Things to do / Travel Guide
Throughout most if not all of the northern New York region, drivers will be hard-pressed to find a route that does not include scenic views of mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, and charming rustic towns. Autumn is an excellent time to drive through the Adirondacks, particularly during late-September and early-October, with the spectacular changes in color of the fall foliage. No matter what the season, the region offers stunning natural features along numerous highways, State Roads, and local roads, a select few which have been highlighted below.
Scenic Drives in the Central Adirondacks
A 180-mile stretch of State Road 30 offers wonderful scenery, slicing north-south through the Adirondacks. State Road 30 enters the southwest corner of the Adirondack Park in Johnstown, northwest of Albany. The small town of Speculator is reached after about 45 miles, where the main branch of the Sacandaga River ends in a series of lakes and ponds. State Road 30 continues north toward Indian Lake, passing rustic Adirondack hamlets, eventually cutting into the central Adirondacks, finally exiting the park and ending in Malone.
The segment of State Road 28 from Forestport to Blue Mountain Lake is unforgettable as it winds past gorgeous lakes, woods, and villages of the central Adirondacks. Much of this part of State Road 28 is on a high plateau, making towns such as Thendara, Old Forge, Eagle Bay, Inlet, and Raquette Lake prime destinations for those who love cool, clean air. Just off of State Road 28 are more remote outback towns such as Big Moose and Stillwater.
Scenic Drives around Lake Placid
From Wilmington, New York, northeast of Lake Placid, the six-mile ride up the impressive Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, part of State Road 431, takes you to the summit of the fifth-highest mountain in the Adirondacks and offers unparalleled views of Vermont, Lake Champlain, the St. Lawrence River, Lake Placid and other stunning peaks of the Adirondacks. An elevator is available to the very top of the peak from the parking lot. This site is open Memorial Day-Columbus Day, weather permitting.
Scenic Drives in Lake George
The Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway is a stretch of State Road 9 in Lake George that takes drivers up six miles to the top of Prospect Mountain, where impressive views of Lake George and the Adirondacks await.
Scenic Drives in the Champlain Valley
The Northway (a northern extension of I-87 that connects Albany, New York, to Canada) has won several scenic highway awards and provides access to various Adirondack communities from which you can reach recreational facilities and Forest Preserve lands. The Northway runs north-to-south along the eastern edge of northern New York, passing through the gorgeous Adirondack Park as well as many of the region's charming towns, including Saratoga Springs, Lake George Village, and Westport.
Exits 21-30 off of Interstate 87 offer a wealth of country roads bordered by colorful mountains. One of the most scenic routes less traveled is via Exit 28, where museums, parks, and forts are tucked away into the Crown Point and Ironville areas around the Champlain Valley, well-marked with road signs along the country routes and back roads.
Scenic Drives around the Thousand Islands
Connect with the Seaway Trail, a scenic byway which runs parallel to the St. Lawrence River through the Thousand Islands area. The 454-mile route (in total) can be connected with at any point along the way, as it continues west on to Niagara Falls and the Great Lakes, passing lighthouses, farms, and harbors all along the way.
|
|
|