Welcome to the Champlain Valley

y e l l a V n i a l p m a h C

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Photo by Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism

The Crown Point State Historic Site is the location of English and French 18th century forts on Lake Champlain. It is right next to the bridge to Vermont.

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) are used to cross at places such as Essex, Plattsburgh and Port Kent (summer only). Motorists can also use two bridges to cross, 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 Europeans arrived, they fought over the land, and armies traveled the length of the lake to fight each other during the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War and War of 1812. Forts in Crown Point and Ticonderoga help tell that history.

Seasonal attractions include the Crown Point State Historic Site, Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Defiance, Heritage Museum in Ticonderoga, and Depot Theatre in Westport.

The lake played a large role during the Industrial Revolution, especially with the iron mines around Port Henry. Villages up and down the lake became ports to transport goods and raw materials. Some of this history can be 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 drink are celebrated up and down the lake at farmers markets, farm stands, orchards, wineries, craft breweries, cheese makers and unique farm-totable experiences.

Outdoor recreation is abundant.

In the winter, there’s ice fishing, cross-country skiing, hiking, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Worldclass downhill skiing can be found at the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center in Wilmington (whiteface.com).

Plus, there are year-round adventures at Ausable Chasm in Keeseville (www.ausablechasm.com) and High Falls Gorge in Wilmington (highfallsgorge.com). There’s also the Natural Stone Bridge & Caves, with more than 14 miles of trails, in Pottersville (stonebridgeandcaves.com), which opens for snowshoeing once there is enough snow.

In warmer weather, there’s fishing, camping, swimming, boating, paddling and hiking. For a full list of Champlain Area Trails, visit www.champlainareatrails.com.

Up north, the city of Plattsburgh 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.

In Plattsburgh, cultural institutions and museums include the Plattsburgh State Art Museum, Strand Center Theatre, Strand Center for the Arts, 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 in the village of Champlain and the Alice T. Miner Museum in Chazy.

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

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

Staff photo — Lauren Yates

Pond hockey

Staff photo — Aaron Marbone

Figure skating

Staff photo — Aaron Marbone

Sledding

Staff photo — Aaron Marbone

Frisbee golf

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