The Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States -- six million acres of mountains, forests, and lakes that dwarf Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon combined. It is not a national park but a patchwork of public and private land in upstate New York, and that mix gives it a character all its own: wild backcountry one moment, small-town diners and antique shops the next.
The park holds over 2,000 miles of hiking trails and more than 3,000 lakes and ponds. The High Peaks region around Lake Placid draws the most attention -- forty-six summits above 4,000 feet, including Mount Marcy, the highest point in New York State. But you do not need to be a peak-bagger to enjoy the Adirondacks. Canoe routes thread through chains of lakes, and in autumn the hardwood forests put on one of the best colour shows in the eastern United States.
Lake George anchors the southeastern corner and is the most accessible gateway from New York City and Albany. The lake itself is strikingly clear, ringed by forested hills. Further north, the landscape gets wilder and quieter -- Raquette Lake, Indian Lake, Long Lake, and the vast Cranberry Lake are all worth exploring if you have the time.
Winters are long and cold, which is exactly the point for many visitors. Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics twice (1932 and 1980) and remains a centre for cross-country skiing, ice climbing, and snowshoeing. The frozen lakes are dotted with ice-fishing shanties from December through March.
