Central Adirondacks
The launchpad to the best of the Adirondack Park.
The Central Adirondacks is a phenomenal jumping-off point to enjoy the many pleasures of the Adirondack region. North of the spectacular Lake George Area, this area has long been a playground for those seeking the ultimate in outdoor recreation.
Most villages in the Central Adirondacks are situated on substantial bodies of water. This is no accident; the earliest tourists to this area in the 19th and early 20th centuries gained access to the region's delights via its plentiful waterways. Visitors to the Central ADK come to experience whitewater rafting on the Hudson River, freshwater fishing, snowmobiling trails, backcountry camping and hiking in the Adirondack Park’s constitutionally protected forest preserves. Towns in the Central Adirondacks include:
Long Lake
Blue Mountain Lake
Indian Lake
Raquette Lake
Speculator
Wells
Among the Central Adirondacks' treasures is the Adirondack Experience at Blue Mountain Lake, which some have deemed the Smithsonian of the Adirondacks. Great Camp Sagamore is also a must-see in the area. This 27-building complex is a National Historic Landmark and allows visitors to immerse themselves in daily life in the Great Camps of the Gilded Age.
Our hand-picked recommendations on where to stay, eat, shop and things to do in the Central Adirondacks.
Search for Anything in the Central Adirondacks
What if the best way to experience the Adirondacks is to stop trying to get somewhere?
The Adirondack September calendar is hitting its stride.
Could this be one of the Adirondacks' best foliage seasons in years?
125 years ago, Theodore Roosevelt raced through the Adirondacks toward the presidency.
Leonard Bernstein is taking an Adirondack road trip.
One of the Adirondacks' most moving Labor Day traditions returns as historic fire towers glow across the park.
The calendar may be whispering back-to-school, but Adirondack summer isn't finished yet.
Mosquitos may be fading, but don’t put away the bug defenses yet.
Speculator Creamery deserves a stop on your next Central Adirondack adventure.
What do sheep have to do with solar energy? Quite a lot, it turns out.
The best way to experience the Adirondacks might surprise you.
Celebrating the 125th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s Adirondack Night Ride.
One of summer's greatest natural shows returns August 12–13.
Now showing in Old Forge: first-run films, a restored century-old theater, vintage cameras and popcorn worth buying without a ticket.
August is arriving with exactly the kind of weekend we'd hoped for.
Cookbook author Susi Gott Séguret joins ADK Talks to explore the recipes, traditions, and stories that define eating in the Adirondacks.
Great Camp tours, boat rides, fireworks, and a celebration of William West Durant's enduring Adirondack legacy.
Think the 90-Miler is the whole story? Think again.
The Adirondacks don't just have mountain views—they have universe views.
Think America's story only happened in Philadelphia and Boston? Think again.
Learn about the history, mission, and future of one of the region's most enduring cultural institutions.
Since 1958, Custard's Last Stand in Long Lake has been serving ice cream, shakes, sundaes, and Adirondack nostalgia.
A historic fire tower. Big High Peaks views.
Discover why the Stickley furniture exhibition at View Arts in Old Forge is drawing attention this summer.
Black fly season is back in the Adirondacks. Learn why they thrive here and the Adirondack-tested survival tips locals swear by
Memorial Day in the Adirondacks means boats, black flies, traffic… and the unofficial start of summer.
Northern Pike. Frozen lakes. A guide who reads the water like a map.
A curated list Adirondack events this weekend—from art shows to historic openings across the region.
Between Old Forge and Inlet, Eagle Bay House serves some of the most refined yet relaxed dining in the Adirondacks.
At dawn in the Adirondacks, the forest comes alive.