High Peaks Region
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Interpretive signage at a park next to the Wilmington bridge, state Route 86
(Staff photo — Andy Flynn)
Adirondack Daily Enterprise / Adirondack Vacation Guide • Summer/Fall 2022
Jay, Keene, Wilmington, AuSable Forks
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n the High Peaks region, there are several quaint communities in the AuSable River Valley that have a lot to offer: Jay, Upper Jay, AuSable Forks, Wilmington, Keene and Keene Valley. Wilmington’s biggest attractions are High Falls Gorge, Santa’s Workshop, Adirondack Wildlife Refuge, Whiteface Mountain Ski Center and the Whiteface Mountain Veterans’ Memorial Highway. Plus, there’s the E.M. Cooper Memorial Library on state Route 86 and the town beach on Lake Everest. Hiking and mountain biking trails in Wilmington are unparalleled, as is the trout fishing on the swiftflowing West Branch of the AuSable River. Learn more about the Whiteface Region at www.whitefaceregion.com. Upper Jay has the Upper Jay Art Center/Recovery Lounge and Wells Memorial Library, and Jay has the Jay Covered Bridge, concerts on the Village Green sponsored by the Jay Entertainment Music Society and the Amos and Julia Ward Theater. AuSable Forks has the AuSable Forks Free Library and the Tahawus Center (tahawuscenter.org) — featuring the Windows Gallery and Cloudsplitter Dance Studio. Keene has the Keene Library and Keene Arts, and Keene Valley has the Keene Valley Library. Between both hamlets on state Route 73 is Marcy Field, home of many events, including the summer farmers market every Sunday. The town of Keene is a popular gateway to the High Peaks trails. Nearby attractions include Ausable Chasm, North Star Underground Railroad Museum, Adirondack Architectural Heritage in Keeseville and the Adirondack History Museum in Elizabethtown.
Swim at the East Branch of the AuSable River near the Jay Covered Bridge
(Staff photo — Andy Flynn)
Jay Covered Bridge
(Staff photo — Andy Flynn)
