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Great Camp Santanoni Preserve

The grounds are open year-round, but access to the buildings is limited. Call (518) 834-9328 for tour information.

Attractions

Over 45 buildings make up the entire complex, which encompasses 12,900 acres. Few other Adirondack Great Camps feature as many buildings and property, and offer such outstanding examples of rustic architecture. Visitors to the main lodge on Newcomb Lake must hike, ski, or ride 5 miles through the woods from the Gate Lodge parking area. Motorized vehicles are not allowed.

Interpreters are on-site daily in July and August. Guided tours are offered once a month, June through October.

History

The main lodge was constructed from 1,500 native spruce trees in 1893. Other buildings include a boathouse, lakeside studio, gatehouse, and a farm that supplied the camp with milk, meat, and eggs. There are no furnishings; the architecture is the highlight. The setting is gorgeous and a little bit eerie. The state's largest manhunt was conducted here in the early 1970s, when the camp owner's grandson disappeared in the woods and was never found.

Accessibility 

To facilitate accessibility to Camp Santanoni Historic Area for people with disabilities, DEC is offering a Mobility Device Reservation Pilot Program in Summer 2024 for qualified individuals with disabilities to reserve and use a power wheelchair device free of charge.

Adirondack Buffalo Company

Welcome to The Adirondack Buffalo Company of North Hudson, owned and operated by Dorreen and Steve Ossenkop. The farm, nestled in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains in North Hudson, New York, is home to a herd of about forty American Bison or buffalo as they are commonly called. In the late fall and winter, it's only open by appointment only. So call first at 518-532-9466 to confirm. Adirondack Buffalo Company is one of the area's favorite attractions. Visitors enjoy seeing the buffalo from our spacious deck and shopping in our gift shop for bison products, fresh produce, baked goods, gourmet foods, rustic furniture, and souvenirs. Please browse through the site, enjoy some pictures, and visit on your next trip to the North Country!

Adirondack Interpretive Center at Newcomb

The Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) at Newcomb offers 236 acres of environmental education, along with over 3.5 miles of scenic, surfaced trails complemented by indoor exhibits, lectures, films, and naturalist-led guided walks. There is a picnic area located on the grounds but the benches provided at numerous overlooks along their trail system are ideal lunch spots. 

*For current hours and seasonal updates, please visit the AIC's website.

How to get there

Take Exit 29 off of Interstate 87 and turn west on to Blue Ridge Road heading toward Newcomb. After ~18 miles, turn right on Route 28N and drive through the Town of Newcomb. The AIC driveway will be on the right on the western edge of town.

Hiking

The AIC trails offer a variety of terrain and habits including forest, lakeshore, and wetland. All trails begin at the AIC building and start by following the Rich Lake Trail (green markers). Rich Lake Trail is an easy 0.6-mile trail, perfect for a warm-up with views of Rich Lake and Goodnow Mountain. Two overlooks along the lake provide for photo opportunities and wildlife viewing. The Peninsula Trail (red markers) is a 0.9-mile loop which starts from the Rich Lake Trail and offers more views of Rich Lake. There are beautiful old-growth hemlocks on this trail and a long boardwalk across a marsh dominated by cranberry and button bush. The 1.0-mile Sucker Brook Trail (blue markers), also accessed from the Rich Lake Trail, follows the outlet of Rich Lake and is a great trail for spotting wildlife. This trail follows the route felled trees traversed during the Hudson River log-driving days. The R.W. Sage Jr. Memorial Trail (yellow markers) is a 1.1-mile loop which starts and ends on the Sucker Brook Trail. This trail features stands of pure hardwood forests and a boardwalk through a seasonal wetland offering visitors a true deep-woods feel. From the Sage Trail you can take the 0.5-mile Santanoni Preserve Connector Trail (DEC red markers) that leads visitors through NYS DEC lands to the Newcomb Lake Road Trail. Looking for something a little more challenging? The Goodnow Mountain trailhead is just 1.7 miles from the AIC. A 2-mile hike to the top of the mountain followed by a climb up the stairs of a fire tower will be rewarded by a spectacular view of the central Adirondacks. 

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing

In winter, the center loans snowshoes to visitors who wish to explore their snow-covered trails. A few well-marked alterations to the trails in winter provide for easy to moderate snowshoeing. Trails are also open for the use of experienced cross-country skiers; the terrain makes it a little too challenging for the novice skier. Only the Peninsula Trail is closed to skiing. Winter is an amazing time to be on the trails and creates a completely different experience. Winter trails are an excellent opportunity for discovery since animal tracks are easy to see in the snow. Extend your snowshoe or ski trip by heading over to the Camp Santanoni Preserve via the Santanoni Preserve Connector Trail. 

Birding

This complex offers a variety of habitats including old-growth hemlock, cedar swamp, conifer, and northern hardwood, as well as near lake, river, stream, and wetland environments. More than 100 species of birds have been sighted, including warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, Common Loon, and Great Blue Heron. Birds of prey include Bald Eagle, Osprey, and owls. Woodpeckers are abundant so you might hear them before you see them.

 

The AIC is part of the NYS Birding Trail. This trail is not a physical trail, but a "connection" between outstanding birding locations in regions across the state.

Newcomb Ski Slope

For more than 50 years, The Town of Newcomb has owned, and operated, its own two-run ski slope where generations of residents have learned to ski. It is 200 vertical feet. There is a wide main run and a side woodsy run. From the top, there's a beautiful pay-off — a view of the snowy High Peaks from the south. Free, and a good place to learn and practice your downhill skiing skills. Good for sledding, snowboarding, and downhill skiing. Call for schedule.

Strand Theatre

Original Art Deco movie theater and performance venue in Schroon Lake, New York

Seagle Festival

Seagle Festival (Formerly Seagle Music Colony) is the oldest and one of the most distinguished summer vocal training programs in the United States. It is also the premier opera and musical theatre producing organization in the Adirondacks, producing six full productions each summer during its nine week season.

Schroon Lake Marina

Summer watersports are fun, exciting, and family ­friendly activities that people of all ages can enjoy. There’s no better way to spend a weekend at Lake George, Schroon Lake, or Loon Lake than out on the water soaking up the sun. But it’s no secret that boats and aquatic crafts can be expensive to purchase, time ­consuming to maintain, and difficult to transport between home and your vacation destination.

That’s why at Schroon Lake Marina, there’s a wide variety of boat styles and watersport equipment available for rent so that you can take full advantage of your time at Schroon Lake without the hassle of having to haul your own equipment here.

Watersports is a broad term, and everyone has a personal preference when it comes to the best type of boat or the ideal activity. While some people want the quiet silence of the kayak, others love the hum of a motorboat, and others prefer the roar of a speedboat. Schroon Lake Marina rentals make all the popular watersport equipment styles available for rent, including:

  • Rowboats
  • 18­ and 20­ foot motorboats
  • 20­ and 22­ foot pontoon boats
  • Deckboats
  • Canoes
  • Single and tandem kayaks
  • Stand­up paddleboards

Rental times are flexible and designed to accommodate any schedule, which is why you can rent in two, four, and eight­ hour blocks, for multiple days, and on a weekly basis as well. For rentals that are longer than four hours, you have until 5:00 on the evening of the final day to return your equipment, so you can still get in a full day on the water before having to get back to the marina.

Schroon Lake Arts Council

The Schroon Lake Arts Council is a dedicated group of people focused on cultivating, promoting, fostering, sponsoring, and developing the understanding, taste and love of the musical and visual arts in our community. We are constantly striving to meet this goal and we welcome your participation and your ideas.

 

Accessible Amenities

Accessible Car Parking.
Accessible Van Parking.
Service Animal relief area.
special programs available.
Accessible welcome/host stand.
Accessible outdoor seating areas. 
Accessible indoor seating areas. 
Level access/ramp/lift at entrance. 
Entrance at least 32" wide. 
Accessible Room Entrance.
Room to maneuver (36” aisles and 60” turning space). 
Orientation available for those with cognitive needs. 
Staff orientation available.

Accessible Bathrooms

Clear floor space that is at least 60" in diameter. 
Accessible sink/counter. 
Accessible faucet, soap, paper towel dispenser.
Unisex/companion bathroom.

Accessible Theater Space

Accessible wheelchair spaces available.
Companion seating available next to wheelchair seating. 

 

Paradox Brewery

Founded in November 2011 in Schroon Lake, Paradox Brewery is an Independent craft brewery in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains brewing innovative beer of the highest quality. Our new, state-of-the-art facility near the old Frontier Town in North Hudson opened in 2020 and features a tasting room with beautiful indoor and outdoors views combined with great beer and an always lively atmosphere!

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