Base Camp Guidebook
Places to Visit
Highly recommended! An indoor and outdoor trail-filled 115-acre natural history museum of the Adirondacks. The center features hands-on exhibits and live animals, including river otters, birds, amphibians and fish. Guided canoe trips, live animal programs, and the very popular tree-top “Wild Walk”. Open year-round (except for April) with limited hours during winter. A 2015 finalist for the National Medal, the nation's highest honor for museums in service of their communities.
176 recommandé par les habitants
The Wild Center
45 Museum DrHighly recommended! An indoor and outdoor trail-filled 115-acre natural history museum of the Adirondacks. The center features hands-on exhibits and live animals, including river otters, birds, amphibians and fish. Guided canoe trips, live animal programs, and the very popular tree-top “Wild Walk”. Open year-round (except for April) with limited hours during winter. A 2015 finalist for the National Medal, the nation's highest honor for museums in service of their communities.
Hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski on well maintained and groomed trails including some that traverse boardwalks around ponds and over bogs. Equipment rental and maps available on-site. A great place to visit with trails for all ages!
The Heron Marsh Trail is one of our favorites, a three-mile loop traversing through woods, along a pond and across a boardwalk over a bog.
46 recommandé par les habitants
Paul Smith's College VIC
8023 NY-30Hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski on well maintained and groomed trails including some that traverse boardwalks around ponds and over bogs. Equipment rental and maps available on-site. A great place to visit with trails for all ages!
The Heron Marsh Trail is one of our favorites, a three-mile loop traversing through woods, along a pond and across a boardwalk over a bog.
This museum promotes a public understanding of Adirondack history and the relationship between people and the Adirondack wilderness. Chock full of historical artifacts, wooden guide boats and canoes, and displays depicting early life in the Adirondacks. Also contains a large library of books, manuscripts, maps and government documents relating to the history of the Adirondack region which are available for research by appointment. On-site café.
162 recommandé par les habitants
Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake
9097 NY-30This museum promotes a public understanding of Adirondack history and the relationship between people and the Adirondack wilderness. Chock full of historical artifacts, wooden guide boats and canoes, and displays depicting early life in the Adirondacks. Also contains a large library of books, manuscripts, maps and government documents relating to the history of the Adirondack region which are available for research by appointment. On-site café.
Craft Breweries
Indoor and Outdoor seating, music on Friday nights in summer. Food can be purchased from the food trucks outside.
35 recommandé par les habitants
Raquette River Brewing
11 Balsam StIndoor and Outdoor seating, music on Friday nights in summer. Food can be purchased from the food trucks outside.
Indoor and Outdoor seating. Tasty, unique food options, friendly service. Our favorite place to stop for a beer/food.
12 recommandé par les habitants
Ray Brook Brewhouse
1153 NY-86Indoor and Outdoor seating. Tasty, unique food options, friendly service. Our favorite place to stop for a beer/food.
A small brewery with locally-made beer, hard cider, and mead. A limited selection of small bites and sandwiches.
8 recommandé par les habitants
Hex and Hop Brewing
1719 NY-3A small brewery with locally-made beer, hard cider, and mead. A limited selection of small bites and sandwiches.
Full menu, indoor dining and some outside seating. Sunday brunch. “Sister” brewery to Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, but much less crowded.
76 recommandé par les habitants
Big Slide Brewery & Public House
5686 Cascade RdFull menu, indoor dining and some outside seating. Sunday brunch. “Sister” brewery to Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, but much less crowded.
Food scene
A rustic/industrial tavern with good cocktails, craft beer and a variety of local, delicious food choices.
42 recommandé par les habitants
Bitters & Bones
65 BroadwayA rustic/industrial tavern with good cocktails, craft beer and a variety of local, delicious food choices.
Delicious burgers, wings, and chicken sandwiches! Order your food at “The Scullery” in the back of the bar, and either sit in the bar or on the deck out back. No frills, great food. A local favorite.
10 recommandé par les habitants
Grizle T's
53 Main StDelicious burgers, wings, and chicken sandwiches! Order your food at “The Scullery” in the back of the bar, and either sit in the bar or on the deck out back. No frills, great food. A local favorite.
The Woodshed on Park
High end food and cocktails. There aren't many special places like this around.
Doesn't look like much from the outside, but it has good food and is a nice place for a reasonably priced dinner.
7 recommandé par les habitants
Belvedere Restaurant
102 Bloomingdale AveDoesn't look like much from the outside, but it has good food and is a nice place for a reasonably priced dinner.
Tasty burgers, sandwiches and some higher-end cuisine. Indoor and outdoor seating. The most varied menu around.
14 recommandé par les habitants
Amado
10 Cliff AveTasty burgers, sandwiches and some higher-end cuisine. Indoor and outdoor seating. The most varied menu around.
Italian indoor seating restaurant with bar and take-out pizza. Cash only.
20 recommandé par les habitants
Little Italy
146 Park StItalian indoor seating restaurant with bar and take-out pizza. Cash only.
A great spot for breakfast or lunch! Only open for dinner on Friday nights.
46 recommandé par les habitants
Blue Moon Café
55 Main StA great spot for breakfast or lunch! Only open for dinner on Friday nights.
A small, quaint Inn with great food. Take a scenic drive along the Ausable River to Upper Jay. Reservations suggested.
26 recommandé par les habitants
Ice Jam Inn
12134 NY-9NA small, quaint Inn with great food. Take a scenic drive along the Ausable River to Upper Jay. Reservations suggested.
This is THE place to go for ice cream in the area! They only have ONE flavor each day, which varies, so check their FB page and choose carefully before driving over. A nice scenic view from the parking lot too. Seasonal hours.
30 recommandé par les habitants
Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream
1564 NY-86This is THE place to go for ice cream in the area! They only have ONE flavor each day, which varies, so check their FB page and choose carefully before driving over. A nice scenic view from the parking lot too. Seasonal hours.
Coffee Shops
Located both in downtown Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Always a popular spot, great avocado toast!
48 recommandé par les habitants
Origin Coffee Co.
77 Main StLocated both in downtown Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Always a popular spot, great avocado toast!
If you're out near Keene, this coffee shop has wonderful drinks and sandwiches!
21 recommandé par les habitants
Old Mountain Coffee Company
1767 NY-73If you're out near Keene, this coffee shop has wonderful drinks and sandwiches!
Capisce Coffee & Espresso Bar
A cute little coffee shop just South of Lake Placid.
Grocery Stores
The closest grocery store. A small, local store with a limited selection of just about anything you’d need.
9 recommandé par les habitants
IGA
252 Park StThe closest grocery store. A small, local store with a limited selection of just about anything you’d need.
Located in Saranac Lake, a slightly larger selection than Shaheen’s IGA. Note: this recently changed from being a Tops Supermarket,
Grand Union Supermarkets
156 Church StreetLocated in Saranac Lake, a slightly larger selection than Shaheen’s IGA. Note: this recently changed from being a Tops Supermarket,
A large discount market with low prices, their own products, and off-brands. Located just outside of Saranac Lake.
22 recommandé par les habitants
ALDI
587 Lake Flower AveA large discount market with low prices, their own products, and off-brands. Located just outside of Saranac Lake.
One of the two largest grocery stores around. Will be very busy on the weekends during the summer. Right up the street from Hannaford Supermarkets.
55 recommandé par les habitants
Price Chopper
1930 Saranac AveOne of the two largest grocery stores around. Will be very busy on the weekends during the summer. Right up the street from Hannaford Supermarkets.
The other of the two largest grocery stores around. Will be very busy on the weekends during the summer. Right down the street from Price Chopper.
69 recommandé par les habitants
Hannaford Supermarket
45 Hadjis WayThe other of the two largest grocery stores around. Will be very busy on the weekends during the summer. Right down the street from Price Chopper.
One of the area’s two organic markets. Carries bulk food, local items, and has an in-store café.
36 recommandé par les habitants
Nori's
138 Church StOne of the area’s two organic markets. Carries bulk food, local items, and has an in-store café.
The other of the area’s two organic markets. Also carries bulk food, local items, and has an in-store café. Has a satellite store on Main Street in Lake Placid.
29 recommandé par les habitants
Green Goddess Natural Foods
2051 Saranac AveThe other of the area’s two organic markets. Also carries bulk food, local items, and has an in-store café. Has a satellite store on Main Street in Lake Placid.
Favorite Hikes
One of our favorite hikes any time of the year. Beautiful views of the Saint Regis Canoe Wilderness from the summit or the firetower on top!
9 recommandé par les habitants
Saint Regis Mountain
One of our favorite hikes any time of the year. Beautiful views of the Saint Regis Canoe Wilderness from the summit or the firetower on top!
A short hike with spectacular views from the overlooks or the firetower on the summit! Part of the Tupper Lake Triad Challenge.
Arab Mountain
A short hike with spectacular views from the overlooks or the firetower on the summit! Part of the Tupper Lake Triad Challenge.
Another short hike with great views! Also part of the Tupper Lake Triad Hiking Challenge.
10 recommandé par les habitants
Coney Mountain
Another short hike with great views! Also part of the Tupper Lake Triad Hiking Challenge.
The trail and fire tower (60 feet!) opened in August of 2023. Short hike with some interesting features. Great views! Lots of parking.
Buck Mountain Fire Tower Trailhead
The trail and fire tower (60 feet!) opened in August of 2023. Short hike with some interesting features. Great views! Lots of parking.
A strenuous hike that starts flat with most of the elevation change in the last mile and a half. Great views from the open summit. Will be busy on weekends and sunny days!
13 recommandé par les habitants
Ampersand Mountain Trailhead
A strenuous hike that starts flat with most of the elevation change in the last mile and a half. Great views from the open summit. Will be busy on weekends and sunny days!
Nearby Paddling
Axton Landing
Axton LandingPut in here and paddle the Raquette River all the way to Raquette Falls!
Put in here and explore Follensby Clear Pond, or a number of other ponds via short carries. Or, paddle through the culvert into Fish Creek and on to Upper Saranac Lake.
Follensby Clear Pond
Put in here and explore Follensby Clear Pond, or a number of other ponds via short carries. Or, paddle through the culvert into Fish Creek and on to Upper Saranac Lake.
Paddle the ponds, through a winding creek, under bridges, and all the way to Raquette River if you want to! A "sampler" of Adirondack paddling, and the put-in is less than a mile away!
Stony Creek Ponds
Paddle the ponds, through a winding creek, under bridges, and all the way to Raquette River if you want to! A "sampler" of Adirondack paddling, and the put-in is less than a mile away!