The 12 Can't-Miss Towns In The Adirondack Mountains
Since 1949, families have made the trip to Santa's Workshop near Wilmington, one of the oldest theme parks in the country. That kind of staying power runs through the small towns of the Adirondacks. Covered bridges, lakeside docks, and old train depots have outlasted generations of visitors in hamlets scattered across Adirondack Park. Some towns are built for big climbs, while others suit quiet lake days or a dose of history. Grouped by region, they add up to an easy loop through the mountains.
Keene Valley
If you came to the Adirondacks to climb, start in Keene Valley. The tiny hamlet sits in the heart of the High Peaks, and trailheads at the edge of town lead toward Mount Marcy, the highest point in New York. The Johns Brook Valley trail is a classic route into the backcountry, with lean-tos and a lodge run by the Adirondack Mountain Club. After a long hike, the town's small main street has a cozy diner and outfitters stocked for the next day. Hulls Falls, just outside town, is a favorite spot to cool off in the Ausable River.
Wilmington
Wilmington sits at the foot of Whiteface Mountain, home to one of the biggest ski areas in the East and the starting point for the Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway, which climbs nearly to the summit in summer. High Falls Gorge offers walkways and bridges over a series of waterfalls on the Ausable River. Families can visit Santa's Workshop, a Christmas-themed park that has operated in the nearby community of North Pole since 1949. The river through Wilmington Notch is also famous among fly fishers.
Jay
The Jay Covered Bridge, one of the oldest covered bridges in New York, is the landmark of this quiet hamlet, now restored as a pedestrian crossing over the East Branch of the Ausable River. Below the bridge, smooth rocks and gentle rapids make a popular summer swimming hole. Jay is built around a village green that hosts concerts and community events in summer. Hikers can climb Jay Mountain for wide views across the valley.
Keeseville
Keeseville is the gateway to Ausable Chasm, a sandstone gorge often called the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks. Visitors can walk trails along the rim, cross suspension bridges, or float through the chasm on rafts and tubes in summer. The village itself is a historic district with stone buildings from its 19th-century industrial days and several historic bridges over the Ausable River, including an iron pedestrian suspension bridge. The beaches of Lake Champlain are just a few miles east.
Essex
Essex, on the western shore of Lake Champlain, is one of the best-preserved 19th-century hamlets in New York, and the whole village is a historic district. Stroll past Federal and Greek Revival homes, then grab a lakeside table at a waterfront restaurant. A seasonal car ferry crosses the lake to Charlotte, Vermont, making for an easy day trip. The nearby Whallonsburg Grange Hall hosts films, concerts, and community dinners. The surrounding farms sell produce, cheese, and maple syrup.
Westport
Summer theater is the surprise in Westport. The Depot Theatre, set in a restored 1876 train station, stages professional shows, and the Amtrak Adirondack still stops at the station. The town sits on a sheltered bay of Lake Champlain with views of Vermont's Green Mountains across the water, and its marina and beach make it easy to spend an afternoon on the lake. Each August, the Essex County Fair fills the fairgrounds in town.
Ticonderoga
Ticonderoga is a must for history fans. Fort Ticonderoga, a star-shaped stone fort first built by the French in the 1750s, was captured by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold in 1775. Today it offers tours, reenactments, and the formal King's Garden. The road up nearby Mount Defiance leads to wide views of the fort and the lake. For something completely different, the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour recreates the bridge and sets of the 1960s TV show.
Warrensburg
Each fall, vendors fill the streets of Warrensburg for miles during its World's Largest Garage Sale. The rest of the year, the town at the southeastern edge of the Adirondacks is calmer. The Warrensburgh Riverfront Farmers Market sets up along the Schroon River, and the historic Grist Mill on the Schroon makes a scenic stop. Warrensburg sits just north of the busy Lake George area, giving it easy access to the lake without the crowds.
Speculator
A sandy town beach on Lake Pleasant, one of the best in the region, is the summer heart of Speculator. The village sits between Lake Pleasant and Sacandaga Lake in the southern Adirondacks, and Moffitt Beach State Campground, on Sacandaga Lake, offers swimming and camping a short drive away. Nearby trails lead to small mountains and fire towers with views over the lakes. In winter, the village becomes a hub for snowmobilers, with trails fanning out through the surrounding forest.
Indian Lake
Indian Lake is the place to go for whitewater. In spring and on scheduled release days, rafting trips run through the Hudson River Gorge, one of the wildest stretches of the Hudson River. Snowy Mountain, one of the tallest peaks in the southern Adirondacks, offers a challenging climb to a fire tower. Lake Durant and Indian Lake itself offer quieter paddling, fishing, and camping, and the town's small center has diners and outfitters.
Long Lake
Long Lake stretches for miles through the central Adirondacks, and the town of the same name sits right on its shore. Seaplanes take off from the town dock for scenic flights over the lakes and peaks, a unique way to see the mountains. The town beach is a popular summer spot, and the Northville-Placid Trail, a long-distance hiking route, passes nearby. Buttermilk Falls, a short drive away, tumbles over wide rock ledges.
Inlet
The short climb up Bald Mountain, also called Rondaxe Mountain, leads to a fire tower with one of the best views in the region, looking down on Fourth Lake and the Fulton Chain. At the head of that lake, Inlet's small downtown is lined with shops, an ice cream stand, and a public beach. Fern Park offers trails for walking, biking, and cross-country skiing. The vast Moose River Plains Wild Forest, just east of town, offers remote camping and paddling.
Plan Your Adirondack Loop
These 12 towns cover every side of the Adirondacks, including High Peaks trailheads, Lake Champlain harbors, and quiet central lakes. Group them by region to save driving time, and plan ahead for summer weekends and fall foliage season, when rooms fill quickly. With a little planning, you can hike, paddle, and explore history all in the same trip.
