The Adirondack Mountains's 8 Most Laid-Back Towns

Adirondack mountain towns hold a steady pull for people looking to slow down. Saranac Lake’s arts scene draws painters and writers, while Schroon Lake leans on old-school Americana. Long Lake has miles of hiking trails to explore at your own pace, and Keeseville brings people together at local food trucks with acoustic music in the background. The laid-back towns in the Adirondacks are gorgeous and well-suited for anyone who wants to step away from work for a stretch. The eight towns below all do the slow life a little differently.

Saranac Lake

Anyone who wants to spend some time fishing or boating will find the Saranac Chain of Lakes a pure delight. The chain consists of six lakes and two ponds where visitors can cast their lines, set out on boats, or kayak and canoe the day away. During fall, the water is framed by foliage that reflects off the calm surface. There is also the option to hike Mount Baker on a short trail of about 0.9 miles to take in the views from the summit. Painters and writers will appreciate the chance to explore the Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery, where art collections center on the beauty of the Adirondacks region. More pieces wait at Saranac Lake Artworks, a collaboration of local artists and galleries. For a fun retro experience, head to the Adirondack Carousel in downtown Saranac Lake. The carousel features hand-carved animals and is one of the truest expressions of the town’s creative spirit.

Schroon Lake

Speaking of retro, Schroon Lake is one of the most nostalgic towns in New York. The town is a resort destination where people take boats out on the lake every day and where old-school dance halls still fill up. Schroon Lake is the kind of place that reminds you of vacations gone by. It’s also one of the prettiest towns in the Adirondack region, with forests and hills surrounding clear water. Those waters are good for fishing and kayaking, and Schroon Lake Beach is a fine picnic spot. Visiting over the 4th of July weekend is a good idea for the local chicken BBQ and the annual parade. Fireworks usually light up the night sky at the beach after 9 p.m. Other summer options include hiking the Spectacle Pond Trail through Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, or Severance Mountain Trail, which has fine views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Blue Mountain Lake

Blue Mountain Lake is the home of the Adirondack Experience Museum, with exhibitions and stories about Adirondack life. The museum grounds feature more than twenty new and old buildings across 121 acres that overlook the lake. There is also an on-site cafe, Lake View Cafe, where visitors can grab a bite while looking out over the water. There are three lakes in the area for paddling, Blue Mountain, Utowana, and Eagle. Paddling and swimming are good in summer, while hiking is at its best in the fall. The Castle Rock trail shows oranges, reds, and golds on the way to the summit, with mirror reflections off the lake on calm days. Life is at its most peaceful here during fall, and that’s also when visitors may run into a moose, so stay alert. Moose fans can make the short 15-minute drive to Indian Lake for the Great Adirondack Moose Festival, held every September with a turkey shoot and a moose calling contest.

Speculator

Speculator, a tiny town on the shores of Lake Pleasant, has an unusual history. It was where several heavyweight boxers trained during the 1920s and 1930s, including Max Baer, Gene Tunney, and Max Schmeling. Today, Speculator is a vacation destination for all seasons with strong outdoor options year-round. The lake draws visitors who want to paddle and swim, while snowmobiling and snowshoeing are the go-to activities in winter. There are boats to rent, and the Sacandaga River Community Park has a walking pathway along the river. The recently relocated Makomis Fire Tower, originally on Makomis Mountain in North Hudson, now stands in the park, and visitors can climb it for views of Lake Pleasant and the surrounding wilderness. The Strawberry Festival is a fixture of the summer calendar, and the Polar Plunge runs each New Year’s Day. The plunge is done for charity, with donations going to a chosen organization.

Long Lake

Long Lake is another laid-back mountain town where the fun never stops. The namesake lake is 14 miles long, with its northern rim in the center of the Adirondacks. Several trails cross the area, including the 130-mile Northville-Placid Trail. Visitors can explore the sections that go through Long Lake, or take the hike up Owls Head Mountain to its fire tower, a 6.1-mile round-trip with strong views. Sports fans can stop by Mt. Sabattis Recreation Area for pickleball and tennis. The same area becomes an ice skating spot in winter. Long Lake also hosts a polar plunge every December. For those who don’t want to brave freezing water, the Winter Carnival has competitions including frying pan and keg throws.

North Creek

North Creek hits the year-round Adirondack mark. Mountain bikers love this part of New York, especially the North Creek Ski Bowl, where there are 20 kilometers of biking trails for beginners and experts. Visitors can also go whitewater rafting in the Hudson River Gorge, where there are Class III rapids during summer. Another popular activity is riding the Revolution Rail. These railbike trips take people along original railroad tracks in the Adirondacks and reach some of the most remote stretches of the park. For the adventurous, there is the Scenic Skyride at Gore Mountain. The gondola takes people up to the summit in a few minutes and offers 360-degree views along the way. In winter, the skiing and snowboarding at Gore Mountain runs as long as the snow holds.

Keeseville

Visitors who want to experience the calm of an early morning hike along a gorge can make their way to Ausable Chasm in Keeseville. This sandstone gorge features walkways into the canyon, and it is also possible to raft and tube here. For hiking, there is a 2.4-mile trail starting at the nearby Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain that runs through forest and ascends to a fire tower. From the tower, there are views over the town, the High Peaks of the Adirondacks, and the Champlain Valley. Visitors can also go fishing in the Ausable River, which is popular with trout anglers. The Ausable River Campsite provides space for tents, and there are surrounding trails for mountain biking.

Lake Clear

Lake Clear is one of those towns where the fall foliage shows up reliably year after year. Anglers can try their hand at catching pike, pumpkinseed sunfish, perch, and catfish, among other species. Guided tours run at the nearby Adirondack Fish Hatchery during the summer. The Adirondack Park offers around 6 million acres of trails and lakes where visitors can hike and fish. In winter, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and skiing all come into play. Lake Clear is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, especially those interested in the natural habitat of the loon. Guided trips run through the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation. Those who want to paddle can head to Little Clear Pond, the starting point for the Seven Carries Canoe Route. MAC’s Canoe Livery handles rentals and route information.

Reset And Recharge In The Adirondacks

It is hard to think about daily stress when you’re in the Adirondacks, hiking a trail or drifting across the waters of Blue Mountain Lake. It is even harder to remember what went wrong just before you left home when you are laughing along with the goofy winter games in Long Lake or taking in the views from a historic fire tower. These Adirondack towns are good places to take a deep breath and recharge. The old-school living throughout these towns and the peaceful nature settings are the right remedy for a racing mind. Before you know it, you will be relaxed and more than ready to tackle whatever you left behind for a week or two.