Discover Your Perfect Spring Getaway: Unique Lodging Options in the Adirondack Hub

As winter fades and the Adirondacks awaken with fresh greenery and crisp mountain air, spring becomes the perfect season for relaxation and rejuvenation. The Adirondack Hub offers a variety of distinctive lodging options where you can unwind, reconnect with nature, and experience the beauty of the region as it bursts into bloom. Whether you're planning a family vacation, a romantic escape, or a solo retreat, these seven lodging options provide the perfect basecamp for embracing the serenity and adventure of springtime in the Adirondacks.

Morningside Camps and Cottages

For those seeking a quintessential Adirondack experience, Morningside Camps and Cottages in Minerva is a delightful choice. Overlooking the tranquil Minerva Lake, this property features unique cabins that blend rustic charm with modern comforts. Guests can indulge in activities such as paddling through the glassy waters, birdwatching as nature reawakens, or simply enjoying a peaceful morning on the porch with a cup of coffee. The gentle warmth of spring and the return of vibrant wildlife make this a particularly special time to visit.

Blue Ridge Motel

Situated between Schroon Lake and North Hudson, the Blue Ridge Motel has been welcoming guests for over 69 years. This cozy, rustic lodging option offers a variety of rooms to accommodate different needs. Guests appreciate the Adirondack-style décor and the pet-friendly atmosphere, making it a comfortable home away from home. The on-site gift shop is the perfect spot to pick up a treasure or two to take home and remember your rejuvenating visit. Visit the nearby Paradox Brewery or the sparkling Blue Ridge Falls.

Lodge at Schroon Lake

The Lodge at Schroon Lake is a sprawling 36-acre resort situated on the west shore of Schroon Lake. With 116 rooms, including standalone cabins, chalets, and upscale glamping sites, this resort caters to diverse preferences. Guests can partake in various outdoor activities, family-friendly events, and enjoy delectable dining options on-site. Springtime brings longer, sunnier days, perfect for enjoying the peaceful waters of the lake, scenic drives through budding forests, and evenings spent under the clear Adirondack sky around the warmth of a fire. Nearby, explore Schroon Lake's picturesque Main Street and sample local flavors.

Rocky Acres Inn

For a more intimate experience, the Rocky Acres Inn B&B offers a cozy retreat in the heart of the Adirondacks. Guests can enjoy comfortable rooms, warm hospitality, and a hearty breakfast to start their day. Spring is an ideal time to visit, as the nearby rivers swell with snowmelt, making for excellent fishing, and the surrounding woodlands come alive with the sights and sounds of the new season. To get extra cozy, try one of Rocky Acres' sweet cabins, which pack a great Adirondack punch in a petite size.

Inn at Santanoni

Located near the historic Santanoni Preserve, the Inn at Santanoni offers guests a serene retreat steeped in history and charm. This cozy inn, available as a full house only, making it perfect for families looking to get away, provides comfortable rooms adorned with rustic décor, reflecting the rich heritage of the Adirondacks. Guests can enjoy easy access to the nearby hiking trails and wildlife viewing at the Adirondack Interpretive Center, as well as tours of the nearby Great Camp Santanoni. Spring is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the region's cultural and natural wonders, with crisp air and fewer crowds.

Maple Leaf Adirondack Lodge

Maple Leaf Adirondack Lodge in Schroon Lake offers a variety of accommodations, from cozy rooms to spacious cabins. Each lodging option combines rustic charm with modern conveniences, ensuring guests feel at home. Pet-friendly, this is a great, classic Adirondack motel to bring the family pooch along, too! The lodge's proximity to the village of Schroon Lake — it's just a few minutes down the road  allows for easy access to a number of activities, while nearby hiking trails offer opportunities for springtime exploration. Guests can breathe in the fresh mountain air, watch the forests come back to life, and enjoy the simple pleasures of a peaceful Adirondack retreat.

Rowe's Adirondack Cabins of Schroon Lake

Rowe's Adirondack Cabins provide guests with a traditional cabin experience amidst the beauty of Schroon Lake. Each cabin is equipped with essential amenities, offering a comfortable and rustic stay. The property's location allows guests to enjoy various outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and boating. Spring is a particularly wonderful time to visit, as the lake reflects the bright blue skies, and the forests echo with the sounds of returning songbirds.

Springtime in the Adirondack Hub

The Adirondack Hub region, encompassing the towns of Schroon Lake, Minerva, Newcomb, and North Hudson, is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and families alike. Spring offers a unique charm—trails lined with fresh blooms, waterfalls flowing at their fullest, and wildlife stirring after the long winter. Whether you're hiking through rugged terrains, paddling on serene waters, or simply soaking in the natural beauty, the Adirondack Hub provides a perfect backdrop for renewal and relaxation.

When planning your visit to the Adirondack Hub, consider the unique lodging options available to enhance your experience. Each of these accommodations offers a distinctive ambiance, catering to various preferences and ensuring a memorable stay. Whether you're seeking a rustic cabin, a lakeside resort, or a cozy bed and breakfast, the Adirondack Hub has something for everyone.

 

 

 

If you love scenic biking loops through cute little towns, past mighty rivers, and into deep forest, Teddy's Trail is an 80 mile bike loop you must try.
Fall's crisp temperatures and colorful foliage add enjoyment to this loop.

This is a fine ride in any biking season. It offers low traffic, wide shoulders, plenty of places to take a break, roadside amenities, and stunning nature scenes with plenty of water.
The name commemorates the September, 1901 journey taken by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt. He was hiking on Mount Marcy when he was notified that the health of President McKinley, who had been shot two weeks earlier but was expected to survive, had suddenly taken a turn for the worse. Roosevelt made his way back in the middle of the night and used horse transportation to catch the train at North Creek, where he learned that McKinley had died.

Be on the lookout for wild asters this time of year. These were shot in Newcomb; the Hudson River can be seen beyond it.

Get the spirit

Just like Teddy Roosevelt, you should start in Newcomb. At the time of the worldshaking news, Roosevelt was visiting friends there. This president was well-known for his love of the great outdoors, and he would go on to establish the National Forest Service in 1905. He is considered an important Founding Father of the conservation and environmental movement.
In an amazing coincidence, I stopped by the lovely Hoot Owl Lodge and chatted with two ladies on a family getaway. They were happy to share what a wonderful time they were having at this B&B (seen below in the kitchen.) They are the great-great grandchildren of a man Teddy Roosevelt was visiting with at the time of his famous ride.

These ladies love Newcomb!
Another great reason to start in Newcomb is the road heading south. It gives you a fairly flat start that climbs as it nears Minerva, then drops in a steep downhill section through the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest. Almost 19 miles later you arrive at Mammy & Pop's General Store, which has a deli for sandwiches or hot food, treats, and cold beverages for a picnic down the road.

You will cross the Boreas River. This stretch has some wonderful, short hikes just off the road, as well as roadside scenery. Another 8 miles brings us to the town of North Creek.

Mighty Hudson River

The bridge over the Hudson River as we enter North Creek offers some spectacular views and photographic opportunities.

Reaching this section gives you a gradual climb of 504 feet. North Creek has a walkable downtown full of interesting shops and dining spots, making it a great place to explore and have lunch.
If it is a fall weekend, Gore Mountain Ski Resort will be running their scenic gondola ride. This is only a 3.1 mile side trip past some towering granite cliffs.

It makes for a lovely change of pace. There's dining at the different resort venues, too.

Upon leaving the area, you will be heading north, toward Indian Lake.

Moose country

Indian Lake is the home of a wonderful fall event, The Great Adirondack Moose Festival. Yes, it includes a moose calling contest. They might even answer!
This 17.4 mile North Creek to Indian Lake segment starts out flat, but soon becomes a steep climb of 1,253 feet.
This part of the route runs along the Hudson River, with constantly changing views of the mountains, boulders, and forest. These are the same views which enchanted painters and philosophers, who flocked here in the early years of Adirondack development.

Hudson River rafting is a three-season activity. Here, we see some rafters enjoying lots of turning fall foliage.

The 21.8 miles between Indian Lake and Long Lake Is the longest stretch between towns, with the most variation in terrain. You will gain 1,060 feet and lose 951 feet, but it is a series of climbs, a steep drop, a long flat stretch, and then another set of climbs and drops. The last 3 miles is mostly flat, following the shoreline of Long Lake.
Long Lake has services roadside, too, with dining and shopping right around the three-way stop. The Long Lake to Newcomb section has a series of climbs and dips, with an elevation of 489 feet, but the last section is a long and delightful coast into town.

On the way back to Newcomb you will cross Big Brook, which has wonderful wetlands and shorelines for photography.
It makes for a long and lovely day, or a leisurely tour with more stops. The speed doesn't matter when you ride this wonderful loop. It's gorgeous at any speed.

Wherever you may roam, you need a place to stay. Explore more of the dining. Remember, all of our bike routes make wonderful scenic drives, too.

When I step into rustic furniture maker Barry Gregson’s woodshop studio on the bottom floor of his house, I am immediately met with tree limbs packed tightly along the walls from floor to ceiling. I look up in awe to notice that even the ceiling serves as a storage space for tree parts that will be sanded and sculpted into perfection by the legendary Barry Gregson. I call him legendary because he is a legendary rustic furniture maker, one of the most prominent in the Adirondacks, but he would be too humble to describe himself as such. He would, however, sit with you for hours, telling stories of his modest beginnings as a child in the Adirondacks learning to harvest wood to carve into toys like owl-shaped kites and a boomerang with uncanny precision.

I had the opportunity to talk with Barry in the place he feels most at home, according to his partner Darlene. So I sat with Barry and his son Matt in their studio on Charley Hill in Schroon Lake where both father and son spend hours sanding all kinds of Adirondack trees into rungs and other parts for his famous rustic chairs and rockers.

In the studio

As I sit and discuss with Barry his trajectory into world-renowned fame as a rustic furniture maker, his son Matt sits on a stool sanding the branch of an apple tree into a chair rung. Barry and his son are most known for making wooden chairs and other furniture, but their talents also extend to stone masonry.

In fact, that’s how Barry got his start back in 1981. He was working on a stone fireplace when a friend asked him to build a set of chairs. Because Barry loves working with natural materials, he took the challenge. He describes his first chair as “rickety, terrible, not much to look at or much to sit in back then.” Since 1981, he has created well over 4,000 chairs and has provided furniture for such prominent places as the Lake Placid Lodge, Sticks and Stones Wood Fired Bistro and Bar, and even Disney World in Japan.

Barry hand crafts his furniture by following the grain of the wood, which is all salvaged by him and his sons in the surrounding Adirondack forest. His materials include branches, tree roots, saplings, and even dead bushes. He explains that the trees are best, their hardest, when they are dead.

The history of each tool that goes into making his iconic chairs and rockers is as deep and storied as the Adirondack forest. On average, a chair can take anywhere from 50 to 70 hours, depending how ornate a piece is. This means one chair usually takes three days to make, with 10-hour days of labor that is. His main tool is his shaving horse that dates back 500 years, when in Europe it was used to make long bows. He explains, “I sit here for eight hours a day sometimes. [Using] a Cooper straw knife that I sanded blunt so I don’t cut my finger. It’s sharp enough to cut through the bark.”

Barry’s other favorite and trusty tool is a 100-year old Erik Anton Berg chisel from Sweden. Every chair he makes sees this chisel. The tool is dense and perfectly constructed to be gripped. Barry glows when he pulls the chisel down from his tool wall to show me the logo and signature shark embossed on the tool’s smooth steel surface. His chisel and shaver may be old, but they are indispensable to his craftsmanship.

Barry’s process of making chairs doesn’t begin in his studio, though. It begins with the Adirondackers who once used the land to plant the trees and bushes he now forages. All of Barry’s materials come from the Adirondack woods. He looks for the abandoned apple orchards and homesteads no longer in use. He and his family will spend 3-4 weeks out of the year, usually around Thanksgiving, collecting wood in these places, among others. In total, they walk a few hundred miles collecting “bent uprights” and other parts. He also offers to pay tree farms for their unwanted saplings.

Barry has an intimate and expansive knowledge of the different wood he works with. He loves apple wood because “it’s one of the prettiest.” He tells me, “I harvest apple wood a year ahead of time and we put it out in the forest and let the rain hit it in the fall, then we let the snow sit on it and melt on it when the bark starts to decay it gives [the wood] an incredible color.”

Barry peels a layer of bark on an apple branch, letting me touch the smooth, rust colored layer of cambium now exposed. He will use the apple wood for a chair’s rungs or sacrum.

He collects most of his wood two years in advance because it needs to be bone dry before he can use it. Some of the wood in his studio has been there for up to ten years. Barry is indiscriminate when it comes to his love of all the varieties of wood found in the forest. He loves cherry “because it gets so nice and dark when the light hits it.” He also loves curly maple and bird’s eye. The most unique, though, he explains is “dead, twisted lilac because it’s as hard as rosewood, with a lot of character to it.”  The dead bushes that have been lying in the dirt for 20-30 years get rock hard so they’re interesting to him and very time intensive to work with. A chandelier made of dead lilac hangs magnificently in his dining room.

From the beginning

Behind every artist is a dreamer at heart, and in the Adirondacks there is no shortage of inspiration to kickstart dreams. Barry grew up in a family that used the world around them to make things. Born in Chestertown, just outside of Schroon Lake, he traveled much of his childhood throughout New York, attending six different schools, because his father designed Boy Scout camps. Around 1958-59, Barry remembers that when he was seven years old, his father used a bandsaw to make him a bow. I can hear a child’s enthusiasm in his voice as he tells me this story. From that moment on after his father gave him that gift, Barry used the woods around him to make things. Being just a child, he naturally started with toys.

He made a boomerang out of bent wood and then came boats with sails. He tells me with genuine glee that he lived like a rich kid making all these toys. He made kites out of reeds and thread that were so light it took just a puff of wind to fly them. He is still excited by how light his kites were. He designed them to look like owls so they looked like birds flying.

Barry jokingly looks to his son Matthew and says, “I want to make an airplane out of light birch bark and reeds that can fly, but Matt says I am wasting my time.”

Matt replies, “I think you could do better with guitars, electric guitars. It’ll make more money.”

Barry, mesmerized by the vision of a wooden, flying airplane responds, “I do love good sounding guitars, I’ve done some inlay with abalone I found on the beach on the west coast.”

I too can’t move past his vision of the airplane. Now I am mesmerized and tell him that I hope to see that one day.

He explains to me his plan to build this airplane by using birch bark, a little cork, and some feathers in its propellers. The airplane would be so light weight it could spin forever with rubber bands. It’s obvious that this dream, with such clear vision for execution, has been building for a while.

He first got into airplanes because his relatives lived in Seattle, where his mother is from. His family on that side worked for Boeing and in the 60s he went there for the Seattle World’s Fair.  Before then, all he had to fly is what he describes as “these little 10 cent balsam planes and I was quite delighted.” However, in Seattle he saw that his cousins were making toy planes with dyhydro air foil. These planes were flying a quarter of a mile. Meanwhile, their dad was designing wind tunnels for Boeing before the company adopted computer automation.

Matt interrupts our reverie, reminding us, “But it won’t pay the bills like the guitars will.”

Barry laughs and responds, “But I believe it can be done. I think with the childhood I had in the Adirondacks, playing in the woods, I think I’m doing what I am supposed to be doing and I still get a kick out of it, still really love making chairs, when I find a good upright I’m like oh man look at that beauty.”

Barry is largely self taught and has immersed himself in formal techniques by reading a ton and learning from other masters. He describes his art as always evolving and himself as always learning. He also has two patents for his chairs. I am most certain Barry is a generous teacher to those who arrived on the scene after him.

Rustic Furniture Fair

Barry Gregson is part of an artistic movement that has grown to include over 300 rustic furniture makers in the Adirondacks alone. Each designer is different, using the unique materials around them as Barry does. Craig Gilborn, friend of Barry’s and author of Adirondack Furniture and the Rustic Tradition, founded the first Rustic Furniture Fair that has evolved into one of the best of its kind in the world. You can check out Barry’s work and his contemporaries at this annual fair hosted in Blue Mountain Lake.

And of course, Barry’s work is rightfully immortalized in the permanent collection at Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake.

Fortunately, his chairs are built to last. He predicts that they should be around for at least 200 years to sit on. You can find Barry’s immaculate 20 foot dining table at Camp Old School in Paul Smiths and one of his “best, most fancy” rooties (a chair made from a lot of tree roots) with a set of bar stools in the pub at the Lake Placid Lodge.

Stop in any store with rustic furniture and Adirondacks crafts or talk to any artisan in the area, they’ll smile at the drop of Barry Gregson’s name. At Pine Cone Mercantile right on Main Street in Schroon Lake, I overheard, “Oh, yeah, Barry, he’s a legend.”

You can also check out the stone retaining wall right downtown where the summer square dances are held. This too was created by Barry.

As I leave Barry’s studio, I peer out the window to see two stoic mountain peaks that feel within arm’s reach. I understand why Barry sees the Adirondacks as a giant untamed workshop, as a place where the natural world around you is not just a thing of beauty to be gawked at, but a space full of raw material to be shaped into elegant chairs and toys that can fly.

I say thank you to Barry for generously sharing his time and studio with me. I can’t resist mentioning how incredibly humbled I am by his talent and his ability to turn the materials around him into such works of art, such things of beauty. He shrugs and says, “Well that’s my craft, everyone’s got a craft. Look at you, you write. I think that’s impressive.”

Barry’s humbleness is a testament to the best in the Adirondacks. It’s why so many travelers keep coming back. There’s so much history, so much nature, and so much talent in the country’s largest state-protected park. Tucked within these six million acres, there are living legends among us.

You can check out Barry's work year-round in Schroon Lake. Start planning your trip today. There's plenty to do here! Choose your ideal lodging and your ideal adventure. 

A great motivator to get kids to enjoy hiking is to present a destination. While the view from a mountain peak is a great motivator, it might be too much for younger children. But getting to a pond or a river works just as well.
These hikes have other advantages for tiny feet. They have minimal elevation change, possibly smoother trails, and are short enough to let us reach the goal before a child loses interest.
Here are some top picks to try.

Super easy

Take the Hewitt Eddy Trail for a scenic, 2.4 mile round trip.
For smaller children, there's a much shorter and smoother option for reaching the riverbank. As seen below, the regular trail can be muddy and rocky (left) while the alternate trail (right) has only a few challenging stretches as it drops to river level.

To reach this super-easy option, cross the road across from the trailhead sign. This is a short seasonal road leading to some primitive camping sites. Walk down this road until we come to a pretty little meadow on the left. A simple stump marks the start of this side trail.

Following this trail down the riverbank leads to a fine view of the Boreas River. If we have a tiny hiker, this walk up the road, exploring the meadow, and getting down to the riverbank might be enough of an outing to both wear them out and keep their interest.

However, this might ramp up some enthusiasm for "more more!" If so, you can more confidently take them on the Hewitt Eddy Trail, and you don't even have to get to the end, as much of the trail follows the riverbank here, too.

Another delightful short hike, just a bit south, is Rankin Pond. This trail has a lot of lovely variations along its length and a photogenic pond at the end.

Fast trip to falls

Just a few miles from North Hudson, along the very scenic Blue Ridge Road, is the Blue Ridge Falls set of little trails. There's a small parking area.
The first glimpse of the river and the falls appears within minutes.

The trails wind along the river, some closer, some more in the forest, but while the ones near the rocky shore can be lumpy with tree roots and rocks, some of the forest trails are broad and lovely.

Most of the trails have the music of the roaring falls nearby to make a delightful sensory feast. Most of the trails are cushioned by fallen pine needles.
Be careful near the river; it is moving at a fast rate and there's a lot of mass in that much water.

The sun and shadows offer a lot of contrast, and parts of the river are dark with overhanging trees.

Have a break, a snack, and a browse at the nearby Adirondack Buffalo Company. Yes, real buffalo.

Road to adventure

I really like the Cheney Pond Trail, which is near the middle of Blue Ridge Road. This is another easy trail because it used to be an access road, so even though it is only a mile round trip, it's an even faster mile than it would be along a typical Adirondack hiking path.

While this makes for easy, sunny, walking, do not try to drive down what remains, even with a rugged vehicle and high clearance. There's a caved-in culvert and some big rocks that will probably make you regret the decision. And...there's no place to turn around.

For walking, it's excellent. There's a gradual descent, lots of wildflowers because there's plenty of sun in the center, and varied forest compositions to observe along the way.
There's a stretch at the end where we can start glimpsing Cheney Pond. There's also a fantastic picnic spot when we are almost at the shore, so pack some sandwiches and cookies for fine waterfront dining with a view.

Cheney Pond itself is very scenic, with a distant mountain range, varied shoreline, and some big, very rugged, rocks scattered along the entire shoreline.

If everyone is ready for more, the Tahawus mines are only 5 miles away, near the intersection of Blue Ridge Road and Route 28N, reached along Route 25. The mines themselves are closed, but the old works makes for some fascinating, level, walking.
Choose a fun place to stay. Tame that appetite with our dining choices. Explore more of our fine hiking.

Minerva is a little-known town in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains near Gore Mountain and is a nature lovers' paradise. The town is named after Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, and after reading this blog, you will feel wise that you know about this hidden gem. The Hudson River forms the southwesterly boundary of the town, with 15 miles of its course forming the town boundary. About 15 miles of the Boreas River is also within the town. These 30 miles of pristine river are surrounded by state land, which makes up 64.5% of all the land in the town. With so much state land available, it's no surprise that Minerva has some fabulous hiking opportunities. 

1. Blue Ledges

Distance: 5 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 597 feet
How to get there: From the intersection of Route 9 and Hoffman Road in Schroon Lake, follow Hoffman Road (CR24). Continue on CR24, which eventually turns into Irishtown Road. Take a right onto O’Neill Road, just over 11 miles from Route 9, and a left onto Longs Hill Road (CR24A). This will bring you to Route 28N in Minerva in roughly 2 miles. Take a right onto Route 28N for 2.5 miles to Northwoods Club Road on the left. Follow Northwoods Club Road for 6.5 miles to the Blue Ridge Trailhead parking on the right. 

This hike leads to a horseshoe bend on the Hudson River with towering views of Blue Ledges, iconic cliffs that rise 200 feet overhead. During the rafting season, Blue Ledges is a mid-day stop (usually between 11-2) for many of the area's whitewater rafting companies that operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. The scene is very energetic. You can see rafts in every color go down the river, which look like a bunch of Skittles. If you want a more tranquil hike, avoid Blue Ledges on those days or avoid a mid-day arrival to the Hudson River. 

2. Moxham Mountain

Distance: 5.5 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1152 feet
How to get there: Take NY 28N out of North Creek toward Minerva. That major rock mountain on your left as you're driving along NY 28N is Moxham Mountain. In Minerva, turn left on 14th Road. Follow 14th Road to the end of the pavement and another 0.2 miles along the dirt road to the small parking area on the left or right. The trail starts from the parking area on the left. 

This hike ebbs and flows from rocky and rooty terrain to short climbs and descents, so the trail is engaging but not daunting. After the first half mile, you will reach the first of a dozen overlooks that become more frequent from here. These rock ledges make perfect stops along the way. The last lookout point before the summit has amazing views of the wetlands and ponds of the Siamese Ponds Wilderness and Gore Mountain. The final climb to the summit is a steep quarter of a mile, but the view of the Hudson River is worth it. In addition to the beautiful view, look for the geological survey marker embedded in the summit. If you look closely, you will notice the mountain is labeled as "Maxam" instead of Moxham.

3. Vanderwhacker Mountain

Distance: 5 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1686 feet
How to get there: From North Creek, take NY 28N West for 16 miles.  Immediately after the highway crosses the Boreas River, there is an unmarked gravel road on the left.  Take this road for 2.6 miles to the point where it splits.  The dirt access road to the trailhead is rough in spots, so it is best driven with a high-clearance vehicle (like a pickup truck) or slowly with a low-lying car. Alternatively, park off NY 28N at the pull-off on the right just before the bridge. This adds 2.6 miles to the trailhead. 

The trail is marked with red disks and begins with a gradual elevation change as you cross small creeks and pass around wetlands. At around 1.5 miles from the trailhead, old fire observers' cabins come into view. From here, the trail increases in difficulty and requires a steady climb of 1,200 feet throughout 1.3 miles. After that, the elevation is more moderate as you approach the fire tower. Once at the top, climb the stairs to the top of the fire tower and take in the striking panoramic views. 

After your hike, don't miss out on the opportunity to go for a swim or have a picnic at Donnelly Beach. Quench your thirst with the locals at Sporty’s Iron Duke Saloon, a classic biker bar, or grab a snack at Sullivan’s Store in Olmstedville.  

Love Your ADK

The Adirondacks are a special place with millions of acres of pristine forests. It is up to us to keep it that way. Please help protect the Adirondacks and be prepared when you hike by following Leave-No-Trace ethics consider taking the Love Your Adirondacks Pledge to help ensure that the forests, waterways, and local communities remain beautiful and unique for generations to come.

Leave-No-Trace Principles

1) Plan and prepare
2) Stay on hiking trails and camp at designated areas
3) Dispose of human waste and trash properly (pack it in, pack it out)
4) Leave what you find
5) Minimize campfires
6) Respect wildlife
7) Respect other hikers and manage your pet

A fun part of every snowmobiling trip are the stops along the trail. Giving yourself and your group pre-planned breaks for rest and refreshment adds to the delightful time, no matter how long or short your loop may be.

As thrilling as it is rocketing along the trail, it is just as important to refuel; both the sled, and the appetite. Hanging up the helmets and enjoying a good meal is part of the fun, too. Here are some welcoming pit stops.

Hometown Handiness

The Newcomb Cafe & Campground is an excellent spot to get gas at one of their pumps and/or stop for a homestyle breakfast or lunch. From there you can hop on a number of trails around the Newcomb area that connect to other communities like Long Lake or Indian Lake.

Just down the road is the Lake Harris Lodge. They have a full bar, serve lunch and dinner, and have several stone fireplaces to warm up by. They serve American-Italian style food and have local beers on draft at the bar, and the lodge overlooks Lake Harris. You can come right off the trails to a hot meal. 

Downtown Pubs

All downtown dining in Schroon Lake is available to the snowmobile owners who park their machines on the gazebo park grounds. After the ice is firmly set and tested, it can be safe to sled across the frozen Schroon Lake, but do be careful. It's an easy walk to find many fine places, but here's a look at the two pubs.

The Timberwolf Pub is a local gathering place. It can be difficult to choose from the delicious menu, but the soups are home-made and the burgers are fresh so you can't go wrong either way. Their motto is "good food, good company, and good times." Join them for breakfast with daily specials, lunch with homemade soups, and dinner.

Flanagan's Pub & Grill is a Irish Pub. They have daily specials, and today, I had the peppermint hot chocolate. Homemade. I could tell. When the menu says “The Best Wings in the Adirondacks,” I have to check them out. There are many varieties and I am planning to try them all. The menu has some welcome side trails and appetizers. After five the dinner menu features some hearty meals sure to satisfy the hungriest snowmobiler. We went for my favorite appetizer, the gluten-free coconut shrimp which is so good I have to share, so we also got the Nachos Deluxe, with fresh jalepenos.

St. Patrick's Day is Flanagan's anniversary, so that's also a great time to stop in. But then again, any time is.

Bistro Flair

Sticks & Stones Bistro & Bar is at the edge of town, with plenty of parking. The rustic interior with stone fireplace is a warm and welcoming space in winter. The owner is particularly proud of the special Italian pizza oven. There are sandwiches, bistro salads, and evening entrees like scallops, fresh fettucine, and steaks. Make sure you check out the burger of the day!

Even my gluten-free self can enjoy one of their signature desserts, the adult root beer float with vanilla bean ice cream, but there are many more. Like table-side s'mores and molten lava cake. They also specialize in craft beer, boutique wine, and handcrafted cocktails.

With such a range of possibilities, and so many trails, the Adirondack Hub makes a wonderful choice to spend your day sledding. After a full day of fun, find a place to stay. Try more of the delicious dining. Explore more trails!

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If you like craft beer, you need to visit Paradox Brewery in Schroon Lake. And depending on when you visit, you might even get to sip your pint while enjoying a view that includes some of the High Peaks. 

Paul and Joan Mrocka opened Paradox six years ago. Hailing from New Jersey, Paul started brewing when he got out of the service in 1984. The couple transitioned from being visitors to the Adirondacks when they bought a house on Paradox Lake, and as many Adirondackers can attest, life here isn’t as leisurely as it might seem.

“I don’t vacation anymore, I work,” Paul said with a laugh. “I use my boat maybe twice a year, and I only used my season pass for skiing twice last winter.”

That hard work is paying off, though. The Mrockas are building a shiny new brewery in North Hudson, just a few miles north of Schroon Lake on Route 9, to replace the current brewery, which is just south of Schroon Lake on Route 9. The brewery will be closer to I-87 than their current location, and it will be close to the state’s new Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian and Day Use Area. 

But besides being in a convenient spot, the new brewery will allow Paradox to quadruple its output and move everything on site. Right now they’re at capacity at their present location with about 2,000 barrels (there's about 30 gallons of beer per barrel) a year, and another 1,800 to 2,000 barrels a year are produced in Stratford, Connecticut. 

Shiny and new

The large, hangar-like building on Route 9N will be packed full of modern, highly efficient equipment. Outside, a large wraparound deck provides views of the surrounding mountains, and there might be food trucks in the brewery’s future. All in all, the vast space is bigger than what Paradox currently needs because Paul wants to allow room for the business to grow. 

More space also means more brewing tanks, so the brewers can try smaller batches of things that will only be found on site. There could be a maple porter or a blueberry wheat in Paradox’s future! 

A round of beers

Back at the current location, tasting room manager Andre Turcotte outlined some of the mainstays Paradox offers. The Paradox Pilsner is one of the lightest beers they do — it’s smooth, crisp and refreshing.

The Beaver Bite IPA is the top selling beer, while its sibling Beaver Overbite is a juicy double IPA, a pineapple meets grapefruit kind of thing. Southern Hemisphere is a highly coveted beer — all of the ingredients come from New Zealand and Australia and it tastes hoppy without being bitter. The pale ale is a classic, light and low on the hoppiness.

And then there’s the Off Trail Series.

“The Off Trail Series is to keep the brewers’ creativity going,” Andre said. “Once a month they go off the trail, they try something a little different, a different rendition to a recipe, or they try a different style.” 

One Off Trail beer was Peaches and Cream, a milkshake IPA with peach puree and lactose in it. It sounds like a mixed drink, but Andre said it didn’t taste like one. That’s something that speaks to what the brewers at Paradox are all about. They’ll slide something across the bar that you might not think you’ll like, and you’ll end up with a new favorite.

“We have people walk in here who say they hate IPAs, but ours are a northeast style. Very juicy, hoppy more than bitter,” Andre said. “You get someone who will walk in hating IPAs and they’ll walk out with a case of our Southern Hemisphere IPA.” 

Beer isn't the only thing you can try in the Schroon Lake Region! Take a hike, go horseback riding, or go for a paddle!

Every season in the mountains holds its own distinct beauty, but perhaps the most dramatic and photo worthy of them all is fall. Different shades appear as the season progresses, with the peak offering a show-stopping display of reds, yellows, oranges, and deep greens. Combine all that with the warm days and crisp evenings — campfires are highly recommended — and you have the perfect conditions for outdoor exploration. To get started, take a look at four of our favorite fall haunts, listed below in order from easiest to most difficult, then get out there and enjoy the beauty of autumn in the Adirondacks!

1. Adirondac, a ghost town

This is more of a site to explore than a hike, but there’s no better way to experience fall than by being in a real Adirondack ghost town. Visitors can drive right into the shuttered old mining town and explore the abandoned community of Adirondac at their leisure. It’s an amazing place where trees emerge from the buildings’ rooftops and moss and peeling paint converge to form a haunting backdrop to the reds and oranges of the seasonal foliage. No great tragedy happened here — the inhabitants were simply relocated in 1964 when National Lead, the company that owned the village and the nearby mines, decided it was time to get out of the landlord business — but the place still conjures images of its former inhabitants. It’s hard not to imagine miners and their families walking down the straight, narrow dirt road before retiring for the evening within the confines of one of these now-decrepit homes. Do resist the urge to follow those spirits inside, though. Many of the houses aren’t safe to enter, so peering through the windows is your best bet. And be sure to check out the enormous blast furnace; it’s on the right as you enter the town.

Fun fact: The buildings of another nearby mining village, Tahawus, were literally picked up and moved into Newcomb in 1963 after iron ore and titanium were discovered beneath it.

Getting there

From I-87, take Exit 29 and turn west on Boreas Road. After about 18 miles, make a right onto County Road 25, which is also called Tahawus Rd. Follow that for about 6 miles and turn left onto County Road 25A, also known as Upper Works Road. After about 2 miles, the ghost town of Adirondac will appear. Park anywhere along the road to explore the remnants of the town, or proceed to the Upper Works parking area and backtrack on foot.

2. Newcomb AIC

If you want a little nature education to accompany the sound of crisp autumn leaves crunching beneath your hiking boots, this is the place for you. AIC stands for Adirondack Interpretive Center, and that’s exactly what this place sets out to accomplish. There’s a lot of cool stuff to learn inside the AIC's main building, but don’t linger too long. From there you can embark on a network of 3.6 miles of trail that wind through 236 acres of woods and waterways. They’re all really easy so seeing the entire AIC in a day isn’t a problem for most hikers.

If you are pressed for time, don’t miss the Rich Lake and Peninsula trails. A lovely bridge gets visitors out onto the large peninsula, where there are great views of Rich Lake and Goodnow Mountain. Side note: Goodnow has a restored fire tower on its summit and is a great hike if you’re looking for a bigger challenge. See the description below!

Getting there

Take Exit 29 off of Interstate 87 and turn left on Blue Ridge Road to head toward Newcomb, then turn right on Route 28N. The VIC is on the right, about 25 miles from the highway.

3. Mount Severence

There’s no better way to see fall colors than by gaining elevation. Luckily, some mountains are easier to climb than others, so killer vistas are still attainable even if vertigo-inducing scrambles aren’t your thing. At a paltry 1,693 feet in elevation, a trip up Mount Severence shouldn’t take the entire day, but it might if you can’t pull yourself away from the blanket of oranges and reds you’ll see from the summit.

The trail leaves the parking area by way of two metal tunnels, which go underneath I-87. The path is well-marked and well-maintained as it winds to the base of the mountain, crosses a wooden bridge, then climbs moderately to the summit at the 1.2-mile mark. Explore the top to discover all of its secrets — there’s a stunning view of Schroon Lake in one direction and another that encompasses the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area.

Stats

Distance: 1.2 miles to the summit

Elevation: 1,693 feet

Elevation gain: 700 feet

Getting there

From Interstate 87, take Exit 28, head toward Schroon Lake, and make a quick right to go south on Route 9. The parking area is in about a half mile on the right.

4. Goodnow Mountain

Goodnow is a little longer and a little more difficult than Mount Severence, but the view from its summit fire tower is simply stunning: A series of High Peaks rise to the north while rolling mountains, twisting rivers, and expansive lakes stretch toward the horizon in every other direction.

The trail starts at a mellow grade and never gets too step as it climbs toward the summit. A lot of trail work has been done to maintain this popular route; you’ll see the result of that in the many wooden bridges, boardwalks, and stairs along the way. Those features will help keep your boots dry and using them also keeps the surrounding trail from eroding, so be sure to take advantage of the trail crew’s hard work!

Depending on when you go, you could see a progression of fall colors as you ascend. Leaves on the lower portion of the mountain might be green while those higher up are brightly colored, a testament to the colder conditions found in high elevations. That’s cool to see and it’s also good advice, straight from the forest! Bring a couple of warm layers, like a windbreaker, hat, and light sweater, for the summit, which is bound to be chillier than the valley below.

Stats

Distance: 1.9 miles to the summit

Elevation: 2,690 feet

Elevation gain: 1,040 feet

Getting there

Take exit 29 from Interstate 87 and head west on Blue Ridge Road, toward Newcomb. After about 18.5 miles, turn right on Route 28N and follow that for about 9 miles as it goes through Newcomb. The large parking area is on the left, about 1.5 miles after the Adirondack Interpretive Center.

 

You can imagine that as editor of a statewide hunting andfishing publication, I see my share of big buck photos. And over the course of my newspaper career I've always been a hands-on kind of editor, so I manage to grab a camera with some regularity still and snap a few shots of big deer, big fish and turkeys.

Sometimes – usually during spring gobbler season – I even end up on the other side of the camera. But it sure hasn't happened for me this deer season, as I've struggled to fill a tag and, even as I write this, am planning to jump out this afternoon in an effort to find a buck. At this point in the season, any buck. They're all trophies now as the next-to-last weekend of the firearms season winds down.  

Things have, however, been heating up in the deer woods, as they always seem to do when the temperatures drop and the bucks are on the prowl for willing does. Some of the best bucks of the season are killed later rather than sooner, and that seems to be the case again this year. 

While I've been beating my head against an oak tree trying to find a buck, the stories keep rolling in all around me. A friend connecting on a big-bodied seven-pointer (5 on one side and 2 on the other) way back inthe high country of the Lake Placid and Whiteface regions, necessitating agrueling, 8-hour drag out of the woods that wasn't completed until the following morning. A neighbor scoring on a fine 8-point not far from where I'd been hunting, filling his tag while I was 300 miles away for the Southern Zone opener. Another friend who, home from college for the Thanksgiving holiday, finally got out and in the first hour of his hunt downed a beautiful 10-pointer that will likely score in the 150s. Sometimes it happens that way. I'm trying to convince myself it could happen to me later today. 

And just as there are big-racked whitetails in the high country, there are also corn-fed beauties along Lake Champlain and in the Schroon Lake Region, in spots like the sprawling Pharoah Lake Wilderness Area. 

Even on Thanksgiving Day itself, I was pressed into duty –with pleasure – with news of Jesse Napper's spectacular 11-point buck, the first ever for the 16-year-old. 

It started harmlessly enough; I was working cleanup duty at a church dinner when his aunt arrived with news that her nephew had killed a big buck. She even had a photo of it on her digital camera. 

When she showed me, I wasn't sitting down. I should have been. It wasn't just a "big buck." This one was something special, a big-bodied, heavy-racked, long-tined monster that weighed in at a field-dressed189 pounds and will almost assuredly score in the 150s when someone puts a tape measure to the massive rack. 

I had to see this one myself, and hustled up the road to the farmhouse the hunters had gathered. This was a big deal for any hunter, but especially for a 16-year-old tagging his first buck. I made sure he was aware of that, even driving back home to fetch a couple of cameras for a photo session, then listening to him re-tell the story of his Thanksgiving morning success. You'll see a photo and story in an upcoming issue of New York Outdoor News. 

I didn't have to ask Jesse to smile for the camera. 

And who knows? Deer-hunting lightning can strike at anytime up here. Some big bucks are still out there. 

Maybe I'll need someone to take my picture. 

Of all the winter sports out there, I think snowshoeing is probably the easiest to learn. Our Adirondack trails simply transform with the seasons. If you can hike there in the summer, you can snowshoe there in the winter, exchanging the bright green for the sparkly white. If you can walk, you can snowshoe.

Snowshoeing doesn't require much more equipment than the actual shoes, though I highly recommend a pair of trekking poles. At first, there's this tendency to step on your own feet, since they are a bit larger than what you are used to. Even after you get the hang of it, having that extra four-point leverage of poles is always a good idea, especially on backcountry trails, or on any descent.

That's one of the reasons dogs do well in snow. They have four on the floor.

Go anywhere

One way to have a great time, even on the first time, is getting some expert help. Cloudsplitter Outfitters in Newcomb rents all kinds of equipment, including snowshoes. Their expert guides will take you out for a trek tailored to your interests and skill level.

They are certified Adirondack Guides who love the area and have everything needed for four-season enjoyment of it. From equipment to accommodation, they can offer a full service experience.

Their store is stocked for all kinds of outdoor needs, and there's an especially fine selection of trail food. Staying fed and hydrated on the trail is an important comfort element.
A recent trek I joined gathered kids and dogs for a festive outing on fresh holiday-season snow.

Make sure to have proper hats, mittens, and socks, because when these sensitive areas are not warm enough, all of you will feel cold. But this day was one of those where the overcast sky actually seemed to keep in the sun's heat, and the lack of wind makes a big difference. On the trail, windbreaks of trees can alternate with the vistas of meadows and lakefronts.

Our guides also have many local stories connected to the history of the area, from the early lumbering days to the mid-century move of the Tahawus mine's "company town" to neighboring Newcomb. Guides also lead trips to Camp Santanoni Preserve, a famous Great Camp that can only be reached using human power.

Get out and snowshoe!

With or without a guide, there are a lot of beautiful places to explore in Newcomb.

Newcomb's Overlook Park has the Hudson River running through it. The abundant forest trails here also have a backdrop of Adirondack High Peaks. There's even an informative display that helps visitors identify the distant mountains.

Newcomb is also the home of the Adirondack Interpretive Center. This beautifully sculpted trail system has bridges over many brooks and lake outlets, including a peninsula trail with plenty of dramatic water views. 

A lot of the trails wind through winter forest landscapes, with abundant tracks from wildlife and benches along the path. I love the sound and sight of half-frozen water tumbling over ice and rocks. The Center is open Friday - Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Use of snowshoes is included in the admission.

Learn more with Snowshoe glory: Adirondack Interpretive Center.

Don't forget food and rest

Although a break can be as simple as a Thermos of coffee or hot chocolate, when you're ready for a full lunch try the Newcomb House Bar and Grill — a popular Adirondack pub. Plan to take a break here and enjoy the warm atmosphere of this local favorite.

Stay right at Cloudsplitter Cabins in their self-contained cabins with kitchens.
Find some more great trails — especially for birding enthusiasts, in the blog, Boreal Birding in Newcomb and Minerva.

The Schroon Lake Region is as gorgeous in winter as it is in summer. From downhill skiing to a warm fire, this is a wonderland of outdoor recreation and festive relaxation.
Choose some cozy lodging. Warm up with our dining. Find the finest snowshoeing trails.