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§ Best of the Park · 7 lists · 38 picks

Curated by the editors.

The peaks, lakes, and hikes we send first-timers to first — ranked, with the reasoning behind every pick. Not algorithmic; opinionated.

List No. I→Suggest a List→
§ The Shelf

The list of lists.

Refreshed quarterly · hand-picked
Sunset over the Adirondack High Peaks from Mount Marcy's summit, marked by the summit signList No. I · 5 picksThe Best Easy 46ers for Your First Adirondack High Peak.Five 46ers that newer hikers regularly bag first — Cascade, Porter, Phelps, Big Slide, Wright. Editorial picks with mileage, elevation gain, and the trade-offs each one makes.Read the List→A kayaker on a glassy Adirondack lake at sunriseList No. II · 5 picksThe Best Adirondack Lakes for Paddling.Five flatwater paddles — from the wilderness solitude of Lake Lila to the lean-to camping of Long Lake. Editor's picks with launch info and skill-level notes.Read the List→A restored steel Adirondack fire tower on a bare rocky summit at golden hour, forested ridgelines stacking to the horizonList No. III · 5 picksThe Best Adirondack Fire Tower Hikes.Restored 1910s-era fire towers on summits across the Adirondack Park — Hadley, Snowy, Pillsbury, Black, Hurricane. Picks ranked by difficulty + view payoff.Read the List→A child on an Adirondack trail, framed by white birchesList No. IV · 5 picksThe Best Family-Friendly Hikes in the Adirondacks.Five short, scenic hikes under 3 miles — Mt Jo, Bald Mountain, Owls Head, Coon Mountain, Hadley. Picks chosen for kids: steady grades, real summit views, manageable round-trip time.Read the List→A maple-lined Adirondack highway in peak fall foliageList No. V · 5 picksThe Best Adirondack Fall Foliage Drives.Five scenic drives across the Park for peak foliage — Route 73, Route 28, Route 30, Whiteface Memorial Highway, Route 9N. Picks ranked by view, traffic, and seasonal timing.Read the List→Swimmers on an Adirondack lake beach in midsummer lightList No. VI · 5 picksThe Best Adirondack Lakes for Swimming.Five lakes for swimming — Mirror Lake, Lake George, Schroon Lake, Eagle Lake, Cranberry Lake. Editor's picks for clean water, sandy beaches, and family-ready access.Read the List→A calm Adirondack lake at first light, ringed by forested shorelineList No. VII · 8 picksThe Best Lakes in the Adirondacks.The marquee Adirondack lakes — Lake George, Mirror Lake, the Saranac chain, Tupper, Long, Raquette, Blue Mountain, and Schroon. Editor's picks by what each lake is actually for.Read the List→
§ How We Curate

Hand-picked, never ranked by algorithm.

Every pick is selected by the editorial team — not by review counts, check-ins, or paid placement. The “why we picked this” paragraph under each entry is the reasoning we’d give a friend who asked. When a trail closes or a beach changes hands, the list updates; if a list is short, the list is short.

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