Adirondacks trip report
Sep 24th, 2017, 06:35 AM
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Adirondacks trip report
I wanted to offer a brief summary of our recent (and first) trip to the Adirondacks. My husband and I--along with our kayaks--just spent the last week on Long Lake. The drive from Indianapolis wasn't too bad. We took two days to drive out, with an overnight in Victor, New York, but drove home in one long day. We stayed at a Best Western in Victor that more than served our purposes and had a great dinner at El Basha. We stopped in Utica on the way to pick up a few perishable items. Most of the food we ate for the week was brought from home.
We stayed in a cabin at Motel Long Lake. The cabin was clean, quiet and had everything we needed. I highly recommend the property as it seemed well maintained and well located. We spent three days kayaking along the lake. Part of the adjacent land is state owned and offers hiking and camping opportunities. We saw eight loons on one of our outings. They were a fantastic surprise. We saw evidence of bear as well and my husband swears he saw one in the woods from his kayak. We also kayaked on nearby Little Tupper Lake, which only always non-motorized boats. We thought we would explore other nearby lakes and ponds, but the ease of kayaking from our cabin ended up too being too appealing.
We did several hikes as well: Owls Head Mountain, Coney Mountain, Castle Rock, and OK Slip Falls (including a spur trail that leads to the Hudson River). These were all good hikes. We saved hiking in the High Peaks for another trip; we just didn't want to make the drive.
We mostly ate in, but had several dinners at The Cellar in Long Lake. The food was tasty and the service very friendly. We got ice cream at Stewarts, a local chain of convenience stores, and sandwiches at Grub and Growl. The season is almost over and some places were already closed.
This was a great time of year to visit. Nothing was overly crowded, the leaves were changing and the weather nearly perfect (they were having a bit of unusually warm weather). This part of the Adirondacks is pretty rustic and choices for eating, drinking and shopping were few--but that suited us just fine. The choices for kayaking and hiking were, in contrast, plentiful. It would take several lifetimes to exhaust all that the region offers in that regard.
We loved the area and hope to return. I found it challenging to pick a town/lake while planning. There are so many options, but in the end, I felt like we found a really ideal spot for our needs and priorities.
We stayed in a cabin at Motel Long Lake. The cabin was clean, quiet and had everything we needed. I highly recommend the property as it seemed well maintained and well located. We spent three days kayaking along the lake. Part of the adjacent land is state owned and offers hiking and camping opportunities. We saw eight loons on one of our outings. They were a fantastic surprise. We saw evidence of bear as well and my husband swears he saw one in the woods from his kayak. We also kayaked on nearby Little Tupper Lake, which only always non-motorized boats. We thought we would explore other nearby lakes and ponds, but the ease of kayaking from our cabin ended up too being too appealing.
We did several hikes as well: Owls Head Mountain, Coney Mountain, Castle Rock, and OK Slip Falls (including a spur trail that leads to the Hudson River). These were all good hikes. We saved hiking in the High Peaks for another trip; we just didn't want to make the drive.
We mostly ate in, but had several dinners at The Cellar in Long Lake. The food was tasty and the service very friendly. We got ice cream at Stewarts, a local chain of convenience stores, and sandwiches at Grub and Growl. The season is almost over and some places were already closed.
This was a great time of year to visit. Nothing was overly crowded, the leaves were changing and the weather nearly perfect (they were having a bit of unusually warm weather). This part of the Adirondacks is pretty rustic and choices for eating, drinking and shopping were few--but that suited us just fine. The choices for kayaking and hiking were, in contrast, plentiful. It would take several lifetimes to exhaust all that the region offers in that regard.
We loved the area and hope to return. I found it challenging to pick a town/lake while planning. There are so many options, but in the end, I felt like we found a really ideal spot for our needs and priorities.
Sep 24th, 2017, 07:39 AM
#3
I love the Adirondacks. I am always on realtor.com looking for a house. My family lives in North Creek, Gore mountain and Schroon lake. The community there is strong and love the people as well as the beauty. It is hot there today high 80's. Freaky weather for them.
The little towns are all treasures. Glad you have a good time.
The little towns are all treasures. Glad you have a good time.
Sep 25th, 2017, 02:10 AM
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Many years ago I worked for several summers as a maid at the Ausable club in the high peaks area. One of my good friends who also worked there has said (only half jokingly) it was her best job ever It is a beautiful area.
I am trying to put together a short trip in a few weeks that includes going to the John Brown State Historic site in Lake Placid and hiking a little as well as taking the Amtrak Domed Car that is operating for a month between Albany and Montreal.
I am trying to put together a short trip in a few weeks that includes going to the John Brown State Historic site in Lake Placid and hiking a little as well as taking the Amtrak Domed Car that is operating for a month between Albany and Montreal.
Sep 25th, 2017, 03:37 PM
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Vttraveler, sounds like a good trip! We consider doing a hike along the Ausable River (on property owned by the club), but decided against doing the drive. We found it so easy and tempting to stay closer to "home." I'd like to spend a few nights in/near Keene next time.
We are relatively novice kayakers, but I have to say that I can think of no better way to relax. It's a very peaceful way to explore. I hope we're able to go back.
We are relatively novice kayakers, but I have to say that I can think of no better way to relax. It's a very peaceful way to explore. I hope we're able to go back.
Sep 25th, 2017, 05:00 PM
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the Adirondacks are a very special place for me (my family has been going there since 1900!) so glad you had a lovely time. I also love the John Brown cabin. hope you return for many lovely vacations
Oct 9th, 2017, 05:31 AM
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Thanks so much for the trip report. So glad you enjoyed our beautiful Adirondack Park. Living in Saratoga area, so close to the park, I sometimes wonder if we take it for granted. You may want to stay in Saranac Lake area on your next trip - kayaking through the small locks between Lower, Middle and Upper Saranac Lakes is fun and there is so much to do in that area. Although Long Lake is lovely too.
Oct 9th, 2017, 07:26 AM
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Nice report - agree with sharondi & the others that there is so much to do in the area. Not all of it is wow/knock your socks off like you find in some of the better known national parks out west, but rather great natural beauty/open space right in our back yard.
Somewhere on my bucket list is to check off more of the ADK high peaks.
Somewhere on my bucket list is to check off more of the ADK high peaks.
Sep 12th, 2019, 05:12 PM
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Just thought I’d add that we leave tomorrow for another week at Long Lake. My guess is that the trip won’t differ much from our first one to ADK. And that’s just fine by me. I’m just looking forward to not having to make too many decisions, which is the grind of my daily life!
Sep 13th, 2019, 04:01 AM
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Thanks for topping. We just booked a long weekend for the end of the month in the same general area (at Saranac Lake) & looking forward to the quiet getaway. Friends who have been in that area recently say mosquitoes are basically gone and hiking/trail conditions have been excellent (they are seeking to climb all of the 46 ADK high peaks over 4000, but not us despite my promise of a few years ago).
It's not clear what the foliage outlook for this fall will be. One of the bellweather / early changing sugar maples in our neighborhood that usually starts to change color around now is actually looking a little wilted/crinkly browning leaves. Hopefully that's not a harbinger of things to come state wide.
Nights have been cool - into the high 40's outside the Adirondacks, mid to low 40s within. Perfect sleeping weather with the window cracked.
It's not clear what the foliage outlook for this fall will be. One of the bellweather / early changing sugar maples in our neighborhood that usually starts to change color around now is actually looking a little wilted/crinkly browning leaves. Hopefully that's not a harbinger of things to come state wide.
Nights have been cool - into the high 40's outside the Adirondacks, mid to low 40s within. Perfect sleeping weather with the window cracked.
Sep 13th, 2019, 04:08 AM
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Seeing this thread come up again reminds me I still haven't made it to the John Brown Farm historic site. We did go to Harper's Ferry in July so renewed our interest in Brown's story.
I hope you have another great stay in Long Lake.
I hope you have another great stay in Long Lake.
Sep 13th, 2019, 04:50 AM
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A very timely topping. I hope your trip is fantastic. It is starting to color a little bit here in CT, so I would guess it will be very nice there. I love it when the trees reflect the reds, oranges, and yellows between the greens on the surface of the lakes.
Sep 13th, 2019, 11:45 AM
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Sep 14th, 2019, 03:35 PM
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Hello everyone and thanks for the well wishes! We made it to Long Lake around 2:30 today and have settled in. Our drive from Indiana to Victor, New York yesterday started well, despite some construction delays. But wowza, we hit heavy winds in New York that were pretty unnerving. Our kayaks and racks took a beating. The wind wasn’t quite as bad today, but it was a bit gloomy and blustery. Still, the drive through the park was lovely. We saw some leaf color along the way but it’s not quite as apparent at Long Lake. Maybe it will develop a bit during our stay.
Sep 14th, 2019, 04:29 PM
#16
Leaving for ADK next Sunday. I am hoping for a little bit of warmth to go out on the pontoon boat one day at least. Mostly going just to see family and head over to Vermont for one day. We take the gondola up Gore mountain and hike. Much better than this Fl weather.
Sep 15th, 2019, 05:05 PM
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I hope you get some warmth, Macross! We went out on our kayaks this morning and within 10 minutes were rewarded with the wails of a loon and a bald eagle sighting. We ended up seeing several loons, several Common Mergansers, and a Cormorent. We spotted the eagle again having his lunch. We were on the water for about three hours and battled a stiff breeze heading back to our cottage.
After lunch and a short nap, we drove to Blue Mountain to the Cascade Pond trailhead. The hike was a 5.4 mile out and back through dense forest. Not a lot of climbing but just enough rocks and bogs to keep it interested. At the turn around point (a lean to on the pond), it started to rain. We barely felt it thanks to the heavy tree cover, but it had grown rather dark, too. We made it back to the car around 5, It took just under 3 hours (we dawdled along the way to gawk at all the weird mushrooms). No one else was on the trail, which was a pleasant surprise for a Sunday.
After much need showers, we got takeout pizza from Turner’s in Long Lake. It hit the spot.
After lunch and a short nap, we drove to Blue Mountain to the Cascade Pond trailhead. The hike was a 5.4 mile out and back through dense forest. Not a lot of climbing but just enough rocks and bogs to keep it interested. At the turn around point (a lean to on the pond), it started to rain. We barely felt it thanks to the heavy tree cover, but it had grown rather dark, too. We made it back to the car around 5, It took just under 3 hours (we dawdled along the way to gawk at all the weird mushrooms). No one else was on the trail, which was a pleasant surprise for a Sunday.
After much need showers, we got takeout pizza from Turner’s in Long Lake. It hit the spot.
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