Dubbed the “Queen of American Lakes,” Lake George stretches more than 32 miles north to south through New York’s beautiful Adirondack Park. Summer visitors continue to descend upon Lake George in droves for its gorgeous scenery: deep blue water (ready for fishing and boating of all kinds), forested shores, and soaring peaks — some of the tallest in the state.
Lake George, located in the Adirondack Mountains, has been a summer escape for New Yorkers and Northeasterners since the late 19th century. In the winter, the snowy mountains attract visitors to ski resorts, ice festivals, and snowmobile trails, but it’s really all about summer here, when the warm weather allows for all sorts of outdoor enjoyment: swimming, boating, parasailing, hiking, camping, biking, and more. And downtown Lake George (“the village”) springs to life with summer vacationers enjoying the pubs, taverns, ice cream shops, arcades, lakefront parks, and in-town beaches.
Canoeing, kayaking, powerboating, sailing, waterskiing, parasailing: take your pick, the gang’s all here. At 32 miles long, three miles across at its max, and as deep as 195 feet, Lake George accommodates just about every type of watercraft. If you don’t BYOB (bring your own boat), there are gobs of rental services in town, as well as tour operators and parasailing outfitters.
Scenic steamboat cruises are a classic Lake George outing.
Meanwhile, miles of hiking trails around the lake lead to mountain overlooks, waterfalls, and secluded country ponds. The popular-with-families Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob culminates at a gazebo overlooking the water, while the rather challenging Prospect Mountain Trail follows an old tramway up to the 2,030-foot summit (and its 100-mile views, which include Lake George and the Adirondack High Peaks). Not up for the trek? You can always board a free shuttle or drive the scenic Veterans Memorial Highway to the top.
Shelving Rock Falls is a favorite for photo ops, and it’s doable for most ages and fitness levels, so hikers looking for a real day of it often pair the waterfall with Sleeping Beauty Mountain. And what began in 1882 as a railroad line is now the Warren County Bikeway, a nine-mile paved route for walking and biking (and snowmobiling, December through March).
