Saranac Lake

The village of Saranac Lake sits on small Flower Lake; the three lakes that go by the name Saranac—Lower Saranac, Middle Saranac, and Upper Saranac—are to the west. Although its population of about 4,800 is significantly more than Lake Placid's 2,800, Saranac Lake is much less touristy than its neighbor to the east. Settled in the early 1800s, it remained a remote community through the 19th century before becoming a center for guiding the occasional intrepid hunter and angler in the Adirondacks. Today the village remains a good base for those who want to pursue the many outdoor recreational opportunities in the area.