Adirondack scenery and access to multiple water activities without leaving town. What's a bit unusual, however, is its history. At the Saranac Laboratory Museum, you can discover how the town served as one of the first tuberculosis treatment centers in the United States and learn about the impact this had on the global fight against the deadly disease. Take a tour of the lab and explore a truly niche piece of American history.
Multiple trails throughout town will have you hiking, biking, or walking for miles. Get away from everything or use the trails to put together daily adventures around town. Saranac Lake boasts a thriving downtown where nature meets city parks, featuring colorful, artistic murals along a paved river walk. Enjoy the Adirondack views in town and strike a balance between relaxation and adventure. While in Saranac Lake, visit the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation to learn more about the beloved local and its importance to the region.
Inlet
Like many towns in the Adirondacks, Inlet is completely surrounded by hiking trails, lakes, and pristine forests. Hike or bike Rocky Mountain or Black Bear Mountain. Visitors looking for a wide variety of bird watching opportunities enjoy Ferd's Bog Trail. Explore the Cathedral Pines Trail and experience an eerie and touching site amidst the trees. In the midst of the forest is a memorial for a local and beloved soldier who died in France during World War II. The monument includes a plaque and is often decorated with small flags and tokens of appreciaion, and provides a unique and unexpected moment for reflection among the towering pines.
The lush forests around Inlet are special during the summer. Catch a glimpse of sunlight radiating across numerous lakes and ponds. Discover and be aware of wildlife living in the area, including black bears and deer. In the evenings after a day of hiking, wildlife viewing, or birding, catch the Inlet Concert Series on the Arrowhead Lakefront every Saturday evening, all summer long.
Indian Lake
Indian Lake is an unconventional small town in the Adirondacks, known as the Whitewater Capital of New York State. In addition to raging rivers, the town has plenty of local access to large bodies of water, including Indian Lake with a marina that provides boat rentals, gas, and launching services. Of course, rafting options are abundant, with a number of companies offering a range of options for thrill seekers on the Indian and Hudson Rivers between the dam at Indian Lake and North River. Indian Lake also boasts an active arts scene, featuring the Indian Lake Theater and Adirondack Lake Center for the Arts.
Indian Lake wouldn't be a small mountain town if it wasn't also at the heart of its very own conspiracy theory. Twenty years ago, a local blogger reported the finding of a weathered metal box buried in the dirt with photos and documents inside related to a top-secret CIA project from the 1950s. The plot thickened when the blogger seemingly disappeared without a trace. If true crime and unsolved mysteries are right up your alley, this is the place for you.
Long Lake
Long Lake boasts 449 square miles of natural forests, waterways, beaches, and exceptionally beautiful shorelines. Visitors enjoy the Adirondacks at this vacation center, offering a wide variety of lodging. Stay at Motel Long Lake or Paddler's Rest for waterfront cottages that include access to the lake and fire pits. Adventure out in the Mt. Sabattis Recreation Area for a variety of easy to difficult hiking and mountain biking trails.
Relax at the public beach on Long Lake or go swimming, boating, fishing, paddleboarding, or kayaking. Enjoy live music at the beach every Friday and Saturday night through August and discover the sound of various local bands. But whatever you do, a visit to Long Lake is not complete without a trip to its quirky and beloved landmark. Hoss's Country Corner is an iconic Adirondack institution with everything from camping supplies to fishing gear, a deli counter, and plenty of local products, gifts, and souvenirs. While inside, get your camera ready; there's a live tree growing straight through the middle of the store and out the roof.
Pottersville
Experience fascination and pure wonder in Pottersville, home to exceptional geologic wonders. The Pottersville cave system begins with the largest marble entrance in the eastern United States and contains caves, waterfalls, and a natural stone bridge. Admire the unusual rock formations and marvel at the underground waterfall. There are eleven caves within the park, so plan a full day or two, and opt for a guided tour and make the memorable trip even more special by mining for gems. Who knows what may be found?
For more typical Adirondack activities, head to Scaroon Manor State Park for camping with plenty of open space and water access. To kick back and relax with the locals, Black Bear Restaurant and Bar serves up comfort food and live music in a casual pub setting, and Cafe Adirondack offers a more refined experience with a diverse menu and wine list.
The Adirondacks offer a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation year-round. Find the best summer hiking, biking, kayaking, rock climbing, swimming, and fishing. Or visit in the winter for ice climbing, cross-country skiing, sledding, skating, or snowshoeing miles of trails. The Adirondacks are the perfect place to find both peace and heart-pulsing excitement, via mountain bike trails and scaling high peak summits. Visit the 12 quirkiest towns in the Adirondacks and create a unique and memorable vacation experience.
