7 of the Most Unique Towns in the Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains in New York cover about six million acres within Adirondack Park, established in 1892. The region includes lakes, high peaks, and a network of small towns and communities with historic, recreational, and cultural features. The seven towns and communities below each highlight a different aspect of the region, from Olympic sites to a fort with Revolutionary War history to a community with dark-sky observatory access.
Lake Placid
Lake Placid hosted the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, and several event sites are still open to visitors. The Olympic bobsled track includes guided rides, and the Olympic oval is open for public skating. The downtown includes the Olympic Village area and the Olympic Museum. In summer, the town hosts the annual Ironman race.
Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake is the site of one of the longest-running winter festivals in the United States. The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival has been held annually for more than 120 years. The event has its roots in the town's tuberculosis-treatment history: patients came to the area in the late 19th century for its cool mountain air, and early carnivals were organized as entertainment. The carnival now features an ice palace with an ice throne, parade floats, dancers, and the Ladies' Frying Pan Toss.
Ticonderoga
Ticonderoga is home to Fort Ticonderoga, originally built by the French in the 18th century as Fort Carillon. The fort held strategic importance in the colonial conflicts between Britain and France and later in the Revolutionary War. The town also offers portaging, paddleboarding, and kayaking on surrounding waters. A Star Trek: The Original Series set replica, built from the show's original blueprints, is open to visitors in Ticonderoga.
Tupper Lake
Tupper Lake is home to the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory, a stargazing facility with a roll-off roof observatory and four mounted telescopes along with smaller telescopes and astrophotography equipment. The surrounding dark-sky conditions make both small and large celestial objects visible. The Wild Center, also located in Tupper Lake, offers live exhibits and guided trails.
Keeseville
Ausable Chasm, often called the "Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks," is located near Keeseville. The site features hiking along the canyon, rafting and tubing on the Ausable River, and walking through the Mystic Gorge section. Ausable Chasm also includes rock climbing on the canyon walls and rappelling over the river.
Lake Clear
Lake Clear is a small hamlet in Franklin County with a population of a few hundred residents. The area includes the lake itself and surrounding forested terrain. Lake Clear Lodge, located nearby, sits on a 1,000-acre private property with lake frontage. The lodge operates a fall harvest menu and, in winter, runs sleigh rides through the snow.
Old Forge
Old Forge is a small community along the shores of First Lake, with fishing and camping access on the surrounding water. The town hosts the annual Adirondack Canoe Classic, a 90-mile race with professional paddlers and public spectating.
The town's main street includes locally owned shops and restaurants. Food and drink options include the Front Door Diner (next to The Back Door Bar), Mountainside Smokehouse & Grill, Slickers Adirondack Tavern, and Fulton Chain Craft Brewery. The Strand Theater is the town's main arts venue.
The Takeaway
The Adirondacks include a range of small towns and communities, from the Olympic venues at Lake Placid to Fort Ticonderoga's colonial military history, Tupper Lake's dark-sky observatory, and Keeseville's Ausable Chasm. Each of the seven communities above highlights a different aspect of the region.
