The Adirondacks

The Adirondacks are one of America’s greatest natural treasures and one of the defining landscapes of New York State. Covering approximately six million acres, the Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States, encompassing mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, wetlands, historic villages, and thousands of miles of recreational trails. Larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks combined, the Adirondack Park is a unique blend of protected wilderness, private property, working forests, farms, and thriving communities.

For residents of Northern New York, the Adirondacks are more than a destination—they are part of everyday life. Just a short drive from Watertown, visitors can reach mountain communities such as Old Forge, Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, Long Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, and the High Peaks Region. Whether enjoying a weekend camping trip, climbing one of the famous Forty-Six High Peaks, paddling a remote lake, skiing in winter, or simply taking in the spectacular fall foliage, millions of visitors experience the Adirondacks every year.

The region’s history stretches back thousands of years. Indigenous peoples traveled its lakes and forests long before European exploration. During the nineteenth century, logging, mining, and railroad expansion opened much of the wilderness to settlement, while artists, writers, and naturalists introduced the Adirondacks to a growing nation. As concerns over deforestation and watershed protection increased, New York State established Adirondack Park in 1892 and later strengthened constitutional protections through the “Forever Wild” clause, preserving millions of acres of public forest for future generations.

Unlike a national park, the Adirondack Park includes more than 100 towns and villages, where residents live and work year-round alongside protected public lands. Roughly half of the park consists of New York State Forest Preserve, while the remainder is privately owned land that includes homes, businesses, farms, timberlands, and local communities. This unique balance between conservation and economic activity makes the Adirondacks unlike any other protected landscape in the United States.

Outdoor recreation is at the heart of the Adirondack experience. The park contains more than 3,000 lakes and ponds, over 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, and countless opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, paddling, skiing, snowmobiling, rock climbing, birdwatching, and wildlife photography. The High Peaks Region is home to New York State’s tallest mountains, including Mount Marcy, while Whiteface Mountain has welcomed generations of skiers and twice hosted Olympic alpine skiing during the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.

The Adirondacks also preserve an extraordinary cultural heritage. Historic Great Camps, Olympic venues, museums, fire towers, railroads, and small mountain communities reflect more than two centuries of life in the North Country. Visitors can explore the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, the Adirondack Experience museum at Blue Mountain Lake, scenic railways, historic main streets, and countless public campgrounds and wilderness areas managed by New York State.

Every season offers something unique. Spring brings waterfalls and trout fishing. Summer fills the lakes with paddlers and boaters. Autumn transforms the mountains into one of the world’s premier destinations for fall foliage, while winter attracts skiers, snowmobilers, ice climbers, and snowshoers from across North America.

The Watertown Post provides continuing coverage of the Adirondacks, including outdoor recreation, tourism, environmental issues, state land management, business development, conservation, transportation, weather, community events, and the mountain towns that make this region one of New York’s greatest assets. Whether reporting on new hiking trails, major sporting events, infrastructure projects, wildlife, or seasonal travel, our goal is to keep Northern New Yorkers informed about everything happening throughout the Adirondack region.

Quick Facts

Official Name: Adirondack Park

Location: Northern New York

Established: 1892

Size: Approximately 6 million acres

Status: Largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States

Public & Private Land: Approximately half public Forest Preserve and half private lands

Protected By: New York State Constitution’s “Forever Wild” provision

Counties Within the Park: Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren, Washington, Clinton, Fulton, Oneida, and Saratoga (portions)

Highest Mountain: Mount Marcy (5,344 feet)

Major Communities:

• Lake Placid
• Saranac Lake
• Old Forge
• Tupper Lake
• Long Lake
• Blue Mountain Lake
• Keene
• North Creek

Major Attractions:

• High Peaks Wilderness
• Whiteface Mountain
• Lake Placid Olympic Sites
• Adirondack Experience Museum
• Ausable Chasm
• Numerous State Campgrounds
• Scenic Byways

Popular Activities:

• Hiking
• Camping
• Canoeing
• Kayaking
• Fishing
• Hunting
• Mountain Biking
• Skiing
• Snowmobiling
• Wildlife Viewing
• Fall Foliage Tours

Related Topics

• Adirondack Park
• High Peaks
• Mount Marcy
• Lake Placid
• Saranac Lake
• Old Forge
• Tupper Lake
• Whiteface Mountain
• Adirondack Experience Museum
• New York State Forest Preserve
• Lewis County
• Jefferson County
• St. Lawrence County
• Black River
• Tug Hill Region
• Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA)
• Hiking
• Camping
• Snowmobiling
• Fall Foliage

Latest Watertown Post Coverage

Browse below for the latest Watertown Post reporting on the Adirondacks, including outdoor recreation, hiking, camping, tourism, conservation, wildlife, weather, mountain communities, state land management, transportation, seasonal travel, and everything happening throughout New York’s spectacular Adirondack Park.