This Quiet Adirondacks City Is Hiding In Plain Sight
The Adirondack Mountains are a range of mountains located in the northeast corner of New York. Due to its mountainous terrain, much of the area remains with its natural state and as a result the region is only partially settled with a little over 100 communities. Saranac Lake is a four-season resort town with the summer and winter bringing different outdoor recreational opportunities, and the downtown filled with unique shops, art galleries, and restaurants. This quiet town in the Adirondack Mountains is hiding in plain sight.
Historic Downtown
Saranac Lake is a popular alternative to Lake Placid when visiting the Adirondack Mountains if you want to avoid the crowds. Due to Lake Placid’s Winter Olympic history, it is a hot spot for tourists. Saranac Lake on the other hand gives you room to breathe when exploring Saranac Lake’s downtown which is surrounded by mountains and lakes, and lined with art galleries, unique stores, and restaurants serving dishes from all around the world.
While Saranac Lake does not have a Winter Olympic history like Lake Placid, it has a unique history of its own. It was not always the outdoor recreational destination it is today. The town was originally a health resort and center for scientific research. In fact, the first laboratory in the United States dedicated to study tuberculosis was built in 1984. Today, the building still stands and houses the Saranac Laboratory Museum and features a series of exhibits covering local history, science, and patient care.
The Adirondack Artists' Guild Gallery features exhibits of fine art from 15 different artists whose work is displayed on the gallery walls year-round with a new artist exhibit and reception held on the first Friday of each month. The Book Nook, although only 460-square-feet, packs a punch with its rustic year-round setting and wide variety of book genres. The Great Hall Bar is located within Hotel Saranac. It is a historic Italian-style bar serving a wide array of spirits and drinks and tasty, shareable bar snacks with live music performances held every Friday night.
Paddling in Saranac Lake
The town’s name originates from the chain of lakes of which it shares its name. Upper Saranac Lake, Middle Saranac Lake, and Lower Saranac Lake are connected by the Saranac River which flows through downtown Saranac Lake. Since the river flows through downtown Saranac Lake and there are many outfitters such as Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters which rents different sizes and styles of kayaks, canoes, stand-up-paddleboards, and camping equipment.
The water is accessible from downtown with different paddling trips and experiences. If you enter the water downtown and follow the river downstream, you will experience backcountry views without having to venture deep into the backcountry. On the other hand, for a wilderness experience, set sail in Lake Flower which is also accessible from downtown. From here you can paddle to Oseetah Lake where you will experience views of mountains in the horizon as you continue on to Middle Saranac Lake.
Hiking Trails
Saranac Lake has just as many chances to explore the outdoors on land as it does on the water. There are many nature trails accessible from town, varying in levels of difficulty. The Bloomingdale Bog Trail is a 3.7 mile end-to-end trail which runs along an old railroad corridor between Saranac Lake and Bloomingdale. The trail is mostly straight and level with less than 25 feet of elevation gain, making it suitable for casual hikers and bikers with the opportunity to view wildlife. In the winter, the trail is popular among cross-country skiers and snowshoers.
For more experienced hikers or people who want to challenge themselves, the hike up to Baker Mountain does just that. At 1.6 miles in length and 884 feet in elevation gain, the hike to the top is short but intense, with a series of lookouts on the way up that provide views of Saranac Lake, Lake Flower, and the High Peaks to the east. The trail up the mountain passes through woodlands before winding up the mountain to the summit. Baker Mountain is also possible to hike in the winter, however snowshoes are necessary, and micro spikes are suggested for steeper sections of the trail towards the summit.
The Adirondack's Underdog
Saranac Lake is quiet, understated city nestled within the Adirondack Mountains that is waiting to be explored. It has everything that is quintessential of the Adirondacks from its bustling and historic downtown, to its recreational activities on and off the water, to its mountainous setting. This quiet Adirondack Mountain town is hiding in plain sight, and waiting to be explored.
