Things to do / Travel Guide
The great Adirondacks need no introduction. This mountain range is a veritable playground for all outdoor activities lovers. Some people come here for the rugged hiking, others for the mountain biking, and still others for the lake and river fishing. Then there are those who come for the kayaking, canoeing, and diving on the lakes, and on the more northern Thousand Islands. The outdoor sporting opportunities, throughout northern New York are seemingly endless.
Hiking and Biking in Northern New York
The best way to experience northern New York is on your own two feet. The famous High Peaks, the 40 traditionally highest peaks in the region, would, by themselves, provide you with a lifetime of hiking and scrambling opportunities. The best time to go is the fall, when the bugs are gone and there are fewer people. Climbing Mount Marcy, the tallest mountain in New York State, at over 5,300 feet, will expose you to great views, and a real sense of accomplishment. Another great climb, if you're up for it, is Algonquin Peak, from which you'll discover a huge panorama of the peaks and valleys that make up MacIntyre Range.
Throughout the Adirondacks, which were originally formed by glacier activity, huge boulders lie where they stopped rolling millennia ago, covered with emerald mosses and lichen. In the springtime, streams bound down the mountains, cleaning and smoothing the stones, while in the fall the trees turn scarlet hues as far as the eye can see.
A great draw for mountain bikers are the cross-country ski trails opened up in the warmer months specifically for this sport. You can find these around Lake Placid (the lake and the town), and the best part is that you have your choice of taking either a gondola or shuttle bus to the tops of trails! There are also great biking trails and loops around Lake George, Lake Saranac, and the Champlain Valley.
Northward, in Thousand Islands territory, bike touring is an exciting and fun way to view the scenic countryside, as you cruise past waterways and islands. Some of the islands, even among the smaller ones, allow biking on your mountain bike, and the ferries assist by welcoming bikers aboard.
Kayaking, Fishing, and Diving in Northern New York
The Thousand Islands is a famous place for kayaking. Some 1,800 islands, some quite large and others so small as to barely accommodate a lone tree, speckle the St. Lawrence River, so this can rightly be thought of as a paddler's paradise. The islands are a great place for wildlife and bird spotting, in areas such as French Creek Wildlife Preserve and Grass Point Marsh.
Care to try kayaking on some of the U.S.'s most pristine lakes? The Adirondacks are famous for their lakes, with their numerous adjoined ponds and bays. You can start a trip at the populated people centers of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Lake George (the cities), and move outwards to explore the hidden, mountain-surrounded distant reaches. From Upper Saranac Lake down to Lake Flower is a sprawling, 20-mile trip. You'll be anything but bored though, even if someone else is operating the kayak, as this is your chance to spy common loons, bald eagles, and osprey, in addition to being overwhelmed by views of Whiteface Mountain.
Where there's water there's often fishing, and with as much water as there is in northern New York, you wouldn't expect the region to be anything less than a premium region for fishing. From the Thousand Islands to Lake George, Lake Placid, and the rest of the local waters, the region is one of the northeast's premiere areas for catching everyone's favorites of bass and trout, while also pretty good for getting hold of pike, other panfish, and landlocked salmon. In the winter months, the region's frozen waters practically beg ice-fishing enthusiasts to bundle up, crack the surface, and toss in a line.
Speaking of frozen lakes, the story goes that one winter during the French and Indian War, in the mid-18th century, American and British forces deliberately sunk their own ships to prevent them from falling into the hands of the French. The ships had become stuck in the ice of Lake George. Many were later disinterred from their watery grave by the British, but a number still remain, intact, like ghosts, available for viewing by any scuba diver who cares to take the plunge and visit. There's a lot of history in these waters!
Winter Activities in Northern New York
Winter sports is amazing around Lake Placid. It's no accident that the Winter Olympics has been held here twice; most recently in 1980. If you crave Olympic skiing on the east coast, there's really only one destination: Whiteface Mountain. The mountain boasts a vertical drop of 3430 feet; the most of any ski area in the east. As for bobsledding, where else would you go but the Olympic Sports Complex, where the run is almost a mile long and boasts 16 curves.
Hot Air Ballooning in Northern New York
Had enough of northern New York yet? Get ready for one last adventure before you go. Take a balloon ride for an unforgettable panoramic view of the Adirondacks, the Champlain Valley, the St. Lawrence River, and the Thousand Islands from above. Now that's the way to top off a fantastic vacation in the outdoors wonderland that is northern New York.
Outdoor Recreation in Lake Placid, Lake George, Saratoga Springs, Adirondacks and Northern New York
Outdoor-Sports-Recreation
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