Visited in October 2021
The Adirondack Mountains in northeastern New York are renowned for their wilderness, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and over 100 peaks. Much of the region is protected within Adirondack Park, making it ideal for hiking, camping, and exploring nature. We spent a couple of days driving through the area, visiting Lake George and Lake Placid, and soaking in the vibrant fall colors all around.
- Lake George
- Lake Placid
- High Falls Gorge
Lake George – Located at the southeastern base of the Adirondack Mountains, Lake George is known as one of the clearest and cleanest large lakes in the world. Stretching 32 miles long, 2.5 miles wide, and with depths reaching 200 feet, the lake was formed nearly 10,000 years ago by melting glaciers. Its crystal-clear water and stunning mountain scenery left me in awe, especially during the fall. Pictures simply don’t do this place justice.
Lake George, Canoe Sculpture – On the lakefront, there is a striking life-size wood sculpture depicting colonial frontiersman Robert Rogers and five Mohican men paddling a birchbark canoe. Carved from a single pine log by artist Paul Stark and unveiled in 2017, the piece honors the region’s French & Indian War history near Fort William Henry.
Lake George, View from Prospect Mountain – We drove the scenic Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway that leads to a spectacular 100-mile view from the 2,030-foot summit. There are a few overlooks from where you get incredible views of Lake George.
Prospect Mountain once featured an incline railway that carried visitors up to a house at the summit where they could dine and dance. The railway, built in 1895, was an ambitious investment, but after financial struggles, it ceased operation in 1903.
Lake Placid – is a picturesque and charming village in Adirondack Mountains, best known for hosting the Winter Olympics twice (1932 and 1980). Centered around the beautiful Mirror Lake, the town offers year-round outdoor activities including hiking, skiing, and water sports.
Lake Placid, Mirror Lake – Situated in the center of the village, the lake experiences a lot of recreational use. During the summer it is popular for canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. In the winter, you can take a dogsled ride on the lake or ice skate on a maintained track around the perimeter of the lake.
Lake placid was the site of Winter Olympics held in 1932 and 1980. You can visit the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex which comprises a 90 and 120 meter ski jumps tower built for the 1980 Olympic Games.
High Falls Gorge – Just a short drive from Lake Placid, this natural attraction showcases four dramatic waterfalls plunging into a billion-year-old rock crevice. A half-mile, wheelchair-accessible trail along the gorge follows the AuSable River, taking visitors across steel bridges and walkways for a close-up views of the four falls – Main Falls, Mini Falls, Rainbow Falls, and Climax Falls.
