Vacation Guide - Summer 2024

ADIRONDACK VACATION

Creating Places

adirondackdailyenterprise.com

Guide design: Andy Flynn, Editor and Publisher

Advertising:

Susan Moore

Lindsay Munn

Carol Swirsky

Lake PLacid News

lakeplacidnews.com

Published by Adirondack Publishing Co. P.O. Box 318, 54 Broadway Saranac Lake, NY 12983 518-891-2600 adirondackdailyenterprise.com lakeplacidnews.com

© Copyright 2024

Cover photo credits: lakeplacid.com (ROOST)

Table of Contents

4. Protect the Park

6. Welcome to the High Peaks

12-13. High Peaks outdoor adventure map

16. Welcome to the Adirondack Coast

20. Welcome to Saranac Lake

24. Adirondack Rail Trail & Adirondack Railroad

28. Self-guided historic driving tour: Tri-Lakes Region

34. Welcome to Tupper Lake

40. Hiking, paddling challenges

42. Welcome to the Northern Tier

45. Take the ‘I BIRD NY’ Challenge

46. Welcome to the Central Adirondacks

48. Learn more with these tourism resources

48. Emergency contacts

50. North Country farmers markets

51. Prevent bear interactions this summer

52. Welcome to Plattsburgh

53. Self-guided historic driving tour: Adirondack Coast

56. Adirondack Park map

Little Wolf Beach, Tupper Lake

Protect the Park

Welcome to New York’s 6-million-acre Adirondack Park. At first glance, this place of immense beauty seems perfect. Yet, with climate change and other environmental threats, the natural resources in this mountain region — the highest peaks, the waterways and the deepest forests — are fragile and need our protection.

The Park is under constant pressure from the outside world — from development to pollution to invasive species. As we enjoy the natural wonders here, there are a number of ways you can keep this place protected.

You can start by taking the Love Your ADK pledge. The Lake Placid-based Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism — in partnership with the Adirondack Mountain Club, Adirondack Council and the state Department of Environmental Conservation — set up the “Love the Adirondacks” website (loveyouradk.org), where you can pledge to protect the Park as you enjoy it. After all, it’s everyone’s responsibility.

If you are boating here, you should know about the state’s “Clean. Drain. Dry.” law, which requires anyone using a motorboat inside the Adirondack Park, and within 10 miles of its boundary, to carry a certificate showing their watercraft has been cleaned, drained and dried for every trip. Certificates are not needed for canoes or kayaks, but paddlers are required to “clean, drain, dry” their vessels and equipment.

Enjoying the Park isn’t just about getting outdoors,

even though that’s a huge part of the Adirondack experience. There are so many other things to do while you are here.

Have fun shopping or by visiting local food producers and drink establishments, whether it’s a trip to the farmers market, enjoying a beer at one of our craft breweries or ending your day at a favorite ice cream stand.

Explore the natural wonders — such as Ausable Chasm, Natural Stone Bridge & Caves and High Falls Gorge.

Learn about the heritage of this unique place at local museums or where history was made — such as Fort Ticonderoga, the French and English forts at Crown Point, Lake Placid’s Olympic venues, E.L. Trudeau’s Saranac Laboratory or the John Brown Farm in Lake Placid.

Enjoy the arts at galleries, concerts, special events and performing and visual art centers.

In between your activities, you can find a wide variety of dining experiences for breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks and late-night drinks.

Go out and discover the Adirondack Park — a place the size of Vermont. With all of us working together, we can ensure that residents and visitors will be able to enjoy this magical place for generations.

Whatever this summer brings, we hope you stay healthy and happy and come back to the Adirondacks often — spring, summer, fall and winter. It is truly a year-round paradise for those who love the great outdoors.

(Provided

Welcome to the High Peaks

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

City dwellers have been traveling to the High Peaks region for summer adventures since the early 1800s, and it seems like there’s more to do every year.

The village of Lake Placid and town of North Elba and surrounding High Peaks communities in the towns of Elizabethtown, Jay, Keene, Lewis and Wilmington offer the typical Adirondack outdoor recreational offerings: hiking, camping, road cycling, mountain biking, boating, paddling, water skiing, fishing, rock climbing, birding, wildlife watching, horseback riding, beach volleyball, pickleball, tennis and golf. Find what you need at one of the local outfitters or hire an outdoor guide for your adventure.

There are also ropes courses and ziplines for the more adventurous visitors.

This is the home of the High Peaks Wilderness Area, which

includes the state’s highest peak, Mount Marcy, at 5,344 feet above sea level. These mountains have become even more popular in recent years due to the coronavirus pandemic — many climb the 46 tallest peaks to become Adirondack 46ers — making it crowded at times and putting pressure on the trail systems. Therefore, state leaders recommend hiking smaller, more remote peaks during the busy summer weekends when parking is full.

If you just want to get a quick taste of the forest with the family, easier trails for walking, nature watching and mountain biking are located in Lake Placid on Bear Cub Lane — Henry’s Woods and Heaven Hill Trails. Or try the Peninsula Nature Trails for walking and trail running on the Brewster Peninsula Road.

And don’t forget to hang around Mirror Lake, whether it’s to paddle, fish or swim. The municipal beach is located on Parkside Drive near the tennis courts and playground at Peacock Park.

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Village of Lake Placid

photo — LakePlacid.com/ROOST)

Sightseeing is a popular family activity in and around Lake Placid, and there are many opportunities to sit back, relax and enjoy the view. Take a drive around the region, or up the Whiteface Mountain Veterans’ Memorial Highway in Wilmington, or take a ride on the gondola at the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center.

Lake Placid hosted the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games, and the state Olympic Regional Development Authority (lakeplacidolympicsites.com) operates those venues, including the Olympic Sports Complex, Olympic Jumping Complex, Olympic Speedskating Oval, 1932 and 1980 Olympic Center rinks and the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center. Upgrades were made to these venues to prepare for the 2023 FISU Winter World University Games.

The 400-meter speedskating oval is where American Eric Heiden won five gold medals in 1980 and local speedskater Jack Shea won two gold medals in 1932. The Olympic Center’s 1980 Herb Brooks Arena was home to the fabled “Miracle on Ice” game in which the U.S. hockey team beat the Soviet Union in 1980 before winning the gold-medal game against Finland. Learn more at lakeplacidolympiccenter.com.

At the Lake Placid Olympic Museum (www.lpom.org), visitors can learn about the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics on the first floor of the Miracle Plaza building, which connects the 1932 and 1980 arenas.

The Olympic Sports Complex at Mount Van Hoevenberg (mtvanhoevenberg.com) features a biathlon stadium, cross-country skiing trails and combined sliding track for bobsled, luge and skel-

eton. There is also a start training facility for bobsled and skeleton and an indoor climbing wall at the Mountain Pass Lodge. Plus, the Cliffside Coaster goes around the mountain, following the 1980 bobsled run, and there are mountain biking trails and a trailhead for Mount Van Hoevenberg.

Summer visitors to the Olympic Jumping Complex can take a gondola ride, zipline and ride an elevator to the top of the highest ski jump for a breathtaking view of the High Peaks region. Athletes are also training and competing here throughout the year.

There is plenty more history in Lake Placid, including the John Brown Farm State Historic Site at 200 John Brown Road, operated by the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

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This was the home and is the final resting place of abolitionist John Brown, who died in 1859. The trails are open year-round for walking, skiing and snowshoeing. The friends group — John Brown Lives! — offers programming throughout the year.

The Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society operates the History Museum at the old train station on Station Street.

Culture is alive and well in Lake Placid, with the historic Palace Theatre on Main Street, Lake Placid Center for the Arts (lakeplacidarts.org) at 17 Algonquin Dr., Lake Placid Sinfonietta concerts (lakeplacidsinfonietta.org), Songs at Mirror Lake concerts (songsatmirrorlake.org) and programs from the Lake Placid Institute (lakeplacidinstitute.org) and Adirondack Film Society (adirondackfilmsociety.org). Plus there are world-class events in the town of Keene sponsored by the East Branch Friends of the Arts (eastbranchfriendsofthearts.com).

Visitors can watch ski jumpers train and compete in the summer at the Olympic Jumping Complex.

(Staff photo — Arthur

And if you haven’t heard, the High Peaks region has some of the best shopping, restaurants and craft breweries in the Adirondack Park.

Learn more about planning your Lake Placid vacation at www. lakeplacid.com.

Sports events

Lake Placid is well known for its major sports events in the warmer weather. Those on the calendar this year include the following:

¯ Lake Placid Marathon and Half, June 9, lakeplacidmarathon. com.

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An athlete finishes a High Peaks Cyclery Mini Tri race in the summer of 2023. Visitors are welcome to enter.

(Staff photo — Arthur Maiorella)

Maiorella)

¯ Lake Placid Horse Shows. June 25 to July 7, lakeplacidhorseshows.org.

¯ High Peaks Cyclery Mini Tri Series: Features a 400-yard swim in Mirror Lake, 12-mile bike and 3-mile run. Sponsored by High Peaks Cyclery, highpeakscyclery.com.

¯ Ironman Lake Placid triathlon, July 21, ironman.com/ im-lake-placid.

¯ Can-Am Rugby Tournament, July 26-28, canamrugby.com.

¯ Lake Placid Summit Classic lacrosse tournaments, July 29 to Aug. 4, summitlacrosseventures.com.

¯ Wilmington Mountain Bike Festival, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, wilmingtonmtbfestival.com.

¯ UCI Mountain Bike World Series, Sept. 27-29, Mount Van Hoevenberg, mtvanhoevenberg.com/uci.

¯ Lake Placid Classic Half Marathon and 10K, Oct. 12, www. lakeplacidclassic.com.

High Peaks hamlets

In the High Peaks region, there are a number of quaint communities in the AuSable River Valley that have a lot to offer: Jay, Upper Jay and AuSable Forks in the town of Jay; Wilmington; Keene and Keene Valley in the town of Keene; Elizabethtown; and Lewis.

The Fourth of July parade in Lake Placid is one of the most festive events in the Adirondacks every summer.

(Staff

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 Wilmington E.M. Cooper Memorial Public Library and the town beach on Lake Everest.

East Branch

Dar Williams Beloved Singer-Songwriter

Saturday

July 27, 7:30 PM

Keene Valley

Congregational Church

Hiking and mountain biking trails in Wilmington are unparalleled, as is the trout fishing on the swift-flowing West Branch of the AuSable River.

Learn more about the Whiteface Region at www.whitefaceregion.com.

Upper Jay has the Upper Jay Art Center and Wells Memorial Library, and Jay has the historic Jay Covered Bridge, concerts on the Village Green sponsored by the Jay Entertainment Music Society and the Amos and Julia Ward Theatre (jemsgroup.org).

AuSable Forks has the AuSable Forks Free Library and the Tahawus Center.

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.

Elizabethtown — the county seat for Essex County — has the Adirondack History Museum.

Attractions

Below are some attractions in the region.

¯ Adirondack Architectural Heritage. AARCH sponsors a number of programs and tours throughout the region. 1745 Main

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Seamus Blake Quartet

Incredible Jazz from around the world

Sunday

September 15, 4:00 PM

Keene Valley

Congregational Church

photo — Arthur Maiorella)

Hikers enjoy a moment on the top of Mount Colden.

(Staff photo — Aaron Marbone)

St., Keeseville. 518-834-9328. aarch.org.

¯ Adirondack History Museum. Learn about Essex County History with programs and exhibits. Open Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend. 7590 Court St., Elizabethtown. 518873-6466. adkhistorycenter.org.

¯ Adirondack Mountain Club’s Adirondak Loj. Adirondack Loj Road, Lake Placid. ADK offers educational programs and owns two facilities in the High Peaks region: the Heart Lake property at the Adirondak Loj and Johns Brook Lodge (accessible by foot only from the Garden trailhead in Keene Valley, a 3.5-mile hike). Visit the High Peaks Information Center before heading into the High Peaks Wilderness Area from the Adirondak Loj. There are hiking trails on the Loj property, including up Mount Jo, and a nature museum open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from late June to mid-August. The Loj offers many free programs in the summer. 518-523-3441. adk.org.

¯ Adirondack Mountain Club’s Cascade Welcome Center. Featuring an information center at 4833 Cascade Road, Lake Placid, and a 12-mile trail network, the center’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. 518-837-5047, adk.org/cascade-welcome-center.

¯ Adirondack Wildlife Refuge. 977 Springfield Road, Wilmington. 518-946-1197. adirondackwildlife.org.

¯ Ausable Chasm. Hike, float or climb at one of America’s oldest natural attractions. 2144 U.S. Route 9, Ausable Chasm. 518-834-7454. ausablechasm.com.

¯ High Falls Gorge. 4761 state Route 86, Wilmington. This is a 22-acre, privately owned nature park with safe trail access for all ages. Take a walk through the gorge to view the West Branch of the AuSable River. 518-946-2278. highfallsgorge.com.

¯ John Brown Farm State Historic Site. John Brown Road, Lake Placid. See the home and grave of abolitionist John Brown. Special events include the Adirondack Family Book Festival,

ElizabethtownLewis

Come and discover our beautiful area!

Experience the beautiful Boquet River Valley nestled between the Adirondack High Peaks and Lake Champlain email etownlewiscoc@gmail.com www.elizabethtownchamber.com

The historic Jay Covered Bridge over the East Branch of the AuSable River in the hamlet of Jay is a popular picnic and swimming destination in the summer.

(Staff photo — Andy Flynn)

which will take place on Aug. 17 in 2024. Enjoy the trails yearround. 518-523-3900. parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/johnbrownfarm.

¯ Lake Placid Center for the Arts. 17 Algonquin Drive, Lake Placid. This is a year-round performing and visual arts facility that presents arts of the highest caliber in music, dance and theater performances, film exhibitions and visual arts presentations. 518523-2512. www.lakeplacidarts.org.

¯ Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society History Museum. Located at the train station, Station Street, Lake Placid. Open

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Chamber of Commerce

Gateway to the Adirondacks

Lodging~ Inns, Motel, B&B’s, Airbnb’s and Campgrounds

Restaurants~ Fine Cuisine to Pizza

Services~ Hospital, Groceries, Drugstore, Gas, Auto Service

Cobble Hill Golf Course~ Historic 9 Hole Golf Course, Hike, Bike

Farmers Market~ Elizabethtown on Friday

Historic Hand House~ Piano by Nature Concerts

Adirondack Museum~ Research History, Exhibits

Meadowmount School of Music~ Summer Concerts in Lewis Social Center~ Tennis, Paddle Tennis, Basketball, Concerts

Lincoln Pond~ Public Beach, Boat Launch, Fishing, Campground

Trail Heads~ Hurricane, Giant, Blueberry Cobbles, Rocky Ridge

Blueberry Hills Trails~ Hike, Bike, Nature Walks, Horse Trails, Lean-to Thrall Dam Trails~ Hike, Bike, Nature Walks

Close Proximity~ Lake Placid, Lake Champlain, High Peaks

Champlain Area Trails~ 80+ Miles of uncrowded family-friendly trails

Boquet River & the West Branch~ Trout Fishing, Cooling Off, Kayak, Canoe, Split Rock Falls

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from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day. lakeplacidhistory.com.

¯ Lake Placid Olympic Museum. The museum is located at the Olympic Center on Main Street. 518-523-1655. lpom.org.

¯ North Star Underground Railroad Museum. 1131 Mace Chasm Road, Ausable Chasm. The museum reveals the hidden history of the Champlain Line of the Underground Railroad. 518834-5180. northcountryundergroundrailroad.com.

¯ Olympic Center. 1932 and 1980 arenas. Main Street, Lake Placid. 518-523-1655. lakeplacidolympiccenter.com.

¯ Olympic Jumping Complex. State Route 73, Lake Placid. Watch ski jumping. Take the Skyride gondola up to the base of the ski jumping towers. An elevator takes you to the sky deck of the 120-meter ski jumping tower for a bird’s-eye view of the High Peaks. olympicjumpingcomplex.com.

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Sitting in an Adirondack chair on the shore of Mirror Lake is relaxing at any time of the day. (Provided photo — LakePlacid.com/ROOST)

¯ Olympic Speedskating Oval. Main Street, Lake Placid. 518523-1655. lakeplacidolympiccenter.com.

¯ Olympic Sports Complex at Mount Van Hoevenberg. Nordic skiing, Cliffside Coaster, sliding center, trailhead for Mount Van Hoevenberg. 31 Van Hoevenberg Way, Lake Placid. 518-523-2811. mtvanhoevenberg.com.

¯ Santa’s Workshop. 324 Whiteface Memorial Highway, Wilmington. Known as the forerunner of the present day theme park, the park opened its doors in 1949. 518-946-2211. northpoleny.com.

¯ Tahawus Center. Featuring the Windows Gallery and Cloudsplitter Dance Studio. tahawuscenter.org.

¯ Upper Jay Art Center. 12198 state Route 9N, Upper Jay. A place to enjoy music, theater and visual art. upperjayartcenter. org.

¯ Whiteface Mountain Ski Center. 5021 state Route 86, Wilmington. Summer activities include gondola rides, disc golf and hiking. Special events include the annual Oktoberfest, which will take place Sept. 21-22 in 2024. 518-946-2223. Snow report: 877-SKI-FACE. whiteface.com.

¯ Whiteface Mountain Veterans’ Memorial Highway. The paved road rises over 2,300 feet in five miles from the Toll House to the castle, where people can either walk or take an elevator to the summit of this 4,867-foot mountain. Open from May 17 to Oct. 14 in 2024. whiteface.com.

Visitors can take their dogs to the off-leash dog park at the North Elba Show Grounds, which opens after the tents are taken down from the Lake Placid Horse Shows.

(Staff photo — Andy Flynn)

The annual Songs at Mirror Lake concert series is held Tuesday evenings at Mid’s Park from late June to early August. This is also the site of the annual Lake Placid Sinfonietta concerts on Wednesday evenings in July and August.

(Provided photo — LakePlacid.com/ROOST)

The Adirondack Dog Store

Outdoor

Adventure Dog Gear

Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains of Vermont

Welcome to the Adirondack Coast

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

Lake Champlain — briefly declared the sixth Great Lake in 1998 — offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in the North Country. It’s called the Adirondack Coast.

Bordering New York on the west coast, Vermont on the east coast, and the Canadian province of Quebec on the north, the lake takes up a lot of geography on the map. Lake Champlain ferries (https://ferries.com) cross from Essex, N.Y. to Charlotte, Vt. and from Plattsburgh, N.Y. to Grand Isle, Vt. Motorists can also use two bridges from New York to reach Vermont, one at Crown Point and one at Rouses Point.

The history of the Champlain Valley dates back to the Native American tribes, Iroquois to the west and Abenaki to the east. When the French and English arrived, they fought over the land, and armies traveled the length of the lake to fight each other during the French and Indian War. Then the Americans fought the English during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Forts in Crown Point and Ticonderoga help tell that history.

Adirondack Coast attractions include the Crown Point State Historic Site, Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Defiance, Heritage Museum and Hancock House Library and Museum in Ticonderoga

and the Depot Theatre in Westport.

The lake played a large role during the Industrial Revolution,

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especially with the iron mines around Port Henry. Villages on the lake became ports to transport goods and raw materials. Some of this history is found at the Iron Center Museum in Port Henry.

There’s a sign in Port Henry that documents some of the many sightings of the Lake Champlain monster called Champ.

Food and drinks are celebrated up and down the lake at farmers markets, farm stands, orchards, wineries, craft breweries, cheese makers and unique farm-to-table experiences.

Outdoor recreation is abundant with fishing, camping, swimming, boating, paddling and hiking. For a full list of Champlain Area Trails, visit www.champlainareatrails.com.

The natural wonders of Ausable Chasm and Natural Stone Bridge & Caves will give you and your family memories to last a lifetime.

The Essex County Fair will be held Aug. 14-18 in 2024 at the fairgrounds in Westport.

Learn more about the Lake Champlain region at www.goadirondack.com or www.lakechamplainregion.com.

Fort Ticonderoga plans busy season

Visitors to Fort Ticonderoga can explore 2,000 acres of America’s most historic landscape, located on the shores of Lake Champlain, nestled between New York’s Adirondack Mountains and Vermont’s Green Mountains.

Hailed as the premier living history site in North America, Fort Ticonderoga’s staff brings history to life every day. Ticonderoga’s history and stories are highlighted through storytelling on a grand scale, historic trades, daily soldiers’ life programs, thrilling weapons demonstrations, endless outdoor activities and captivating special events.

This summer, Fort Ticonderoga will debut a new chapter in its history. Experience 1774 and the peacetime garrison life for the

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(Provided photo — LakeChamplainRegion.com/ROOST)

Hike along the trails and walkways of Ausable Chasm or tube down the Ausable River in the summer.

(Provided photo — LakeChamplainRegion.com/ROOST)

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British soldiers and their families that lived at Fort Ticonderoga 250 years ago.

This year’s highlights include the following:

¯ Explore 1774. Thrill at the power of artillery and crackle of muskets through daily weapons demonstrations and programs featuring Real Time Revolution, breathtaking gardens, historic trades, and other family adventures across the scenic historic property.

¯ Carillon boat cruises: Aboard the Carillon cruise boat, enjoy gorgeous, sweeping vistas of the Green Mountains and Adirondack Mountains during a 75-minute narrated tour on Lake Champlain. An assortment of beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks are available for purchase onboard. Daily cruises are available starting Memorial Day weekend. Private charters and group outings are available, inquire by calling 518-585-1023.

¯ Museum exhibitions: Explore one of North America’s finest collections of 18th-century military material culture. New and permanent exhibitions featuring art, weapons and equipment from North America to Europe highlight Ticonderoga’s signature stories and document warfare in Colonial and Revolutionary America and the broader Atlantic world.

¯ Historic Gardens and Friendly Animals: Visit the King’s Garden or make memories with your family in a new garden designed especially for children. Discover our heritage breed animals including oxen duo, Mick and Mack. Watch for sheep grazing uneven terrain as part of our stewardship of this historic landscape today.

¯ Living history events and battle reenactment: Enjoy the many events this summer, including Scots Day, Independence Day week-

end and the Sound of 1776. The two-day siege of Carillon battle reenactment July 20-21 features dramatic battle reenactments each day and living history vignettes. Visitors will discover the science of siege-craft, the power of artillery — on land and water — as Gen. Jeffery Amherst sought to take Ticonderoga and invade French Canada.

¯ Breathtaking views: Visit Mount Defiance to witness a birdseye view of Fort Ticonderoga’s epic historic landscape. Hike up the mountain in the footsteps of Gen. Burgoyne’s troops, or make

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Fort Ticonderoga

the easy drive to the top in your car. Discover how this summit shaped America’s history during the “Mount Defiance: Witness to History” guided tour offered Tuesday to Sunday at 4 p.m.

¯ Family program adventures: In July and August, build family adventures by helping soldiers with their daily duties. Receive awards for completing the tasks. Take a guided tour. Or tackle the 6-acre Heroic Corn Maze with a new 2024 design from August to October.

¯ Summertime premium experiences and tours: Enhance your

Fort Ticonderoga experience this summer and enjoy exclusive premium opportunities led by museum experts, attend a behind-thescenes program with our curator or experience the magic of Fort Ticonderoga before or after hours. Featuring new offerings and programs back by popular demand.

Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Defiance are open for visitation Tuesday to Sunday from May 4 to Oct. 27, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. (last ticket sold at 4:30 p.m.). Tickets can be purchased online in advance by visiting www.fortticonderoga.org or the dayof your visit at the admissions booth. General admission tickets are valid for two consecutive days.

Carl Heilman II, © Fort Ticonderoga

Welcome to Saranac Lake

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

The historic and scenic village of Saranac Lake and its surrounding hamlets offer a unique down-to-earth Adirondack experience — full of outdoor adventure, top-notch culinary experiences, downtown shopping, a thriving arts scene and family-friendly activities.

The list of warm-weather outdoor recreational activities is long: hiking, camping, boating, paddling, golfing, cycling, mountain biking, horseback riding, birding, wildlife watching, skateboarding at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park off Church Street or swimming at the Lake Colby and Lake Clear beaches.

Find what you need at one of the local outfitters, or hire an outdoor guide for your adventure.

The 18,400-acre St. Regis Canoe Area — the only designated canoe area in New York state — features 26 miles of hiking trails and 50 ponds of varying sizes to paddle. It’s well known for its Adirondack brook trout fishing.

The Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center on state Route 30 offers a vast trail system with plenty of wildlife-watching opportunities. The barked trails and abundance of benches make this destination easy on the knees and gives families ample time to sit and ponder life in a quiet setting. And don’t forget to check out

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Village of Saranac Lake

(Provided photo — SaranacLake.com/ROOST)

the native species Butterfly House in the summer — the only one in the Adirondacks.

Saranac Lake has embraced the arts like no other community in the region. It features live music, the Adirondack Plein Air Festival, studio tours, Third Thursday Art Walks in the summer, downtown galleries and performances at Pendragon Theatre. The Adirondack Carousel on Depot Street is a work of art unto itself and is a unique attraction. Get connected to the arts through Saranac Lake ArtWorks (www.saranaclakeartworks.com).

History is celebrated through the Saranac Laboratory Museum on Church Street, operated by Historic Saranac Lake; the Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage on Stevenson Lane; and the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center in Onchiota (www.6nicc.com), operated since 1954 by the Fadden family.

Saranac Lake is home to a professional baseball team, the Surge, which plays in the Empire Baseball League during June and July. Their home stadium is Petrova Field. The 2024 season begins June 7 in Malone with a game against the Border Hounds, and the first home game is June 14 against the Tupper Lake Riverpigs. Learn more at https://surgeprobaseball.com.

Other sports events in Saranac Lake include the Can-Am Rugby Tournament (July 26-28), Willard Hanmer Guideboat and Canoe Race (July 7, 2024) and Adirondack Canoe Classic “90-Miler” race from Old Forge to Saranac Lake (Sept. 6-8, 2024).

The environment is highlighted by the work at the Paul Smith’s College VIC; the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation (www. adkloon.org) on Main Street; and the Adirondack Fish Hatchery at Saranac Inn, operated by the state Department of Environmental

Third Thursday Art Walks in Saranac Lake are held in June, July, August and September in the evening.

(Staff photo — Aaron Marbone)

Conservation. Also, enjoy nature along the Riverwalk, which follows the Saranac River from behind the police station at Main Street to the Grand Union supermarket on Church Street.

For more information about Saranac Lake and the nearby hamlets — such as Paul Smiths, Ray Brook, Vermontville, Bloomingdale and Lake Clear — visit www.saranaclake.com or call the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 39 Main St. (Harrietstown Town Hall), at 518-891-1990.

The annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid will be held July 26-28, 2024.

(Staff photo — Aaron Marbone)

Play pickleball at one of the courts in Saranac Lake.

(Staff photo — Arthur Maiorella)

The

Paddlers embark from the Second Pond boat launch near Saranac Lake in June 2023. (Staff photo — Arthur Maiorella)

Adirondack Rail Trail & Adirondack Railroad

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

The first phase of the Adirondack Rail Trail — 10 miles from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake — opened on Dec. 1, 2023, and is now available for outdoor recreationists. Meanwhile new tourist trains from Tupper Lake south are planned for this summer on the Adirondack Railroad.

Adirondack Rail Trail

Warm-weather activities on the rail trail include bicycling and walking, and winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. The second phase, from Saranac Lake to Floodwood Road, is currently being constructed and is expected to be finished by this fall. The third phase, from Floodwood Road to Tupper Lake, is expected to be complete by the fall of 2025. During construction, the public is not allowed to use the trail.

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Bicyclists enjoy the Adirondack Rail Trail outside of Saranac Lake in May 2024.

(Staff photo — Andy Flynn)

FIREMAN’S LANDING ON THE MAIN BRANCH OF THE ST. REGIS RIVER

MOVE IN READY

Charming 3-bed, 1 bath home near the hospital on County Route 47 in Saranac Lake. e home has had many upgrades including new roof and paint.

Exclusively listed for $225,000 Call Benjamin Kline at 518-572-6132

is property encompasses three quarters of a mile of river frontage on the main branch of the St. Regis River in the town of Waverly in Franklin County, NY. e property includes 50 acres of land. A rustic 2-bedroom cabin that sits just feet above the river and a large storage shed make up the only buildings on the parcel. e camp is fully o -grid and has electricity provided by solar, and hot and cold running water provided by propane and a second separate solar set-up. e land is accessed from a several mile-long private drive that brings you right to the bank of the river. e land is surrounded on most sides by NYS Forever Wild land, including the land across the river. is guarantees no neighbors or development could ever be seen from the camp. is section of the river is designated a “recreational” river on the Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers system. Motor boating is allowed. is is one of the most remote river-front parcels you will nd in all of this part of the Adirondacks.

LOTS

Perfect building lot over looking Moody Pond with views of mountains and water. e property is being sold “As Is”. Currently there is a mobile home, garage and shed on land.

SARANAC LAKE OLD STYLE CHARM

When complete, the 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail will stretch from Lake Placid to Tupper Lake. Parking lot amenities in Lake Placid on Station Street will eventually be built, and the train stations in Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake will see upgrades.

Tupper Lake is the western terminus of the Adirondack Rail Trail and the northern terminus of the Adirondack Railroad, which operates tourist trains from Utica to Thendara to Tupper Lake.

Adirondack Railroad

The Adirondack Railroad has created three types of excursion to and from Tupper Lake from July to October: the Tupper Lake Explorer, a 90-minute trip departing from Tupper Lake south and back; the Adirondack Mountaineer, an 8.5-hour round-trip from Thendara to Tupper Lake; and the High Peaks Limited, an 11-hour round-trip from Utica to Tupper Lake and 4.5-hour round-trip from Thendara to Tupper Lake.

The Adirondack Railway Preservation Society currently operates the Adirondack Railroad and formerly operated an excursion train — the Adirondack Scenic Railroad — from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake in the summer and fall from 2000 to 2016.

Railroad history

The New York Central ended its regular passenger train service from Utica to Lake Placid in 1965, and freight service ended in 1972. Passenger trains were temporarily operated during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games and were abandoned in 1981.

The train station in Tupper Lake is located in a section of town called the Junction because it was the junction of the New York Central’s Adirondack Division from Remsen to Malone (continuing to Montreal) and the New York Central’s New York and Ottawa Railway from Tupper Lake to Ottawa.

The Adirondack Division was originally built as the Mohawk and Malone Railway and opened in 1892, and the New York Central soon acquired the line. The tracks from Lake Clear to Malone were abandoned in 1961. The section from Lake Clear Junction to Lake Placid was a spur of the New York Central in 1965, although the section from Saranac Lake to Lake Placid had been part of the Delaware and Hudson Railway, which opened the line from Plattsburgh to Saranac Lake in 1887. The Saranac and Lake Placid Railroad Company opened its passenger service between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid in 1893. In 1903, the rail line from Plattsburgh to Lake Placid was first placed under the operation of the Chateaugay and Lake Placid Railroad Company and later that year transferred to the Delaware & Hudson. In 1946, the New York Central took over the line.

The New York and Ottawa service from Tupper Lake began in 1890, and the line was abandoned to Helena in 1937.

More information

For more information about the Adirondack Rail Trail, visit the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s website at dec.

Atticus Walczyk was fascinated by the train which rolled into Tupper Lake in September 2022. He had ridden inside on the way to town, and was checking out the exterior with his mother Jessica Piatt Walczyk.

(Staff photo — Aaron Marbone)

ny.gov/places/adirondack-rail-trail or the Adirondack Rail Trail Association (friends group) at adirondackrailtrail.org.

For more information about the Adirondack Railroad, visit adirondackrr.com.

Adirondack White Pine Cabins

Custom built for 20 years, Adirondack White Pine Cabins are locally constructed in Saranac Lake, NY. Our small team of carpenters will work with you from start to finish to design and build your custom home.

Once completed in our 5,000 square foot heated shop, your home arrives on your land completely finished and ready to be hooked up to utilities. Our customers can choose from a long list of options and upgrades which include appliances, lighting, faucets, flooring, built-in storage options and many more. Some of our homes have two bedroom options, screened in porches and or storage lofts to give the most possible space. Being 500 sq ft in total size, we make sure to use every possible inch of space to ensure both function and design is just right for you.

Use your custom home year round as your : primary home, a vacation home, a new short term rental or a backyard home for a family member of any age.

Self-guided historic driving tour Tri-Lakes Region

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

If you want to take a road trip that is relaxing, fun and educational, try this self-guided historic driving tour through the Tri-Lakes region of the Adirondack Park — Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake and surrounding hamlets. Start at one end, and go to the other. Or just pick one or two villages and spend some time there.

The Tri-Lakes villages are larger than most of the communities in the rest of the Park, and they offer many opportunities to grab a take-out meal for a picnic while you are on the road exploring. There’s a lot of history here, much more than we can squeeze into this guide. For more information, visit lakeplacid.com, saranaclake.com and tupperlake.com.

Tupper Lake

Tupper Lake has a long history surrounding the wood products industry, as lumber companies set up mills along the shore of Raquette Pond.

Oval Wood Dish: In the middle of town along Demars Boulevard is a sprawling abandoned factory with a water tower and large smokestack that was once home to the Oval Wood Dish Corp. The Michigan-based Oval Wood Dish Corp. built this complex in 1916-17. It manufactured hardwood products such as clothespins, hardwood floors, maple bowling pins and tableware called Ritespoon. The name of the company came from an early product, an oval wood dish. Ownership changed several times after 1964, and the last company, Jarden Plastic Solutions, closed in 2008.

The Big Mill: A tablet on a rock in front of the Municipal Park ball field on Demars Boulevard explains the history of the Big Mill: “Here stood, from 1890 until 1930, the North Country’s largest sawmill built by John Hurd. It had the largest bandsaw in the world and twice broke the world’s record for lumber sawed in a day. The Santa Clara Lumber Co. was its main operator. Hundreds of jobs resulted from the industry it fostered. It was often called ‘the mill that made the town.’”

Beth Joseph Synagogue: The historic Beth Joseph Synagogue at 59 Lake St. was built in 1905 by Russian Jewish immigrants and served 36 families between 1910 and 1924. It is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Today, the synagogue is only open in the months of July and August, offering services, a museum and special events.

Sunmount DDSO: Located at 2445 state Route 3/30 on the way to Saranac Lake, the Sunmount Developmental Disabilities Services Office is operated by the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. The complex was dedicated on Aug. 15, 1924, as the Sunmount Veterans Administration Hospital to treat veterans with tuberculosis. The federal government closed the hospital on Aug. 11, 1965, and the state of New York took over operations in the fall of that year, receiving its first patients from overcrowded mental institutions in late September.

Lake Clear

Adirondack Fish Hatchery: Several miles south of Lake Clear on state Route 30, the state-operated Adirondack Fish Hatchery specializes in landlocked Atlantic salmon. The original fish hatchery on this site was built in 1885, and the new facility was completed in 1990.

Fish Creek State Campground: Located on state Route 30, the state Conservation Commission set up a lean-to and a few fireplaces at Fish Creek in 1920 to accommodate car campers. In 1926, 20 campsites and sanitary facilities were added. The number of campsites doubled in 1927 and doubled again in 1928. The Civilian Conservation Corps expanded the campground from 1933 to 1935. In order to deal with overflow, a new campground — Roll-

Enjoy a game of baseball at the historic Municipal Park in Tupper Lake, home of the Riverpigs.

(Staff photo — Aaron Marbone)

Learn about the history, and extravagant Gilded Age life style of the Great Camps as you take a walking tour of the buildings and grounds of the Historic White Pine Camp.

All Tours start @ 11:30 am Rain or shine.

Wednesday Tours from June 19-Sept 25

Saturday Tours from June 22-Sept. 28

No reservations necessary

Adults $12, Children under twelve $6.00. Payment by cash or check.

Questions? Call White Pine Camp at 518-327-3030

ins Pond — was built in 1955 adjacent to Fish Creek campground and was expanded in 1958 and 1960. Rollins Pond now has 287 campsites, and Fish Creek has 355.

Charlie’s Inn: There are many reasons to visit Charlie’s Inn: snowmobiling, camping and dining. Railfans, however, call this the Lake Clear Junction, now part of the Adirondack Rail Trail. The train depot, built in 1891, remains, under private ownership. This was once one of the busiest rail junctions in the Adirondack Park, under the operation of New York Central’s Adirondack Division, originally finished by Dr. William Seward Webb in 1892. It ran from Herkimer to Malone, earning the name “Mohawk & Malone” or “M&M” railroad, with a rail line also heading east from the junction to Saranac Lake and Lake Placid.

Paul Smiths

Paul Smith’s College: Located on state Route 30, the 14,200acre Paul Smith’s College on the shore of Lower St. Regis Lake was once home to the Paul Smith’s Hotel. Apollos A. (Paul) Smith (1825-1912) moved to the Adirondacks in the mid-1800s and bought 50 acres at the site of the current college campus in 1858, building a resort empire that eventually included transporting guests to/from Lake Clear Junction on the only electric railroad in the Park. Under the conditions of Phelps Smith’s will, the hotel’s holdings were to be used to establish a college in his father’s name. The college’s first class matriculated in 1946. paulsmiths.edu.

Paul Smith’s College VIC: Opened in 1989 by the state Adirondack Park Agency, the Visitor Interpretive Center on state Route 30 is a 2,800-acre preserve now operated by Paul Smith’s College. Transfer of operations from the state to the college took place in January 2011. This environmental education and traveler orientation center offers special events, public programs, the nation’s first Native Species Butterfly House, natural history exhibits and a network of four-season interpretive trails. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu/vic.

White Pine Camp: This Great Camp at the end of White Pine Road in Paul Smiths was the 1926 summer White House for U.S. President Calvin Coolidge. On June 7, 2020, four buildings at this complex were destroyed by fire. The camp was built as a private family retreat in 1907 by New York banker Archibald White and expanded in 1911. It has had several owners, including Paul Smith’s College. The 35-acre property is on a remote section of Osgood Pond and includes a Japanese tea house, a boathouse, guest cabins and a two-lane bowling alley. Learn more at www.whitepinecamp.com.

Onchiota

Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center: Located at 1462 county Route 60 in Onchiota, the center provides for the viewing of more than 3,000 artifacts with an emphasis on the culture of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee). The Six Nations are: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora. The center features storytelling lectures and a gift shop and is operated by the Fadden family, which belongs to the Mohawk of Akwesasne. Learn more at www.6nicc.com.

Saranac Lake

The village of Saranac Lake, named an All-America City in 1998, was once one of most popular health resorts in the world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and now serves as a mountain muse for the arts community.

Union Depot: Located on Depot Street, this train station was built by the D&H Railroad in 1904. It was reopened to the public after being renovated in 1997 and 1998 and has since closed again. In 1904, the services of the Chateaugay Railroad to the east and the New York Central Railroad from the west were consolidated into the Union Depot. The station closed in 1965 when passenger service was terminated. The Adirondack Railway Preservation Society operated Adirondack Scenic Railroad passenger train excursions between here and Lake Placid from 2000 to 2016. In 2024, efforts were underway to rehabilitate the station for use as a hub for the Adirondack Rail Trail.

Historic Saranac Lake Walking Tour: This tour features many of the fascinating and unique architectural features of this quaint village, as it was transformed from a backcountry hamlet to one of the most successful health resorts in the world. Learn more at www.historicsaranaclake.org.

Saranac Laboratory Museum: Operated by Historic Saranac Lake, this museum tells the history of the village’s health care industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Edward Livingston Trudeau came to the Adirondacks with tuberculosis in 1873 and founded the Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium in 1884. He beat TB and created a place for patients to “take the cure” and scientists to study the disease. Trudeau built the Saranac Laboratory next to his home in 1894, and it was the first lab in the nation exclusively used to study tuberculosis. Trudeau’s home — on the corner of Church and Main streets — has been acquired by Historic Saranac Lake and is currently being restored. Learn more at www. historicsaranaclake.org.

Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage: Located on Stevenson Lane, Robert Louis Stevenson — the Scottish author of novels such as “Treasure Island” (1883) and “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1886), spent the winter of 1887-1888 at this Saranac Lake farmhouse taking the cure for tuberculosis. While here, he wrote “The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter’s Tale,” which was published in 1889.

Saranac Laboratory Museum, Saranac Lake

(Staff photo — Andy Flynn

John Brown Farm State Historic Site, Lake Placid

(Staff photo — Andy Flynn

Lake Placid

The village of Lake Placid is best known as the home of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games. It is home to USA Luge and USA Bobsled and Skeleton and still hosts national and international winter sports competitions.

Olympic venues: The state Olympic Regional Development Authority operates several venues that hosted Winter Olympic competition. Learn more at lakeplacidolympicsites.com.

The Olympic Center on Main Street features the 1932 Arena where Norwegian figure skater Sonja Henie won a gold medal and the 1980 Fieldhouse where the U.S. hockey team beat the Soviet Union in the “Miracle on Ice” game. The Lake Placid Olympic Museum is located in the Miracle Plaza between the 1932 and 1980 arenas.

The Olympic Speedskating Oval next door is where U.S. speedskater Eric Heiden won five gold medals during the 1980 Olympics, and it is the site of the 1932 Olympic stadium where Lake Placid speedskater Jack Shea won two gold medals.

The Olympic Jumping Complex still has the two ski jumps used during the 1980 Olympics; the ski jump used in the 1932 Olympics is no longer there.

The Olympic Sports Complex at Mount Van Hoevenberg — located on state Route 73 east of the village, was the home of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic bobsled runs, the 1980 luge run (no longer standing), and the 1980 biathlon and cross-country ski trails. The current bobsled/luge/skeleton track was opened just prior to the Winter Goodwill Games in 2000.

The History Museum: Located on Station Street, the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society operates this museum at the Lake Placid train station. It was constructed by the D&H Railroad in 1903-04. The museum opened in 1967. The Adirondack Railway Preservation Society operated Adirondack Scenic Railroad passenger train excursions between here and Saranac Lake from 2000 to

Olympic Center, Lake Placid (Staff photo — Andy Flynn

2016. This is the eastern terminus of the 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail to Tupper Lake. Learn more at www.lakeplacidhistory.com.

Self-guided walking tour of Lake Placid: Download the Historic Walking Tour of Lake Placid on the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society’s website, www.lakeplacidhistory.com.

1980 Olympic cauldron: Located on state Route 73 at the North Elba Show Grounds, a plaque on the monument reads: “Here on February 13, 1980, the XIII Olympic Winter Games were opened by Vice President of the United States Walter F. Mondale and

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Health Care For Everyone.

At Hudson Headwaters, our primary care providers are dedicated to meeting your specific health care needs, and keeping you in good health. We’re here for you—at every stage and every age.

here the sacred Olympic flame was brought from Olympia, Greece to shed its light for 12 days on the quadrennial renewal of the ancient Olympic spirit of excellence, brotherhood and peace. This tower was erected to hold that flame and stands as an everlasting monument to the 1,282 Olympians from 37 nations who took part in these Olympic Games.” This is the site of the 1980 Olympic Winter Games opening ceremony.

John Brown Farm State Historic Site: Located at 2 John Brown Road, this is the burial site of abolitionist John Brown, who was hanged for treason on Dec. 2, 1859, after he and his supporters captured the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now in West Virginia). Brown moved to this farm with his family in 1855, and he was buried here on Dec. 8, 1859. The property includes hiking/ cross-country ski trails, the farm house, a pond and a barn with exhibits, including “Dreaming of Timbuctoo.”

Adirondak Loj: The Adirondack Mountain Club, which celebrated its centennial in 2022, operates the historic Adirondak Loj at its Heart Lake property near Lake Placid. At the foot of some of the tallest High Peaks, it is the largest and most popular trailhead in the Adirondack Park. The Loj was built in 1927 when the Lake Placid Club owned the property. Learn more at www.adk.org.

Wilmington

Santa’s Workshop: Located on the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway, this was one of America’s first theme parks, opening on July 1, 1949. Opened by businessman Julian Reiss, it was designed by Arto Monaco, a former Walt Disney and MGM artist, and constructed by Harold Fortune.

Whiteface Mountain Ski Center: Located on state Route 86, the state of New York opened this ski center on Jan. 25, 1958. It was home of the alpine events during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. Learn more at www.whiteface.com.

Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway: Drive up the high-

High Falls Gorge, Wilmington (Provided photo — WhitefaceRegion.com/ROOST)

way to reach the top of New York’s fifth-highest peak (4,867 feet).

Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the road in 1929 and opened it in 1936 when he was the U.S. president. The alpine-style gatehouse where motorists pay their toll was constructed in 1934. Lake Stevens at the toll house was named for 1932 Olympic bobsledder J. Hubert Stevens, and it is stocked annually to provide fishing opportunities. The Lake Stevens Tree Trail offers a self-guided, 10-minute walk. The highway is open from May to October. Learn more at www.whiteface.com.

High Falls Gorge: Located on state Route 86 in Wilmington, High Falls Gorge is one of a handful of historic natural wonders in the Adirondack Park. It is a 22-acre, privately owned nature park that has been open to the public since the 1890s. Learn more online at highfallsgorge.com.

Welcome to Tupper Lake

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

The village of Tupper Lake and town of Piercefield have been known as year-round outdoor recreation destinations for generations, from skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter to hiking, camping, boating, paddling, golfing, biking, birding and fishing in the warm-weather months.

Famous for its sunsets on Raquette Pond, this community is a nature lover’s paradise, quiet and laid back, and the perfect base camp for your Adirondack adventures.

And don’t forget swimming at popular places such as the Little Wolf Beach, Bog River Falls and the Raquette River.

Find what you need at one of the local outfitters or hire an outdoor guide for your adventure.

Tupper Lake is home to The Wild Center, one of the most popular attractions in all of northern New York. The museum is located on a 115-acre campus and includes the Wild Walk. Learn more at visit www.wildcenter.org or 518-359-7800.

The Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory (www.adirondackskycenter.org) on Big Wolf Road connects residents and visitors to the night sky with programs throughout the year.

The Adirondack State Theater (www.tupperlakemovies.com) and Tupper Arts (www.tupperarts.org) on Park Street celebrate cul-

ture in the community. Tupper Arts presents art and photography shows and sponsors the free Summer Sunset Series of concerts at the Flanders Park band shell in July and August.

Tupper Lake is home to a professional baseball team, the Riverpigs, which plays other teams in the Empire Baseball League during June and July. Their home stadium is the Municipal Park on Demars Boulevard. The 2024 season begins June 7 at home against the North Country Thunderbirds. Learn more at https:// tupperlakeriverpigs.com.

The annual Tupper Lake Tinman Triathlon (www.tupperlaketinman.com) is set for June 29 in 2024.

The Tupper Lake Field Day returns on July 20 in 2024 at the Waterfront Park. The day begins with a parade featuring a float contest. Then families can enjoy activities such as sack races, threelegged races and tug-of-war for youth and adults. There will also be cornhole competitions, a car show, food trucks, artisan crafts vendors, chain saw carving, face painting, inflatable bouncy houses, live music and the Slime Run.

Tupper Lake is the western terminus of the 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail and the northern terminus of the Adirondack Railroad excursions from Thendara and Utica.

Learn more about the Tupper Lake region at www.tupperlake. com.

Here is the village of Tupper Lake on the shore of Raquette Pond.

(Provided photo — TupperLake.com/ROOST)

(Provided photo — TupperLake.com/ROOST)

(Provided photo — TupperLake.com/ROOST)

(Provided photo — TupperLake.com/ROOST) Swimming in Tupper Lake

Golfing in Tupper Lake

Biking in Tupper Lake (Provided photo — TupperLake.com/ROOST)

Concert at Flanders Park in Tupper Lake (Staff photo — Aaron Marbone)

Fun at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake (Provided photo — TupperLake.com/ROOST)

Marbone)

JULY8

JULY15

JULY22

2024SUMMERPERFORMANCES

UMMER PERFOR

JULY4OPENING

4:30PM 7:00PM On3 |AcousticTrio NightSchool |ClassicRock

MONDAYSAT7PM

TheAlteredTones |AltandRockMusic

UrsaandtheMajorKey |IndiePsychedelicRockBand

JULY29 ShakespeareinthePark:Macbeth

AUG5 FrankieandtheMoonlighters |NostalgiaBand

AUG12 Hammerlok |ClassicRock

AUG19 GratefullyYours |PremierGratefulDeadCoverBand

WEDNESDAYSAT7PM

JULY10 BlessidDirt |HeavyFolk

JULY17 Gadget |HighEnergySoul,FunkandJazz

JULY24 DarkSideSkinnyDippers |DiverseRock‘n’RollwithAttitude

JULY31 SpringStreet |New/ClassicRockandBlues

AUG7 TheDiTraniBrothers |EclecticOriginals,Ragtime/Jazz

AUG14 AdirondackJazzEnsemble |JazzStandards,Funk,Blues,R&B

AUG21 Martin&Kelly |ContemporaryCountry

FRIDAYSAT11AM

DaveMatthewsTributeBand |TributeSongs LITTLELOGGERSKIDSSHOWS

JULY5

StevenGratto |CircusPerfomer

JULY12 TBA

JULY19

JULY26

AUG2

AUG9

Kit’sInteractiveTheater |ColonialFaire

ThePuppetPeople |DragonTales

AlyxHilahey |Magician

JessicaBlack |Aerialist

AllperformancesareFREEandopentothepublic.

LittleLoggersKidsShowsmade possiblebyAseelLegacyFund. SummerSunsetSeriesmade possiblebytheVillageofTupper Lakeandthecontinueddonations ofattendees.

Performancesareheldatthe TupperLakeSunsetStage,in FlandersPark,11MartinSt,Tupper Lake.Makeanightofit;bringa lawnchair,blanketandapicnic!

RainLocation:TupperLakeHighSchool,25ChaneyAve,TupperLake.

tupperarts.org

Hiking, paddling challenges

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

The Adirondack Park is full of challenges for hiking and paddling. If hiking all the 46 High Peaks to become a 46er is too ambitious, try the hiking challenges that feature some of the lower peaks in Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake and Lake Placid.

Tupper Lake Hiking Triad

There are two patches for the Tupper Lake Triad hiking challenge: Summer (between March 21 and Dec. 19) and Winter (between Dec. 20 and March 20).

For more information, including registration for the challenge, visit www.tupperlaketriad.com.

¯ Mount Arab: 2 miles round-trip, 2,545 feet elevation. Trailhead: From the intersection of state routes 3 and 30 in the village of Tupper Lake, follow Route 3 toward Piercefield. In about 7.25 miles, turn left on Conifer Road and follow it for almost 2 miles to Mount Arab Road, on the left. Drive about 1 mile. The trailhead is on the left; parking is on the right. There is a fire tower on the peak of Mount Arab.

¯ Coney Mountain: 2.2 miles round-trip, 2,280 feet elevation. Trailhead: From the intersection of state routes 3 and 30 in the village of Tupper Lake, follow Route 30 toward Long Lake. Drive just under 12 miles to trailhead on the left. A state DEC sign marks the location.

¯ Goodman Mountain: 3.4 miles round-trip, 2,178 feet elevation. Trailhead: From the intersection of state routes 3 and 30 in the village of Tupper Lake, follow Route 30 toward Long Lake. Drive just under 10 miles to Lumberjack Spring on the left. Lumberjack Spring is not marked, but a trailhead post is located there.

Tupper Lake Paddling Triad

The Tupper Lake Paddling Triad involves three paddles. Earn a patch by completing them all.

For more information, including registration for the challenge, visit www.tupperlaketriad.com.

¯ Stony Creek Pond to Axton Landing: 3.25 miles one way through the Stony Creek Ponds and to the Raquette River to Axton Landing. Launch: From the intersection of state routes 3 and 30 in Tupper Lake, follow Route 3 toward Saranac Lake. Keep right on Route 3 at the “Y.” In about 2.5 miles, Coreys Road will be on the right. Turn here and continue down to the state boat launch at Stony Creek Ponds.

¯ The “Crusher” boat launch to Big Tupper: 7.75 miles one way on the Raquette River, Simon Pond and Big Tupper Lake. Launch: From the intersection of state routes 3 and 30 in Tupper Lake, follow Route 3 toward Saranac Lake. Before approaching the “Y” you will see a state boat launch for the Raquette River on the right hand side of the road. Organizers recommend leaving a car at

Tupper Lake Hiking Triad patch (Provided photo — TupperLake.com/ROOST)

the Big Tupper boat launch for when you finish. To get to this boat launch, head out on Route 30 toward Long Lake. A quarter mile after crossing Moody Bridge, you will see the boat launch on your right.

¯ Raquette Pond to Setting Pole Dam: 3.25 miles one way on Raquette Pond and Raquette River. Launch: From the intersection of routes 3 and 30 in Tupper Lake, follow Route 3 toward Piercefield. The boat launch is located in the Tupper Lake Waterfront Park, across the street from McDonald’s. Park in the lot at the park and launch right there. Organizers recommend leaving a car at Setting Pole Dam. To get to Setting Pole Dam, head toward Piercefield on Route 3. Just outside of Tupper Lake, you will find Setting Pole Dam Road on your left after about 4.5 miles. Continue down this road until you meet a stop sign, then turn right. This will take you right to a parking area at the dam.

Saranac Lake 6er hiking challenge

There are four patches for the Saranac Lake 6er hiking challenge: Summer, Winter, Ultra Summer and Ultra Winter. Ultra hikers leave from Berkeley Green — corner of Main Street and Broadway — in downtown Saranac Lake, complete all six mountains in 24 hours and finish at Berkeley Green, where

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they can ring the bell in the pavilion. Winter hikes are completed between Dec. 21 and March 21. All hikes must have been completed after May 25, 2013.

Hikers who finish the six peaks have the privilege of ringing the bell at Berkeley Green.

For more information, including registration for the challenge, visit https://tinyurl.com/mrxxbn4n.

¯ Baker Mountain: 1.8 miles round-trip (from the trailhead), 2,457 feet elevation. Beginning in 2022, no longer will starting at the Baker Mountain trailhead count for the 6er program. Now, to earn a 6er patch, one must start and end their Baker Mountain summit (on foot) from the 6er bell at Berkeley Green. Trailhead: From Berkeley Green, head east on Main Street. Take a right on Pine Street and a left on Forest Hill Avenue. Follow it clockwise, as it wraps around Moody Pond. The trailhead is on the left about half a mile.

¯ St. Regis Mountain: 6.6 miles round-trip, 2,874 feet elevation. Trailhead: From downtown Saranac Lake head west on state Route 86, toward Paul Smiths. At Paul Smith’s College, turn right on state Route 30, take the first left on Keese Mill Road. Follow the road for almost 3 miles to the trailhead parking on the left.

¯ Haystack Mountain: 6.6 miles round-trip, 2,874 feet elevation. Trailhead: From downtown Saranac Lake, take state Route 86 east toward Lake Placid. Continue for about 5 miles and look for the large parking area on the left. This is also the parking area for McKenzie Mountain.

¯ Scarface Mountain: 7.6 miles round-trip, 3,058 feet elevation. Trailhead: From the intersection of state routes 3 and 86 in Saranac Lake, follow Route 86 toward Lake Placid. Continue into Ray Brook, take a right onto Ray Brook Road (just before Maplefields), and look for the parking lot about 0.1 mile on the left.

¯ Ampersand Mountain: 5.4 miles round-trip, 3,352 feet elevation. Trailhead: From downtown Saranac Lake, turn right onto state Route 3, heading west toward Tupper Lake. The parking area is on the right after about 8 miles. The trailhead is across the road on the left.

¯ McKenzie Mountain: 10.6 miles round-trip, 3,861 feet elevation. Trailhead: From downtown Saranac Lake, take state Route 86 east toward Lake Placid. Continue for about 5 miles and look for the large parking area on the left. This is also the parking area for Haystack Mountain.

Saranac Lake Paddling Challenge

Earn a Saranac Lake Paddling Challenge patch by completing five paddles.

For more information, including registration for the challenge, visit https://tinyurl.com/5eu359jz.

¯ South Creek to Second Pond: 7 miles, following the creek into Middle Saranac Lake, entering the Saranac River to Lower Saranac Lake and following the Saranac River to the Second Pond boat launch. Launch: The trip starts at the South Creek access site

Music Weekly 6pmSee FB & Website for Details.

Paddling in the Saranac Lake area (Provided photo — SaranacLake.com/ROOST)

(Middle Saranac Lake boat launch), on the south side of state Route 3, about 10 miles west of Saranac Lake.

¯ Second Pond to Lake Flower: 6 miles, following the Saranac River, through the Lower Locks, into Oseetah Lake, continuing on the Saranac River to Lake Flower. Launch: Parking is located at the Second Pond boat launch on the south side of state Route 3, 3.5 miles west of Saranac Lake.

¯ Saranac River — Pine Street to McCasland Bridge: 5 miles on the Saranac River. Launch: Start this paddle at the Pine Street bridge hand launch site, on the west side of the bridge.

¯ St. Regis Chain of Lakes: Varying distances depending on route taken. Launch: Parking is in the large lot to the right of the library on the Paul Smith’s College campus, 12 miles northwest of Saranac Lake. The campus entrance is located at the intersection of state routes 86 and 30. Put in at the public access on Lower St. Regis Lake. Paddle 2.5 miles down to the dam where Paul Smith generated electricity for his hotel complex. You can also paddle across the lake to the marshy “slough” through Spitfire lake past historic Rabbit Island and paddle out into Upper St. Regis Lake. You can return to campus or take out at the public launch to the left of the St. Regis Shore Owners boat launch at the end of the St. Regis Carry Road.

Continued on Page 44

Welcome to the Northern Tier

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

Here in the Northern Tier region of New York state —bordering Canada — you will find life becomes intermingled with visitors from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

This gives the communities in northern Franklin and St. Lawrence counties much more of an international feel. Not that it looks like the older neighborhoods in Montreal or Quebec City, just that there may be some French Canadian accents about.

With Lake Champlain to the east and the St. Lawrence River to the west, there are ample summer outdoor activities, such as hik-

ing, camping, cycling, mountain biking, boating, paddling, golfing, fishing and birding.

Malone is home to a professional baseball team, the Border Hounds, which plays other teams in the Empire Baseball League during June and July. Their home stadium is the Border Hounds Field (American Legion Field) off Route 11. The 2024 season begins June 7 at home against the Saranac Lake Surge. Learn more at maloneborderhounds.com.

Every summer, people from all over the North Country visit Malone to see the Franklin County Fair, which is Aug. 3-11, 2024.

Continued on Page 43

This year’s Franklin County Fair (www.frcofair.com) will be held from Aug. 3 to 11 in 2024 at the fairgrounds in Malone. Highlights will include demolition derby on Aug. 3, truck and tractor pulls on Aug. 4, East Coast Pro Wrestling on Aug. 5, Versus Monster Truck Show on Aug. 7, music with Jackson Dean with Special Guest The Castellows on Aug. 8, music with Lonestar and Diamond Rio on Aug. 9, music with 38 Special on Aug. 10 and the Greg Williams Memorial Pull on Aug. 11. (File photo)

Franklin County Historical and Museum Society

Summer Hours (June 4–August 30)

House of History Museum Tuesday–Friday 1–4 PM, or by appt

Schryer Center Library Tues and Thurs 10 AM–4 PM, or by appt

Upcoming Events

May 25-26 Revolutionary Soldiers Graves Cemetery Walk

August 6-13

Watch ships, such as the laker Baie Comeau above, navigate through the Eisenhower Lock northeast of Massena as they make their way along the St. Lawrence Seaway, which connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes — 189 miles from Montreal to Lake Ontario.

Continued from Page 42

There are also plenty of farms, food producers and those who make cider, beer and wine. The farm-to-table movement is alive and well in this region.

There is plenty to do in the communities of Akwesasne, Malone, Massena, Potsdam, Canton and Ogdensburg and smaller hamlets across the two counties.

Attractions in northern Franklin and St. Lawrence counties include the Almanzo Wilder Homestead in Burke; Eisenhower

Lock in Massena; Lyon Mountain Mining and Railroad Museum; Chateaugay Historical Society; Akwesasne Mohawk Casino; Akwesasne Library and Cultural Center; Franklin County Historical Museum in Malone; Silas Wright Museum (St. Lawrence County Historical Association) and Traditional Arts in Upstate New York in Canton; St. Lawrence Power & Equipment Museum in Madrid; Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg; and Potsdam Public Museum.

For more information about visiting these two counties, check out visitstlc.com or visitmalone.com.

(Staff photo — Andy Flynn)

¯ Follensby Clear Pond Loop: 4 miles paddling the length of Follensby Clear Pond to a short carry over to Polliwog Pond. Continue across Polliwog Pond to a short carry over to Little Polliwog Pond, then take the short paddle across to the carry to Horseshoe Pond. Paddle across Horseshoe to the short carry back to Follensby Clear and back to your car. Launch: Park at the Follensby Clear Pond boat launch on state Route 30.

Lake Placid 9’er hiking challenge

There are four patches for the Lake Placid 9’er hiking challenge: Summer, Winter, Ultra Summer and Ultra Winter. Ultra hikers must complete all nine mountains in 24 hours.

The Lake Placid 9’er winter hikes are completed between Dec. 21 and March 20 (starting after Dec. 21, 2018). All summer hikes must have been completed after July 1, 2018.

For more information, including registration for the challenge, visit https://lakeplacid9er.com.

¯ Cobble Hill, Lake Placid: 2.2 miles round-trip, 2,332 feet elevation. The trailhead is on Mirror Lake Drive next to the entrance of Northwood School. There is no parking lot there, so hikers must park in the village and walk to the trailhead.

¯ Mount Jo, Lake Placid: 2.6 miles round-trip, 2,876 feet elevation. Trailhead: From Lake Placid, go east on state Route 73 to Adirondack Loj Road. Parking lot is at High Peaks Information Center. There is a parking fee.

¯ Baxter Mountain, Keene: 2.4 miles round-trip, 2,440 feet elevation. Trailhead: From Lake Placid, take state Route 73 west past Keene. Take left on Route 9N toward Elizabethtown. Continue about 2 miles to the top of hill. Trailhead is on the right.

¯ Mount Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid: 4.4 miles roundtrip, 2,940 feet elevation. Trailhead: From Lake Placid, take state Route 73 east to Adirondack Loj Road. After 4 miles, take left on Meadow Lane. Trailhead is 0.25 miles on left. The Mount Van Hoevenberg “East Trail” begins at the Olympic Sports Complex off state Route 73.

¯ Big Crow Mountain, Keene: 1.4 miles round-trip, 2,815 feet elevation. Trailhead: From Lake Placid, take state Route 73 east. At 200 yards past the intersection with Route 9N in Keene, turn left on Hurricane Road at Keene Town Hall. At just over 2 miles, bear left on O’Toole Lane for 1.2 miles to end at Crow Clearing. Trail is on left.

¯ Bear Den Mountain, Wilmington: 4.5 miles round-trip, 2,650 feet elevation. Trailhead: From Lake Placid, follow state Route 86 to Whiteface Mountain Ski Center. Turn left into center. Follow road around to the right and the Bear Den Lot.

¯ Pitchoff Mountain, Lake Placid: 5.2 miles round-trip, 3,500 feet elevation. Trailhead: From Lake Placid, take state Route 73 to the Pitchoff West Trail, 7.5 miles. Pitchoff East Trail is 2.7 miles farther on Route 73. Trailhead is on left, parking on right.

¯ Catamount Mountain, Wilmington: 3.6 miles round-trip, 3,169 feet elevation. Trailhead: From Wilmington, take Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway. Just before the toll house, bear right toward Franklin Falls. Continue 3.3 miles to Roseman Road. Take a right. Follow Roseman Road for 0.8 mile. Turn right on Plank Road. Follow 2.2 miles to parking area on left.

¯ Hurricane Mountain, Keene: 6.8 miles round-trip, 3,678 feet elevation. Trailhead: From Lake Placid, take state Route 73 past Keene. Turn left on Route 9N after 15.5 miles. Parking area is 3.5 miles on right. Trailhead is on left.

ADK Fire Tower Challenge

Here’s a hiking challenge that combines history with outdoor recreation: the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Fire Tower Challenge, a program of ADK’s Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter. There’s also a Winter Fire Tower Challenge (Dec. 21 and March 21).

People completing the challenge do not have to be ADK members.

To complete the challenge and receive the official full-color

Summit of St. Regis Mountain (Staff photo — Justin Levine)

patch, hikers must climb and document, by date, ascents of at least 23 fire tower summits: 18 of the Adirondack Park summits and all five Catskill Park summits. Climbing each tower itself is not required, and it is not recommended for those towers that have not been restored for safe public use.

View the Summit List PDF for the updated list at https://www. adkgfs.org/firetower.challenge.php.

Adirondack Park

Mount Adams, Mount Arab, Azure Mountain, Bald (Rondaxe) Mountain, Belfry Mountain, Black Mountain, Blue Mountain, Cathedral Rock, Goodnow Mountain, Gore Mountain**, Hadley Mountain, Hurricane Mountain, Kane Mountain, Loon Lake Mountain, Lyon Mountain, Owls Head Mountain, Pillsbury Mountain, Poke-o-Moonshine Mountain, Snowy Mountain, Spruce Mountain*, Stillwater Mountain*, St. Regis Mountain, Vanderwhacker Mountain, Wakely Mountain, Woodhull Mountain

* Closed during hunting season.

Catskill Park

Balsam Lake Mountain, Hunter Mountain**, Overlook Mountain, Red Hill, Mount Tremper

** Because this is a hiker challenge, ADK asks Challenge completers submitting Gore and Hunter mountains do so on the trails (rather than a ski lift).

Where Kids Play to Learn and Growns-Ups Learn to Play! Interactive exhibits & changing daily programs. Visit our online calendar of events 315-274-9380 • 10 Raymond Street • Potsdam www.northcountrychildrensmuesum.org

Looking for common loons on Mirror Lake in the village of Lake Placid

Take the ‘I BIRD NY’ Challenge

ALBANY — The state Department of Environmental Conservation is promoting the 2024 “I BIRD NY” Challenge, which provides opportunities to identify birds and learn about bird life and awards program finishers with a commemorative I BIRD NY Challenge patch and the chance to win birding equipment.

New York has more than 350 Birding Trail locations and new locations are added often, making it even easier for New Yorkers to get started with this fun activity. Birdwatching is one of the fastest-growing outdoor recreational activities in the U.S.

Backyard birding, or watching birds close to home, is the most common way people engage in birding. As a birder’s skill and interest develop, there are several opportunities to contribute to scientific knowledge about birds and the natural world. Programs like eBird, New York’s Breeding Bird Atlas, Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch, and the Great Backyard Bird Count rely on volunteer birders to contribute sightings to a centralized database.

The I BIRD NY program was launched in 2017 to build on the state’s efforts to increase access to New York’s vast natural resources and promote no- and low-cost opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature.

I BIRD NY is just one of DEC’s ongoing efforts to engage New Yorkers in nature-based activities that provide a fun opportunity for the entire family to learn about the natural world. Because people

can observe birds wherever they live, work, or recreate, birding is an accessible activity that does not require transportation or the purchase of specialized equipment. Birdwatching can be enjoyed by people from all economic backgrounds and education levels. While binoculars can help, many birds can be identified without them.

The 2024 I BIRD NY Challenge is open to all ages and ends on Nov. 1. To complete the challenge, participants must identify 10 bird species of their choosing and submit a challenge sheet to DEC (https://tinyurl.com/zx77axdz). Challenge sheets may be submitted online via Survey Monkey or sent via email or mail. Entries must be received by Nov. 15. All participants will be awarded a commemorative patch, given a completion certificate, and entered into a drawing for great birding prizes. Two youth and two adult winners will be chosen. Participants will also receive an extra prize entry for providing a photo documenting their challenge experience. As an extra bonus, the first 50 participants will receive a special goodie bag of birding swag items.

Birding enthusiasts can visit I BIRD NY (https://tinyurl.com/ j74ccw2k) to access this year’s challenge sheet, as well as find information on where and how to watch birds, upcoming birding events, a downloadable Beginner’s Guide to Birding (https:// tinyurl.com/4vbxupwp) and additional resources.

(Staff photo — Andy Flynn)

Welcome to the Central Ad’ks

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

The Central Adirondacks include communities in Hamilton, Essex and Herkimer counties such as Long Lake, Raquette Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Newcomb, Minerva, Schroon Lake, North Hudson, Indian Lake, Speculator, Inlet and Old Forge.

Nearby, you will also find many more family-friendly activities in the communities of Warren County to the east, such as North Creek, Lake Luzerne, Chestertown, Pottersville, Brant Lake, Bolton, Warrensburg and Lake George.

Here in the heart of the Adirondack Park you will find an abundance of summer outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, road

cycling, mountain biking, boating, paddling, golfing, fishing and birding.

Attractions include the Adirondack Railroad in Thendara; View Center for Arts and Culture, Enchanted Forest/Water Safari, McCauley Mountain Scenic Chairlift, Goodsell Museum and Strand Theatre in Old Forge; Indian Lake Theater; Great Camp Sagamore in Raquette Lake; Raquette Lake Navigation Company; Great Camp Santanoni, Newcomb Historical Museum and Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb; Natural Stone Bridge & Caves in Pottersville; Minerva Historical Society in Olmstedville;

Continued on Page 47

View from the fire tower on Blue Mountain

Schroon-North Hudson Historical Society and Seagle Festival in Schroon Lake; and Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts and the Adirondack Experience museum Blue Mountain Lake.

For more information about the Central Adirondack Region, visit online at www.adirondackhub.com, www.adirondackexperience. com, oldforgeny.com, www.mylonglake.com or www.newcombny.com.

Long Lake, Raquette Lake summer calendar

¯ June 1: Art in Nature reopens. The Town of Long Lake Parks and Recreation Department announces the re-opening of Art in Nature, an outdoor art installation featuring eleven local Long Lake artists.

¯ July 4: Fourth of July celebration. 6 p.m. at the town beach. Live music will be performed alongside a feast served up by the Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department and strawberry shortcake from the Long Lake Lions Club. The Yacht Lobsters will be entertaining the crowds. Fireworks can be seen from the beach, boat or Mount Sabattis. The rain site will be the Mount Sabattis Pavilion.

¯ July 5: Open Mic on the Beach. 6 p.m.

¯ July 10: Summer Trivia Night. 7 p.m. Mount Sabattis Pavilion.

¯ July 12: Music by the Lake — Gratefully Yours. 6-8 p.m. Long Lake Town Beach.

¯ July 19: Music by the Lake — Jess Novak Band. 6-8 p.m. Long Lake Town Beach.

¯ July 23: Birding Hike with Joan Collins. Birding trip into the William C. Whitney Wilderness Area north of the town of Long Lake. Meet at Shaw Pond parking lot in Long Lake (1 mile east of Stewart’s on Route 28N) at 6:30 a.m. Bring insect repellent, hat, sunscreen, water, lunch, binoculars and appropriate clothing/jacket and footwear. Contact Joan Collins to register at JoanCollins@ ADKAvian.com or 518-624-5528. Sponsored by Northern New York Audubon and the Long Lake Parks and Recreation Department. There is a maximum of 15 participants. The rain date is July 24.

¯ July 26: Music by the Lake — Green River Tribute Band. 6-8 p.m. Long Lake Town Beach.

¯ Aug. 2-4: Raquette Lake Special Events — Durant Days Weekend. The Durant Days and Boat Parade celebrates William West Durant, the inventor of the Great Camps style architecture, which was born in Raquette Lake. Take a boat tour of Raquette Lake aboard the WW Durant, tour Great Camps, Vespers service at St. Huberts. Before the fireworks, enjoy the annual Raquette Lake boat parade along the shores of Raquette Lake. Call 518-624-3077 for more information or visit www.mylonglake.com.

¯ Aug. 2: Music by the Lake — Night School. 6-8 p.m. Long Lake Town Beach.

¯ Aug. 3: Wide Variety concert. 2 p.m. Raquette Lake Village Green. Wide Variety performs their own unique brand of acapella songs delivering over a quarter century of harmony, fun and friendship. Courtesy of St. Williams on Long Point and the Central

Adirondacks Association.

¯ Aug. 4: “Heart of the Park” Craft Fair. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mount Sabattis Pavilion. $1 admission.

¯ Aug. 6: Birding Hike with Joan Collins. Birding trip on a railbed through wetlands and forests. The old railbed travels along Vanderwhacker Brook. Participants will meet at Overlook Park in Newcomb (restrooms at this location) at 6:30 a.m. and we will car-caravan to a dirt parking area up the hill from the railbed. Bring food, water, a jacket, appropriate attire/hiking shoes, binoculars, hat, sunscreen and insect spray. Contact Joan Collins to register at JoanCollins@ADKAvian.com or 518-624-5528. Sponsored by

Continued on Page 49

“If

-Martha Stewart

Fly fishing on the West Branch of the AuSable River in the town of Wilmington (Provided photo — WhitefaceRegion.com/ROOST)

Learn more with these tourism resources

¯ Adirondack Regional Tourism Council: https://visitadirondacks.com.

Clinton County

¯ Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau: 7061 Route 9, Plattsburgh, 877-242-6752. http://goadirondack.com.

Essex County

¯ Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism and Lake Placid Convention/Visitors Bureau: 518-523-2445, with offices in Lake Placid (2608 Main St.) and Crown Point (814 Bridge Road), www.lakeplacid.com.

¯ Whiteface Mountain Regional Visitors Bureau: 5753 Route 86, Wilmington, 888-944-8332, www.whitefaceregion.com.

¯ Lake Champlain Region: 866-843-5253, www.lakechamplainregion.com.

¯ Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce: 94 Montcalm St., Suite 1, Ticonderoga, 518-585-6619, https://ticonderogany.com.

¯ Town of Newcomb: 5639 Route 28N, Newcomb, 518-5823211, www.newcombny.com.

¯ Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce: 1075 Route 9, Schroon Lake, 518-532-7675, www.schroonlakechamber.org.

Franklin County

¯ Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce: 39 Main St., Saranac Lake, 518-891-1990, www.saranaclake.com.

¯ Tupper Lake Information Center: 121 Park St., Tupper Lake, 518-359-3328, www.tupperlake.com.

¯ Malone Chamber of Commerce: 497 East Main St., Malone, 518-483-3760, www.malonechamberofcommerce.com.

¯ Franklin County Local Development Corporation: 355 West Main St., Suite 428, Malone, 518-651-2868, www.visitmalone. com.

Fulton County

¯ Fulton County Visitors Bureau: 1 East Montgomery St., Johnstown, 800-676-3858, www.44lakes.com.

¯ Village of Northville: 412 South Main St., Northville, 518863-4211 www.villageofnorthville.com.

Hamilton County

¯ Hamilton County Office of Economic Development and Tourism: 102 County View Dr., Lake Pleasant, 800-648-5239, www. adirondackexperience.com.

¯ Town of Long Lake Parks, Recreation and Tourism: 1130 Deerland Road, Long Lake, 518-624-3077, https://mylonglake. com.

¯ Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce: 6132 state Route 28, Indian Lake, 518-648-5112, www.indian-lake.com.

¯ Inlet Information Office: 160 state Route 28 at Arrowhead Park, Inlet, 315-357-5501, www.inletny.com.

¯ Speculator Region Chamber of Commerce: 2960 state Route 30, Speculator, 518-548-4521, www.speculatorchamber.com.

Herkimer County

¯ Town of Webb Visitor Information Center: 3140 state Route 28, Old Forge, 315-369-6983, www.oldforgeny.com.

Lewis County

¯ Lewis County Chamber of Commerce: 7551 South State St., Lowville, 315-376-2213, https://adirondackstughill.com.

St. Lawrence County

¯ St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center: 101 Main St., first floor, Canton, 877-228-7810, www.visitstlc. com.

Saratoga County

¯ Discover Saratoga (Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau): 60 Railroad Place, Suite 301, Saratoga Springs, 518-584-1531, www.discoversaratoga.org.

Warren County

¯ Warren County Tourism Department: 1340 Route 9, Lake George, 800-958-4748, www.visitlakegeorge.com.

¯ Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce & CVB: 2176 Route 9, Lake George, 518-668-5755, www.lakegeorgechamber. com.

¯ Bolton Landing Chamber of Commerce: 4928 Lakeshore Dr., Bolton Landing, 518-644-3831, www.boltonchamber.com.

¯ North Warren Chamber of Commerce: 3 Dynamite Hill Road, Chestertown, 518-494-2722, https://northwarren.com.

¯ Lake Luzerne Regional Chamber of Commerce: 37 Main St., Lake Luzerne, 518-696-5804, https://lakeluzernechamber.org.

¯ Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce: 3839 Main St., Warrensburg, 518-623-2161, https://warrensburgchamber.com.

Washington County

¯ Washington County Tourism: 383 Broadway, Fort Edward, 888-203-8622, https://washingtoncounty.fun.

Emergency contacts

General emergencies: Call 911 Backcountry emergencies: 518-891-0235

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation operates a dispatch center at the DEC Region 5 office in Ray Brook 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It should only be contacted to report backcountry emergencies (lost or injured people and wildfires).

Non-emergencies: The New York State Police Troop B, 518897-2000, Clinton, Franklin, Essex, St. Lawrence, Hamilton counties; Troop D, 315-366-6000, Lewis, Herkimer, Oneida, counties; Troop G, 518-783-3211, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington counties.

Long Lake Town Beach (Provided photo — AdirondackExperience.com/ROOST)

Continued from Page 47

Northern New York Audubon and the Long Lake Parks and Recreation Department. There is a maximum of 15 participants. The rain date is Aug. 7.

¯ Aug. 7: Summer Trivia Night. 7 p.m. Mount Sabattis Pavilion.

¯ Aug. 9: Music by the Lake — Altered Tones. 6-8 p.m. Long Lake Town Beach.

¯ Aug. 10-12: Art and Photo Show. Long Lake Town Hall, 1204 Main St.

¯ Aug. 16: Music by the Lake — Booyah. 6-8 p.m. Long Lake Town Beach.

¯ Aug. 23: Music by the Lake — TBD. 6-8 p.m. Long Lake Town Beach.

¯ Sept. 14: Birding Hike with Joan Collins. Birding trip along the Northville-Placid Trail. Participants will hike two miles round trip from the trailhead on Route 28N in Long Lake (1.5 miles east of Stewart’s). Participants will meet at 7 a.m. at the trailhead. Bring food, water, a jacket, appropriate attire/hiking shoes, binoculars, hat and sunscreen if needed. Contact Joan Collins to register at JoanCollins@ADKAvian.com or 518-624-5528. Sponsored by Northern New York Audubon and the Long Lake Parks and Recreation Department. There is a maximum of 15 participants. The rain date is Sept. 15.

HIGH PEAKS GOLF COURSE A

Farmers market vendor at the Adirondack Harvest Festival in Westport

North Country farmers markets

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

Learn more about farmers markets and find local food and drink producers using the online map at Adirondack Harvest, https:// adirondackharvest.com.

Also, visit the farmers market and enjoy the activities at the 2024 Adirondack Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 21 (noon to 5 p.m.) at the Essex County Fairgrounds in Westport.

Akwesasne: 580 state Route 37, Hogansburg. Saturdays, June to October, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.akwesasnefarmersmarket.com.

Bolton Landing: 7 Goodman Ave. Fridays, June to August, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.boltonlandingfarmersmarket.com.

Canton: Village Park, corner of Main and Park streets. Tuesdays and Fridays, May to October, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Chestertown: Chestertown Town Hall, 6307 Route 9. Wednesdays, June to September, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. https://chestertownfarmersmarket.com.

Elizabethtown: 7590 Court St. Fridays, June to September, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. http://adirondackfarmersmarket.com.

Harrisville: At the scenic view. Saturdays, May to October, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Indian Lake: 106 Crow Hill Road. Saturdays, July to September, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Keene: Marcy Field, state Route 73. Sundays, May to October, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. http://adirondackfarmersmarket.com.

Lake Placid: Green Goddess parking lot, 2051 Saranac Ave. Wednesdays, June to September, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.highpeaksfarmersmarkets.com.

Long Lake: Corner of Route 28/30 and South Hill Road across from post office. Thursdays, June to August, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Malone: Malone Airport, 27 Airport Road. Wednesdays, May to October, noon to 4:30 p.m. http://adirondackfarmersmarket.com.

Malone: Mobile Farmers Market: June to September, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays on a rotating schedule. Locations include Windmill Estates, Malone Rec Park, Trails of Malone, and the Sawyer Avenue, Catherine Street and Elm Street housing. https://heartnetwork.org/mobile-farmers-market.

Massena: 105 Harte Haven Plaza. Sundays, July to October, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

North Creek: 21 Railroad Place. Thursdays, June to September, 2 to 5 p.m.

Northville: 412 South Main St. Saturdays, June to August, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ogdensburg: 2321 Ford Street Extension. Thursdays and Saturdays, May to October, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Old Forge: 201 North St. Fridays, June to October, 1 to 5 p.m.

Peru: Peru Town Market. 2948 Mason Hill Road. Monthly on Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 30, July 28, Aug. 25 and select Sundays in September and October. perutownmarket.com.

Plattsburgh: Plattsburgh Farmers & Crafters Market. 26 Green St. Saturdays, May to October, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Port Henry: 36 Harbour Lane. Fridays, June to August, 5 to 8 p.m. www.porthenrymarket.org.

Potsdam: 3 Riverview Dr. Saturdays, May to October, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rouses Point: 144 Lake St. Fridays, June to September, 3 to 6 p.m.

Saranac Lake: Riverside Park, Rover Street. Saturdays, May to October, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.highpeaksfarmersmarkets.com.

Schroon Lake: 15 Leland Ave. Saturdays, June to September, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. www.schroonlakefarmersmarket.com.

Speculator: Next to the firehouse at the pavilion on state Route 30. Thursdays, June to August, 2 to 5:30 p.m.

Ticonderoga: Ti Area Farmers’ Market. 3 McCormick St. Saturdays, July to September, 9 a.m. to noon.

Tupper Lake: 320 Park St. Fridays, June to October, 2 to 6 p.m. www.adkfoodhub.com.

Warrensburg: 180 River St. Fridays, June to October, 3 to 6 p.m.

Willsboro: Pavilion just south of Champlain National Bank on Route 22. Thursdays, June to August, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. http:// adirondackfarmersmarket.com.

Wilmington: 5753 state Route 86. Tuesdays, June to September, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(Staff photo — Andy Flynn)

Prevent bear interactions this summer

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

The state Department of Environmental Conservation reminds residents and visitors to remove or secure outdoor food sources that may attract black bears.

We’ve seen many human-bear interactions in the Adirondacks over the years, some that have not ended well for the bear. Remember the common saying: “A fed bear is a dead bear.”

In the summer, black bears search extensively for easily obtainable, calorie-dense foods. They will readily use human-created food sources, and repeat access can make bears bolder, leading to an increase in human-bear conflicts, especially when natural food sources are scarce.

Feeding bears intentionally is illegal, and unintentional feeding can create problems for the surrounding community, or even the bear if it becomes a threat to people or property.

Learn more about bear safety on the DEC’s website: www.dec. ny.gov/animals/6995.html or visit bearwise.org.

Home or camp

¯ Empty and clean up spilt seed from feeders, and let nature feed the birds from spring through fall.

¯ Secure garbage cans in a sturdy building, clean or remove all residual grease and food from grills, and store pet and livestock food indoors.

¯ Consider installing electric fences around chicken coops or apiaries to protect flocks and hives.

Camping

1. Keep campsites and lean-tos as clean as possible.

2. Clean up after all meals immediately. Keep grills, pots, pans,

cooking utensils, and wash basins clean when not in use.

3. Leave coolers and food inside car trunks or truck cabs.

4. Store food and coolers in food lockers when available.

5. Never keep food, coolers, or scented items in tents when camping. Store toiletries securely with coolers and food.

6. Do not put grease, garbage, plastic diapers, cans, bottles, or other refuse in the fireplace.

7. Dispose of garbage in the campground’s dumpsters every evening.

In the backcountry ...

1. Pack a minimal amount of food. Use lightweight and dehydrated foods. Plan all meals to avoid leftovers.

2. Use bear-resistant food canisters, which are required in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness of the Adirondack Park by overnight users between April 1 and Nov. 30.

3. Cook and eat before dark and cook away from campsites.

4. Avoid spills and drippings while cooking and do not pour grease into fire pits.

5. Never leave food unattended.

If you encounter a bear ...

1. Don’t panic. Most bears are as afraid of people as people are of bears.

2. Never approach, surround, or corner a bear.

3. Back away slowly. Do not run.

4. Do not throw backpacks or food at bears. If bears are rewarded with food, they will continue to seek food from people.

5. If feeling threatened by a bear, raise your arms over your head to look bigger and yell loudly at the bear while slowly backing away.

The Adirondack Experience engages you with interactive exhibits, unexpected stories, and an amazing collection of artwork and historical objects. Here we bridge the past and present, fostering the curious side in everyone.

DON’T MISS OUR TWO NEW EXHIBITS: the immersive Artists & Inspiration in the Wild and Trail Makers: 100 Years of the Northville Placid Trail.

A hiker rests on the summit of Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain south of Plattsburgh.

Welcome to Plattsburgh

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

Up north, the city of Plattsburgh on Lake Champlain is a center for shopping, health care and education, yet it retains its historical and outdoor recreation roots while growing as a cultural center in northern New York.

One can find the typical outdoor activities, such as boating, paddling, sailing, swimming, hiking, cycling, camping and fishing.

For sports fans, there’s the Airborne Park Speedway at 70 Broderick Road in Plattsburgh (www.airborneparkspeedwayny.com).

Bordering New York on the east coast of Lake Champlain is the state of Vermont, and to the north is the Canadian province of Quebec. Lake Champlain ferries (https://ferries.com) cross from Essex, N.Y. to Charlotte, Vt. and from Plattsburgh, N.Y. to Grand Isle, Vt. Motorists can also use two bridges from New York to reach Vermont, one at Crown Point and one at Rouses Point.

Plattsburgh is also home to a professional baseball team, the North Country Thunderbirds, which plays other teams in the

Empire Baseball League during June and July. The 2024 season begins June 7 on the road against the Tupper Lake Riverpigs, and their first home game will be on June 14 against the Malone Border Hounds. Learn more at empireproleague.com.

In Plattsburgh, cultural institutions and museums include the Plattsburgh State Art Museum (https://tinyurl.com/4p2eadap), Strand Center for the Arts (www.strandcenter.org), Clinton County Historical Association Museum, War of 1812 Museum, Kent-Delord House Museum and Plattsburgh Air Force Base Museum.

Nearby attractions include the Samuel de Champlain History Center (www.champlainhistory.org) in Champlain and the Alice T. Miner Museum (www.minermuseum.org) in Chazy.

Plattsburgh is also a transportation hub in the North Country, providing air service at the Plattsburgh International Airport.

The annual Clinton County Fair is set for July 9-13 at the fairgrounds in Morrisonville. For more details, clintoncountyfair.com.

Learn more about Plattsburgh and the Lake Champlain region at www.goadirondack.com or www.lakechamplainregion.com.

(Staff photo — Justin Levine)

A ferry on Lake Champlain makes its journey from New York to Vermont.

(Staff photo — Andy Flynn)

The bridge to Vermont is located next to the two forts at the Crown Point State Historic Site. (Provided photo — LakeChamplainRegion.com/ROOST)

Self-guided historic driving tour Adirondack Coast

By ANDY FLYNN Editor/Publisher

If you want to take a road trip that is relaxing, fun and educational, try this self-guided historic driving tour through the Lake Champlain Valley. Start at one end, and go to the other. Or just pick one or two villages and spend some time there.

The quaint communities along Lake Champlain offer stunning views of Vermont and establishments where you can grab a takeout meal for a picnic.

This is the bread basket of Essex County, where agriculture is making a comeback with many small, family farms. It’s easy to find a farm-to-fork experience.

There’s a lot of history here, much more than we can squeeze into this guide. For more information and itinerary ideas, visit Lakes to Locks Passage: New York’s Great Northeast Journey, 518-597-9660, www.lakestolocks.org.

Ticonderoga

Fort Ticonderoga: 102 Fort Ti Road, 518-585-2821, www. fortticonderoga.org. Fort Ticonderoga was built by the French from 1755 to 1759 during the French and Indian War and called Fort Carillon. On July 8, 1758, it was successfully defended by French forces despite overwhelming British forces. The following year, the British defeated the French here.

On May 10, 1775 during the Revolutionary War, Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold and the Green Mountain Boys surprised the sleeping garrison at dawn and overwhelmed them, making Fort Ticonderoga America’s first victory of the war.

Mount Defiance: This small mountain is owned by Fort Ticonderoga and has a toll road to its historic summit. Entry is included with admission to the fort or can be purchased separately at the base of the mountain. Get a view of the fort on Lake Champlain and enjoy a picnic at the summit.

Directions: In Ticonderoga, head south on Route 9N and turn left on Montcalm Street in 0.75 mile, then turn right on Champlain Avenue in 0.6 mile. Follow Champlain Avenue for a short distance, turn left on Defiance Street, and look for the toll road on the right.

Ticonderoga Heritage Museum & Visitor Center: 137 Montcalm St., 518-585-2696, https://tinyurl.com/4bafy84s. Learn about Ticonderoga’s industrial industry in this building that dates to 1888. It is the last remaining structure of the Ticonderoga Pulp and Paper Company.

Hancock House Library and Museum: 6 Moses Circle,

518-585-7868, www.tihistory.org. This Georgian Revival style mansion is an exact replica of Thomas Hancock’s (John Hancock’s uncle) former Beacon Hill home in Boston. Originally built in 1925-1926 by philanthropist Horace A. Moses for the New York Historical Association, it now serves as the home of the Lower Adirondack Regional Center for History (formerly the Ticonderoga

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Historical Society) as a regional museum and reference library.

Self-guided walking tour of Ticonderoga: https://aarch.org/ wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ticonderoga.pdf.

Ironville

Ironville Historic District: This is a national historic district located southwest of Crown Point. It is known as the “Birthplace of the Electrical Age,” as Allen Penfield, Timothy Taft and Allen P. Harwood pioneered the first industrial use of electricity in their iron works below the pond south of the district.

Ironville gets its name from the iron-mining operations of the 19th century. During the Civil War, iron from ore mined here was used to build the U.S. iron-clad ship Monitor, which battled the Confederate iron-clad ship Merrimack at the Battle of Hampton Roads. The Monitor’s iron was mined in Hammondville, separated in Ironville, processed in Crown Point and shipped by railroad along Lake Champlain.

Penfield Homestead Museum: The district includes 12 buildings, including the museum, built in the 1820s, 703 Creek Road, Crown Point, 518-597-3804, www.penfieldmuseum.org.

Self-guided walking tour of Ironville: https://aarch.org/ wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ironville.pdf.

Crown Point

Crown Point State Historic Site: 21 Grandview Drive, Crown Point, 518-597-4666, https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/34/ details.aspx. The Crown Point State Historic Site preserves and interprets the ruins of two forts from the colonial wars between the British and French. Both are located next to the new Lake Champlain bridge from New York to Vermont, which replaced the 1929 bridge when it opened on Nov. 7, 2011.

The French built Fort St. Frederic between 1734 and 1737 and destroyed it in 1759 during the French and Indian War after British troops captured Fort Carillon to the south. The British then built a larger fort, “His Majesty’s Fort of Crown Point.”

During the Revolutionary War, Green Mountain Boys captured the fort from the British on May 12, 1775. Benedict Arnold used it as a staging area for the fledgling American navy and was abandoned in 1777. The British abandoned the fort in 1780. The state acquired the property in 1910.

Port Henry

Port Henry was once a bustling village in the town of Moriah on Lake Champlain where iron ore from nearby mines was transported to markets far away.

The story of this community and surrounding hamlets is told at the Iron Center Museum, 34 Park Place, 518-546-3587. The Town of Moriah Historical Society presents history exhibits in a restored carriage house at the former Witherbee-Sherman and Company mining headquarters.

A sign on Route 9N/22 details the sightings of Champ, the fabled lake monster.

Another sign honors Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Johnny Podres, a native of Witherbee. Unveiled on June 9, 2012, the sign is located

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The AuSable River runs through the heart of the historic hamlet of Keeseville.

(Staff photo — Andy Flynn) Adirondack

Keeseville (Staff photo — Andy Flynn)

0.25 miles south of the hamlet on Route 9N/22. The sign shows Podres as he looked on his 1955 baseball card. Podres helped the Dodgers win the 1955 World Series.

Self-guided walking tour of Port Henry: https://aarch.org/ wp-content/uploads/2014/08/porthenry.pdf.

Westport/Wadhams

Depot Theatre: 6705 Main St., 518-962-4449, https://depottheatre.org. Built in 1876, this building is a functioning train station with service by Amtrak. It is also home to The Depot Theatre, a nonprofit professional theater that provides entertainment in the summer months.

Essex County Fairgrounds: Route 9N/Sisco Street. The historic Essex County Fairgrounds features four venues that date to when the fair opened here in 1885: the grandstand, judge’s stand, Floral Hall and racetrack. The fair will be held Aug. 14 to 18 in 2024. And the 2024 Adirondack Harvest Festival will be held here on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Self-guided walking tour of Wadhams and Westport: https:// aarch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/wadhamswestport.pdf.

Elizabethtown

The hamlet of Elizabethtown is the county seat for Essex County. Historic county buildings are located here, including the 19th century courthouse where abolitionist John Brown’s body lay in state on Dec. 6, 1859 on its way to his North Elba farm, where he was buried, and the Hand Hale Historic District.

Adirondack History Museum: 7590 Court St., 518-8736466, www.adkhistorycenter.org. The museum is the home of the Essex County Historical Society and is located in a 1916 neoclassical-style former school.

Self-guided walking tour of Elizabethtown: https://aarch.org/ wp-content/uploads/2014/08/elizabethtown.pdf.

Essex

Founded in 1765, the entire hamlet of Essex is on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes well-preserved 19th century brick and stone homes, churches, inns and shops. Industries in town once included stone quarries, iron mines, tanneries and shipyards. It is currently home to a dock for Lake Champlain Ferries with service to Vermont.

Self-guided walking tour of Essex: https://aarch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/essex.pdf.

Willsboro

The town of Willsboro was named for New York City merchant William Gilliland, an Irish immigrant who began to purchase land along Lake Champlain in the mid-1760s for a baronial estate. The town is now home to NYCO Minerals, which mines wollastonite.

One of the earliest buildings in town — the Adsit Cabin — is located on Point Road. It is believed that Samuel Adsit built the cabin in 1779.

Self-guided walking tour of Willsboro: https://aarch.org/ wp-content/uploads/2014/08/willsboro.pdf.

Port Kent

Port Kent was the eastern terminus for the Port Kent and Hopkinton Turnpike, a 19th century toll road that spanned west to St. Lawrence County. It is also the site of the Elkanah Watson House on Lake Street. A private home now, it was built in 1828 by businessman Elkanah Watson on a bluff overlooking Lake Champlain. It is near the train station and ferry dock.

Ausable Chasm

Ausable Chasm: 2144 Route 9, 518-834-7454, ausablechasm. com. Since 1870, Ausable Chasm has amazed the public. More than 10 million visitors have witnessed what mother nature has provided: a uniquely-carved, vertical-walled canyon made of 500-million-year-old rock. As one of the earliest and oldest attractions in the U.S., Ausable Chasm has developed a history filled

with adventures, disasters, and many famous visitors. A horse nail factory was located here on the east bank below Rainbow Falls between 1877 and 1910.

North Star Underground Railroad Museum: 1131 Mace Chasm Road, 518-834-5180, northcountryundergroundrailroad.

com. The North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association researches, preserves and interprets the history of the Underground Railroad, slavery and abolition along the Upper Hudson River-Champlain and Canal-Lake Champlain corridor of northeast New York.

Keeseville

The history of Keeseville can be seen along the Ausable River, which helped drive industry in the 19th century. It is home to Adirondack Architectural Heritage (aarch.org), a nonprofit historic preservation organization located at 1745 Main St. that gives regular tours of properties in the Adirondack region. AARCH is located in the former office building of the Ausable Horse Nail Company. The circa 1849 stone building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of Keeseville’s large historic district. Adjacent to the AARCH building is an 1849 stone mill. This is a rare surviving group of mid-19th century, water-powered, industrial buildings, which were once the heart of the booming horse nail manufacturing industry.

Self-guided walking tour of Keeseville: https://aarch.org/ wp-content/uploads/2014/08/keeseville.pdf.

Plattsburgh

Clinton County Historical Association Museum: 98 Ohio Ave., Plattsburgh. 518-561-0340. www.clintoncountyhistorical. org. Open year-round, the museum interprets the history of Clinton County with programs and exhibits. The association offers walking tours of the old Plattsburgh military base, which was decommissioned in 1995; and Valcour Island, home of the historic Bluff Point Lighthouse.

Kent-Delord House Museum: 17 Cumberland Ave., Plattsburgh. 518-561-1035. www.kentdelordhouse.org. Open May to October. In 1810, Henry Delord purchased a cottage and three acres of land on this location owned by Elizabeth and Judge James Kent. In 1811 and 1812, Delord expanded the home to the current full-size Federal-style house. Delord entertained Commodore Thomas Macdonough and Gen. Alexander Macomb here in 1814. Plattsburgh Air Force Base Museum: 31 Washington Road, Plattsburgh. 518-566-1814. www.plattsburghafbmuseum.org.

Open May to October. Learn about the home of Strategic Air Command (1954-1992) and Air Mobility Command (1992-1995). War of 1812 Museum: 31 Washington Road, Plattsburgh. 518-566-1814. battleofplattsburgh.org. The Battle of Plattsburgh Association operates the museum from May through October and hosts the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemorative Weekend in September (1814inc.com). The museum is dedicated to examining the War of 1812, and more specifically, the Battles at Plattsburgh on September 11, 1814.

Depot Theatre, Westport (Staff photo — Andy Flynn)

New York Adirondack Park encompasses 6 million acres, roughly the size of Vermont. It was created by the Legislature in 1892 and is now the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States. Nearly half of the Park is owned by the state and is constitutionally protected as “forever wild” Forest Preserve. The remaining half is private land that includes communities, farms, timber lands, businesses, homes and camps.