Things to do / Travel Guide
Stop the car, peek out of a train window, look up and around from your boat - all throughout northern New York you are surrounding by scenic views. From mountain peaks to dense forests to vast shimmering lakes, the region is a treat for the eyes and calming for the soul. Breathe in the fresh mountain air and take a look around northern New York.
Scenic Views in the Central Adirondacks
Open on weekends from Memorial Day-Columbus Day, a ride along the Old Forge McCauley Mountain Chair Lift offers stunning views of the incredible Fulton Chain of Lakes and Whiteface Mountain. Located in the central Adirondack town of Old Forge, the mountain and chair lift can be reached off of State Road 28. A hike up Bald Mountain also rewards its visitors with sweeping views of the Fulton Chain. The hike is generally easy, at just about one mile, with a few steep areas in between. Access the hike from Rondaxe Road, near the Old Forge Tourist Information Center in the town of Old Forge.
Take a ride on the gondola from the base of Gore Mountain to the summit of Bear Mountain, at 3,200 feet up. Along the way and at the top, visitors are treated to a sweeping view of the High Peaks and southern Adirondacks. After taking in the summit, you can return to the base on foot or take the gondola back down. The gondola operates on weekends from late-July to early-October; Gore Mountain is located on Peaceful Valley Road in the town of North Creek.
Mt. Marcy, the highest peak in the Adirondacks, offers expansive views of the area, with numerous trails leading to the top. Thousands of hikers are drawn to the seven-mile trek to the peak, which is why, to avoid over-use, Adirondack Park personnel recommend hikers to take on any of the other nearby peaks.
Scenic Views 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 the 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 Views around Saranac Lake
You haven't really experienced Saranac Lake if you haven't hiked up a mountain to see the glorious Adirondack range. The hike up Ampersand Mountain is at an intermediate to advanced level, at a distance of over five miles up to the 3,352-foot summit. Passing through a plethora of trees, crossing streams, and climbing rocks along the way, the trail pays off with breathtaking views and vistas. Get to Ampersand from State Road 3 West. For a shorter and easier climb, head to Mt. Baker. The hike is less than two miles to the 2,452-foot summit, also offering picturesque views of the Adirondack peaks, Saranac Lake, and more. Parking to access the trail can be found on East Pine, north of Main Street in Saranac Lake Village.
Scenic Views around Lake George
The 5.5-mile drive up the Prospect Mountain State Parkway, intersecting with State Road 9 south of Lake George village, offers spectacular views of Lake George and the southeastern Adirondacks. Near the top, visitors can board “viewmobiles” that venture to the very top of Prospect Mountain, where 100-mile views await. Visitors can hike this last leg (around 1.6 miles) or the entire trail up Prospect Mountain. The parkway is open from June-October.
Hiking to the top of Buck Mountain on the southeastern shore of Lake George yields unforgettable views of Lake George, Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks, and the Green Mountains in Vermont. The easy-to-moderate hike is a little over three miles long and is well-marked along the way.
The summit of Hadley Mountain, near Lake Luzerne, provides excellent views of the High Peaks of the Adirondacks to the north, the Catskills and Great Sacandaga Lake to the south, and Lake George and the Green Mountains to the east. The three-mile hike is considered easy to moderate, and takes on average three hours roundtrip.
Along State Road 8, heading west from Hague towards Brant Lake, various lookout points offer spectacular views of the High Peaks. An excellent time to go is in the fall, when the leaves of the nearby Dixon Forest change to shades of red, orange, and yellow. Further north from Hague, along State Road 9 North, are the glacial potholes or “Indian Kettles” - about one to three feet in diameter and one to 12 inches deep. According to legend, the Native Americans once used these potholes for cooking and storing their food. From the back deck of the nearby Indian Kettles restaurant in Ticonderoga take in extraordinary views of Lake George, Roger's Rock, and these glacial “kettles,” with views of the lake from every seat. The Indian Kettles restaurant can be reached by water or by road.
Scenic Views in the Champlain Valley
It's no wonder Fort Ticonderoga changed hands so many times during both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. The fort is strategically perched in a spot with commanding views of Lake Champlain. In addition to the views of the actual Fort Ticonderoga, an impressive and wonderfully-reconstructed military outpost, visitors can also take in views of nearby Lake George.
South of Fort Ticonderoga at the foot of Lake Champlain Bridge, Crown Point State Historic Site sits on a peninsula jutting into Lake Champlain, offering exceptional views to the north. In 1734, the French built Fort St. Frederic there, but after conquered by the British in 1759, the area was built into Fort Crown Point. The dirt trail around the fort offers fantastic views of the ruins, Lake Champlain, and the Lake Champlain Bridge. Across from the ruins of Crown Point sits the Champlain Memorial and Lighthouse. Stunning panoramic views await visitors who reach the top of the 62-step spiral staircase.
Scenic Views around the Thousand Islands
Take a quick trip into Canada from Alexandria Bay to the Thousand Islands Skydeck where an impressive view of the countryside, waterways, coastlines, and nearly 2,000 islands awaits. The deck is set up 425 feet high, providing a view that helps to orient visitors to the complex landscape of the Thousand Islands area. Get to the skydeck from the Thousand Islands International Bridge, which was opened in 1938 and includes a system of five spans that run almost nine miles total, connecting the islands between the United States and Canada.
For unforgettable views up and down the snaking St. Lawrence Seaway, visit the observation deck at Eisenhower Lock on State Road 131. While there, see how the Eisenhower Lock raises and lowers boats 42 feet to help them on their way along the St. Lawrence. The visitor center and observation deck provide visitors with a chance to watch the “locking through” process in action.
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