Chain of lakes and an Adirondack village built on the cure-cottage era. Gateway to the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest.
Saranac Lake is the village Robert Louis Stevenson came to in 1887 to recover from tuberculosis, and the village he wrote much of The Master of Ballantrae in. It is the village Mark Twain summered in. It is the village Béla Bartók composed in during his last summer in 1945. The cure cottages are still here — most of them now private homes. The Stevenson Cottage is a museum. The literary fact of the place is not a heritage tourism flourish; it is the reason the village exists in the form it does.
Today it is the working hub of the central High Peaks region — bigger than Lake Placid by population, less polished, with a real downtown that doesn't empty out in mud season. It sits at the south end of a chain of three lakes (Lower, Middle, and Upper Saranac) connected by short carries — the regional paddle template. The Saranac Lakes Wild Forest holds 76 named peaks within a half-hour drive. The Adirondack Carry, the historic Lower-to-Middle portage, is still a working route.
If Lake Placid is the region's stage — Olympic medals, gala lodging, the visitor-economy showcase — Saranac Lake is its working backstage. It is where the central Park's outfitters, guides, artists, and bookkeepers actually live. Many of the people who run the visitor economy in the High Peaks region keep their houses here, not over the hill in Lake Placid. The village benefits from that, in ways the visitor feels almost immediately on arrival.
Lower Saranac
April 16 · per Mt. Pisgah obs.
All three lakes
Carries clear of debris
Brook Trout
Lake Clear, Forked, Floodwood
Hotel Saranac
Restored 1927 Beaux-Arts village hotel
Saranac Lake Chain
Three connected lakes · classic paddle day
Mt. Pisgah
Village ski hill · 300 ft vertical · learning hill
Stevenson Cottage
RLS lived here through winter 1887–88
Winter Carnival
Since 1897 · The Ice Palace · early February
58 directory entries across 6 chapters · 54 pinned on the map · 2 upcoming events · 4 Field Guides cover this region
A historic boutique resort, on the National Register since 1927.
Cabins, townhomes, and a marina on Lower Saranac.
A lakefront retreat offering comfortable rooms and hearty breakfasts amidst Adirondack vistas.
Cultivating confidence and connection through Adirondack wilderness adventures.
A sandy beach where you can wade out for a hundred yards
Crewed sailboat charters out of Saranac Lake and Port Henry.
The Adirondacks' only dedicated waterski and wakeboard gear specialists
Guiding Adirondack paddlers to the region's wild waterways for over two decades.
Academy & Main is a gift shop located within Hotel Saranac, offering a unique selection of local gifts, artisanal treasures, and popular…
Every published proprietor in the region, plotted on the map and filterable below.
Hotel Saranac — 100 Main Street, Saranac Lake. 1927-era National Register property reimagined as a modern boutique within the Hilton Curio Collection.
24/7 emergency department and full hospital services in Saranac Lake — the regional acute-care hub of Adirondack Health.
This Saranac Lake outfitter has equipped paddlers and campers for Adirondack adventures for over **25 years**, offering guided trips, rentals, and sales of canoes, kayaks, and SUPs.
A community-built carousel on Depot Street in Saranac Lake, with hand-carved Adirondack animals (bear, loon, deer, otter) instead of horses. Year-round, indoors, and the best rainy-day move in town for kids under 8.
A small lakefront resort on Lower Saranac Lake with townhomes, cabins, lakeview suites, a private beach, a marina, and an on-site restaurant and wine bar. Five minutes from downtown Saranac Lake.
A brewery and restaurant on Lake Flower Avenue in Saranac Lake, doing thin-crust South Shore-style bar pizza and Wing Wars-winning wings alongside the house beer. The third-oldest brewery in the Adirondacks.
Branch Farm Bed and Breakfast offers three private accommodations on the shores of Lake Flower, complete with home-cooked breakfasts and direct access to outdoor pursuits.
A long-running Chinese restaurant on Saranac Lake's Main Street, doing classic American-Chinese standards for dine-in and takeout, Tuesday through Saturday.
This family-owned inn, established in **1923**, offers renovated, eco-conscious waterfront lodging with direct access to Saranac Lake's extensive waterways.
Heritage Indian Grill in Lake Placid offers a vibrant exploration of Indian cuisine, presenting a curated selection of traditional recipes and contemporary creations.
La Vida Adirondack Expeditions offers guided outdoor adventures and leadership programs for teens, fostering growth and connection amidst the park's rugged beauty.
Academy & Main is a gift shop located within Hotel Saranac, offering a unique selection of local gifts, artisanal treasures, and popular brands.
The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation protects common loons in the Adirondack Park through research, conservation, and education. They focus on understanding and mitigating human impacts to ensure loons thrive as environmental sentin…
The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation works to protect common loons in the Adirondack Park and educates communities about the importance of these iconic birds and their lake ecosystems.
Adirondack Lakes & Trails Outfitters, located in Saranac Lake, NY, offers canoe, kayak, and SUP sales, rentals, and trip planning, helping adventurers explore the Adirondack waterways and trails.
Saranac Lake's only downtown brewery, restaurant, and bar, Bitters & Bones offers craft beer brewed upstairs, fresh local cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and craft cocktails. It features rooftop decks and unique private event spa…
Bloomingdale Bog Trail spans 16 from Lake Kushaqua to State Route 86/Harrietstown Rd. (Lake Colby). View amenities, descriptions, reviews, photos, itineraries, and directions on TrailLink.
The Bloomingdale Bog Trail is a 16-mile rail-trail located in the Adirondack Forest Preserve, popular with mountain bikers and hikers. Its surface consists of dirt, gravel, and sand, with a southern segment that passes through a bog.
Blue Moon Café in Saranac Lake offers dine-in, pick-up, and curbside delivery services. Guests can enjoy weekly specials, restaurant menus, baked goods, coffee, grocery items, and adult beverages.
Camp Guggenheim is a weekly summer camp for young people aged 12 to 18, organized by the Diocesan Youth Department. It is hosted at the Guggenheim Center, a 130-acre property on Lower Saranac Lake that also accommodates Family Guggenheim w…
Emerald Springs Adirondack Ranch and Animal Reserve offers horseback trail rides, lessons, and boarding near Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, NY. They also provide Adirondack horse-drawn sleigh rides during the winter season.
Emerald Springs Adirondack Ranch and Animal Reserve, operating since 1973, offers horseback trail rides, lessons, and boarding near Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. They also provide vacation rentals for an Adirondack stay.
Farmhouse Snowmobiling and Go Karts offers guided snowmobiling, side-by-side (UTV), and go-kart tours from a prime trailhead location in Gabriels, near Lake Placid, NY. Explore diverse Adirondack trails with experienced local guides, suita…
Fowler's Crossing Trailhead & Parking provides access to the 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail, a multipurpose route connecting Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake. This year-round trail offers recreation for all ages and abilities.
Waterski, Wakeboard and Wakesurf Shop with our price match guarantee! Find the best prices on waterskis, wakeboards, wakesurfs, wetsuits, life vests & water sports gear at H2OProShop. Shop in-store or online!
Hex and Hop Brewing is a craft brewery and meadery in Bloomingdale, New York, making full-flavored, locally sourced beer and mead. They prioritize community and craft, using fresh, local ingredients.
A family-owned restaurant in the Adirondacks offering seasonal, 100-mile-focused fusion cuisine, a 1920s Speakeasy, and a hidden Beer and Wine Cellar.
Wooded lakefront resort featuring homey rooms & cabins, local dining, a pub & outdoor recreation.
The Ice Palace is a prominent feature of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, a historic annual celebration in New York State established in 1897.
A lakeside B&B on Lake Kiwassa Road in Saranac Lake, with vintage knotty-pine cabins and boathouse-style lodge suites on 20 wooded acres, three miles from village.
Lake Clear Beach is a popular spot for summer swimming, known for its gentle grade which allows visitors to wade out quite far or relax in the sand.
Lake Clear Camp is a property managed by Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, offering summer camp programs and property rentals for troops and families.
Mark Twain Maple Works produces New York State maple syrup on the shore of Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Park. They have been making syrup since 2013, expanding their operation and offering various grades.
Down-to-earth hotel featuring lake views & a restaurant, as well as an indoor pool.
Nori's Village Market and Riverside Cafe offers a market with organic and local produce, bulk foods, coffee, and teas, alongside a cafe serving natural, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and local meat options.
Origin Coffee Co is a specialty coffee shop with locations in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake serving a chef-driven breakfast and lunch menu.
Our Plates offers Caribbean and Southern-inspired cuisine for pickup at 7 Broadway. Enjoy dishes like Empanadas Locas, Dominican Chimi Burgers, Bistec Encebollado, and Tres Leches cake.
Owl's Nest Pizzeria is a local favorite in Saranac Lake, New York, offering New York Style pizza, wings, subs, and other munchies. Available for dine-in, take-out, and delivery, it's a convenient spot to grab a slice.
Welcome to Prescott House ADK, a cozy guesthouse in Saranac Lake that accommodates hikers, skiers, and history enthusiasts. The property features rooms with private or shared baths, a common kitchen, eating area, and a recreation room with…
Red Canoe Antiques offers a diverse collection of primitive to mid-century items, including signs, taxidermy, and Adirondack-themed pieces, located in Saranac Lake, NY.
The Red Fox Restaurant is a longtime Saranac Lake landmark known for its Steak, Seafood, and Italian dishes, offered in a spacious Adirondack-style setting.
RiverTrail Beerworks is Saranac Lake’s only riverfront brewpub, located on the Saranac Lake River Walk and Rail Trail. It features a heated patio, firepits, two golf simulators, and serves lunch and dinner daily with house-brewed beers and…
A crewed sailboat charter operation with bases in Saranac Lake and Port Henry on Lake Champlain, running learn-to-sail lessons and skippered cruises on a fleet of classic sailboats.
Cold-pressed juices, cleanses, protein elixirs, and nut mylks from Saranac River Ranch in Bloomingdale, made from organic produce grown on the farm or sourced from local Adirondack growers.
Saranac Lake Islands Campground offers primitive, boat-access-only island campsites on Lower Saranac Lake, providing extensive boater recreation and access to four additional lakes via a system of locks.
Saranac Lake Islands Campground offers primitive, boat-access-only camping on Lower Saranac Lake. It provides extensive boater recreation and direct access to four other lakes via a system of locks.
The Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center, located in the Northeastern Adirondack Mountains, offers visitors a chance to view over 3000 artifacts emphasizing the culture of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee).
St. Regis Canoe Outfitters, celebrating 42 seasons, provides year-round Adirondack adventures. They offer canoe, kayak, and camping gear rentals, guided paddling and hiking trips, transportation, and expert advice for exploring the region'…
The 1892 Bar & Grille is a locally owned rustic bar and restaurant in Lake Clear, NY, offering homemade food. Recently under new ownership, it brings fresh energy and an updated menu to its patrons.
The Great Adirondack Corn Maze at Tucker Farms in Gabriels offers a new maze design each year, providing a fun experience of getting lost in the cornfield.
Five well-appointed suites of various sizes, between Saranac Lake and Paul Smith's College in Gabriels, NY. Renovated by Cedar Circle LLC with green building techniques. Stays from three days to three months.
Traverse Lodge is a lodging establishment on the outskirts of Saranac Lake, offering a variety of rooms and cabins. It provides a base for exploring the Adirondacks, featuring a new pavilion, campfire area, outdoor kitchen, and close acces…
Village Mercantile is a community-owned store in Saranac Lake, offering a diverse range of Adirondack-style goods, including items crafted by local artisans, books, clothing, home goods, food, and gifts.
Established in 1891 as the Junction House at the Lake Clear rail stop, the establishment has carried several names (Buckley's Hotel, Falvey's, and now Charlie's Inn since around 1960). Family-run cozy comfort food, full bar, lodging, and camping with direct Adirondack Rail Trail access for biking, snowmobiling, hiking, and cross-country skiing. A true Lake Clear landmark.
Five-room Queen Anne–style bed & breakfast in the Village of Saranac Lake, on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1896 by D.W. Riddle, served as a tuberculosis cure cottage and then as a Carmelite monastery (1952–1998) before its restoration as a B&B.
A waterfront IHG hotel on Lake Flower in Saranac Lake with an indoor pool, hot tub, pet-friendly rooms, and the on-site Lakeside Drift restaurant. Walking distance to downtown.
What to do, where to stay, and what's reopening across the Park as the snow melts and the calendar fills.
A complete planning guide: difficulty by peak, common combo days, seasonal realities, and a sortable, filterable table of every summit.
Brook trout streams that have been here since the glaciers, lake trout in two hundred feet of cold water, smallmouth on every shoreline — and a sortable atlas of every major water in the Park.
