Things to do in the Adirondacks
The Adirondack Park is six million acres of hiking, lakes, waterfalls, scenic drives, and lake towns— hike a High Peak or a fire tower, swim or paddle one of 3,000 lakes, chase a waterfall, drive Route 73 in fall, or base in Lake Placid or Lake George. What's best depends on the season and who you're with; the guide below sorts it both ways. Explore the full atlas →
By interest
Hiking & summits
The headline is the Adirondack 46 High Peaks, but you don't have to be a 46er — start with the easiest 46ers, the fire-tower hikes with their 360° cabs, or a family-friendly summit. For a first-timer, easy beginner hikes and the full trail directory (with length, gain, and conditions) are the place to start.
Lakes & water
With 3,000+ named waters, the Park is as much about lakes as mountains. Browse the best Adirondack lakes, find a lake to swim or a beach or swimming hole, plan a flatwater paddle, chase waterfalls, or browse every named water on the lake atlas.
Scenic drives & towns
When you want the Park from the car, the scenic drives (Route 73 through the High Peaks, Route 28 along the Fulton Chain) are the classics — spectacular in fall foliage. Base yourself in one of the lake towns — Lake Placid, Lake George, Saranac Lake, Old Forge — each an easy hub for everything above, with lodging, dining, and seasonal events.
By season
- Spring — waterfalls at full snowmelt volume, ice-out fishing, and the first paddles. Mud season (late April into May) keeps the High Peaks trails closed-in-spirit; stick to lower elevations.
- Summer — the peak season: swimming, paddling, hiking, and the lake towns in full swing. Arrive early at popular trailheads and beaches.
- Fall — foliage and clear, bug-free hiking. See when the color peaks and the best foliage drives.
- Winter — downhill skiing and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling the 1,800-mile trail network, ice fishing, hunting, snowshoeing, and the Olympic sites at Lake Placid. Winter hiking is its own skill set — go prepared.
Not sure when to come? See the best time of year to visit, and check the live webcams before you drive up.
Frequently asked
What is there to do in the Adirondacks?+
The core draws are hiking (the 46 High Peaks, dozens of fire-tower and family summits), the water (3,000+ lakes and ponds for swimming, paddling, and fishing), waterfalls, scenic drives, and the lake towns — Lake Placid, Lake George, Saranac Lake, Old Forge. Winter adds skiing, snowshoeing, and the Olympic sites at Lake Placid.
What is there to do in the Adirondacks when it rains?+
The Wild Center in Tupper Lake and the Adirondack Experience museum in Blue Mountain Lake are the two big indoor-friendly destinations, along with the Olympic Museum and indoor venues in Lake Placid, High Falls Gorge's covered boardwalks in Wilmington, and the breweries and shops in the larger hamlets. Waterfalls are also at their best after rain.
What can you do in the Adirondacks with kids?+
Short summit hikes with a payoff (Mt Jo, Bald Mountain's fire tower), town beaches (Mirror Lake, Lake George's Million Dollar Beach), the Wild Center's treetop walk, paddling a quiet pond, and easy roadside waterfalls. See our best family-friendly hikes for kid-tested picks.
What is there to do in the Adirondacks for free?+
Most of it. Hiking, swimming at town beaches, roadside waterfalls, scenic drives, and paddling public waters are all free (a few trailheads charge for parking). The paid exceptions are the museums, High Falls Gorge, the Whiteface toll road, and guided tours.
How many days do you need in the Adirondacks?+
A long weekend covers one region — say Lake Placid and the High Peaks, or Lake George and the southeast. A week lets you pair two regions and mix a big hike, a paddle, a scenic drive, and a town day. The Park is roughly the size of Vermont, so plan around one base rather than trying to cross it daily.