Adirondack Trail Inn.

Set on five acres along the Ausable River in Upper Jay, this modest roadside property blends mid-century inn sensibilities with quiet outdoor amenities. A hammock slung by the water, a game room with ping pong, and an evening bonfire pit offer simple diversions after a day on the trails. The property maintains twelve guest rooms spread across two buildings—a main inn and a separate lodge—each individually decorated and equipped with private baths, air conditioning (May through September), mini-fridges, and microwaves. Complimentary breakfast is included.

The lodge, tucked slightly apart from the main building, holds two rooms—Serenade and Daybreak—each with queen beds and access to a shared living room with a seasonal wood-burning stone fireplace. Serenade opens onto a private deck overlooking the river. In the main inn, rooms are configured as queens or doubles; two units (River Bend and Wilderness) include kitchenettes with two-burner stovetops, toaster ovens, and basic cookware. Several rooms feature electric woodstoves for atmosphere. Two rooms—Alpine Trail and Birch Bark—welcome pets.

The inn sits along Route 9N with the Lake Placid Ironman bike route passing the front door. High Peaks trailheads, Whiteface Mountain, and the villages of Keene and Keene Valley lie within easy driving range, as do fly-fishing spots along the Ausable and the rock and ice climbs that draw technical athletes year-round. The property operates seasonally, with no on-site dining beyond breakfast; grills and picnic tables are available outdoors. This is fundamentally a no-frills base camp for hikers, skiers, and cyclists who value proximity to the High Peaks and a riverbank perch over resort polish.