Adirondacks Region
Outdoor Activities
Mt. Van Hoevenberg Bobsled Track - Lake Placid
Mt. Van Hoevenberg is an incredible place to visit all year round with many great things to do not matter what your age or ability. In the summer you can ride the longest roller coaster in the U.S. and have miles of beautiful views in all directions. This coaster is suitable for young and old, so don’t be a chicken - try it! During the summer you can take a bus to the top of the track and actually walk in it. This allows you to feel first hand what Bobsledders see and feel. You can also hike the 35 miles of trails that were used by Olympians for the cross country skiing events. In the winter you can ride on the Olympic track in a Bobsled up to 55mph as an expert steers you through the course! One of the times we were there just happened to be during an International Bobsled competition. We walked up the hill in the snow following the twists and turns, seeing sleds coming down as we went. When we got to the top and saw the racers starting out pushing the sled before jumping in, it felt like we were at the Olympics.
White Water Rafting - North Creek
A 16 mile whitewater rafting trip in the Hudson River Gorge is a great way for anyone to get an adrenaline rush, but the Square Eddy Excursion is our fave. Since it is a dam release river, you don’t have to worry about a summer dry spell ruining your trip. With Class II and III rapids, the adventurer in your group will have fun, and the fuddy-duddy types won’t be trembling with fear. Even the scenery around the river is beautiful and pristine. This is a fun and exhilarating way to spend a summer day.
Ausable Chasm (in the town of Ausable Chasm)
Since 1870, it has been called the most scenic walking trail in the state, Ausable Chasm lived up to that lofty billing. There are 4 miles of walking trails with beautiful waterfalls, ice-age boulders, and scenic views. The standard tour consists of a one mile walk through the gorge with a rafting float back. For the Adventurous folk in your crew, the Adventure Trail adds cable bridges, a cargo net climb, edge walks, and other more challenging terrain. If you can’t make it in the summer, there are winter tours as well that are safe even with a fresh coat of snow on the trails. You can also do tubing floats, rappelling, rock climbing, and even a night time lantern tour.
The Olympic Ski Jump Complex - Lake Placid
We pride ourselves on being adventurous/multi-faceted people, but after we took a gondola ride to the base of the ski jumping platforms, then rode in an elevator 26 stories high, the door opened and we looked down at what a 120 meter ski jumper sees all of the time. In my head the phrase, “you have to be a crazy person to do this”. The picture on the right does no justice to how high you are, and that the ski jumpers are going 60mph on a frozen ice track before they take off! While you are here, you can ride a zip-line back down the hill, or just get back in the gondola while you are still thinking about how crazy ski-jumpers are. The aerial skiers practice here as well, so in the summer you can see Olympic hopefuls doing triple-reverse-backflips and other moves into a pool of water as part of their training for the snow in the winter.
The Top of Whiteface Mtn (by Car) - Wilmington
Lions and Tigers and Bears - Oh my! Sorry about the cheesy intro there, but it seemed like a good starter. Since 1893, the zoo has been entertaining kids and adults with the widest variety of animals in the area. The “Step Into Africa” exhibit features numerous animals from the African plains, and you will find everything from Elephants to walrus’s within the boundaries of the zoo. Over 90 different types of animals are on display. Kids and adults will both find things here to enjoy.
Helms Aero Service Seaplane Ride - Long Lake
If you want to see the Adirondacks from the air, then a seaplane ride is the way to go! The perspective of the mountains, lakes, and small towns that you pass over is amazing from the air! We’ve been on a few different seaplanes in NY, but IMO this is the best one.
Adirondack Scenic Railroad - Thendara (Old Forge)
This trip through time on the Adirondack Railroad that runs from Utica to Tupper Lake has numerous options for different excursions throughout the year including Valentine’s Dinner Excursions, Beer and Wine Tasting Trips, and numerous round trips from Utica to Old Forge and back. In this era of planes and automobile travel, it is a great change of pace to travel on a transportation mode of days gone by. Our favorite is from the Thendara station in Old Forge that took us through the beautiful Fulton Chain of Lakes area, but there are many great excursions throughout the year.
Experience Outdoors - Lake Placid
Looking for a challenge and some great exercise all-in-one? The name of the place is Experience Outdoors for a reason. Zip lining, suspended rope climbs, repelling, and all out exhilarating natural beauty all around you - that is what Experience Outdoors has to offer. This isn’t for the feint of heart or ‘fraid of heights folks, but anyone in moderate to good shape with a taste for adventure should definitely give it a try!