Fall is short and best spent in the Adirondack Mountains surrounded by the changing red, orange, and golden leaves. There are over 100 towns located in the Adirondack Park, making it hard to choose just one to explore during the autumn season. Instead of spending hours reading guidebooks or sorting through Yelp reviews, I put together an Adirondack weekend guide so you can make the most of your fall weekend in New York State.
I’ve been traveling to the Adirondacks for years and love hiking these trails and supporting local businesses. There are tons of great peaks to hike for all levels of hikers. Plus, a lot of cute restaurants for a girls’ trip. I also love stopping by great breweries for a pint at the end of a long day exploring. Whether you want to hike High Peaks out by Lake Placid or take in fall foliage from a gondola ride in North Creek, there are a ton of great recommendations in this guide to help you enjoy your Adirondack autumn adventure.
Check out my guide to some of the best things to do in the Adirondacks in New York this fall.
What To Expect In This Guide:
- Best places to see fall foliage
- Best fall hikes
- My favorite Adirondack towns to visit
- Where to eat, drink, and warm up
- My ideal Adirondack weekend itinerary
Where to Go in the Adirondacks This Fall
These Adirondack spots are well-known for cozy fall weekend stays and beautiful mountain views.
Lake Placid
Best for: first-time visitors, hiking the High Peaks, good restaurants, a classic Adirondack getaway
I love exploring Lake Placid all year round, but fall might be my favorite. (Summer is a close second). My highlights:
- Going for a hike at Mt. Van Hoevenberg
- Watching the sun set over the High Peaks from The Cottage or Cloudsplitter Bar
- Enjoying a local beer at Lake Placid Pub & Brewery
Want the full Lake Placid guide?
Check out my complete Lake Placid weekend guide
North Creek
Best for: hiking, Gore Mountain, a quieter mountain-town getaway
You may think skiing is the only thing people do when they visit North Creek. There’s actually a ton to do in the area, especially in the fall. My highlights:
- Taking a ride with Revolution Rail Co.
- Hiking Moxham Mountain
- Riding the gondola at Gore Mountain
Indian Lake
Best for: lakes, hiking, a quiet weekend getaway
The fall colors in Indian Lake are beautiful. It’s the perfect spot for a quiet fall getaway. I recommend:
- Visiting the Adirondack Experience
- Fishing on Indian Lake
- Hike Blue Mountain Fire Tower trail
Schroon Lake
Best for: a relaxed lake-town weekend, cute restaurants, camping
Schroon Lake has beautiful lake views. It’s perfect for a weekend unplugging from work and whatever screens you can’t seem to put down. I would suggest:
- Check out the shops on Main Street
- Visit Natural Stone Bridge & Caves
- Check out local fall festivals
Lake George
Best for: easy drive from NYC, a classic family fall getaway, fun restaurants and shops
Perhaps the shortest drive from the Tri-State area, Lake George is full of fun activities for the whole family this fall. I recommend:
- Horseback riding with a local ranch
- Taking in the fall foliage from the water on the Minne Ha-Ha
- Checking out local fall festivals
The Best Things to Do in the Adirondacks in Fall
Go Hiking
Fall is one of the best seasons to hike in the Adirondacks. The trees changing colors make the views across the park incredible, no matter how high the mountain peak. The cooler temperatures make climbing rock scrambles more manageable and easier to get outside. Here’s a breakdown of some popular hikes to catch those fall foliage views.
Easier hikes
- Mt. Van Hoevenberg (3.8 miles, 974 ft elevation gain)
- Cobble Hill (1.5 miles, 462 ft elevation gain)
- Mount Jo (2.5 miles, 718 ft elevation gain)
- Bald Mountain/Rondaxe Fire Tower (1.8 miles, 416 ft elevation gain)
Moderate hikes
- Moxham Mountain (5.3 miles, 1,341 ft elevation gain)
- Cascade and Porter Mountains (5.7 miles, 2,293 ft elevation gain)
- Indian Head and Rainbow Falls (10.9 miles, 1,978 ft elevation gain)
- This trail became so popular, now it requires an online reservation. Visit the AMR website here to make an account and book your free hiking reservation.
More challenging hikes
- Snowy Mountain (7.4 miles, 2,139 ft elevation gain)
- Phelps Mountain (8.9 miles, 2,253 ft elevation gain)
- Mount Marcy (16.7 miles, 3,667 ft elevation gain)
Looking for fall hikes you can actually reach from NYC?
I’ve rounded up 10 fall hikes within about five hours of NYC
Go Kayaking
One of the most magical moments I’ve experienced is paddling through the morning mist on the lake with the colorful fall foliage in the background. Here’s where I would recommend you kayak in the Adirondacks:
- Mirror Lake
- Saranac Lake
- Blue Mountain Lake
- Lake George
- Tupper Lake
Chase the Fall Foliage
For those looking to take in the views without all the sweat, dirt, and mud that comes with hiking, there are a couple of great outlooks around the ADKs. Double-check operating times and ticket reservations in advance.
Best mountain views
- Northwoods Gondola at Gore Mountain
- Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface Mountain
- Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway up Whiteface Mountain
- Skyride Experience at the Olympic Jumping Complex
Best scenic drives/bike rides
- Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway up Whiteface Mountain
- The Olympic Trail (Routes 86 and 3)
- High Peaks Scenic Byway (Route 73)
- Adirondack Rail Trail from Lake Placid to Tupper Lake
Best lake views
- Lake Placid
- Cascade Lake
- Schroon Lake
- Lake George
When is peak foliage?
Peak foliage timing varies from year to year, but generally moves through the Adirondacks from higher elevations to lower elevations. If your trip is centered around seeing all the fall colors, check current foliage reports, like I Love NY or explorefall.com, before you go.
Take an Adirondack Fall Road Trip
From New York City
The Adirondacks are roughly a 4–5 hour drive from the New York City area depending on where you’re headed.
Want more weekend road-trip ideas from NYC?
Read my guide to 5 weekend road trips within five hours of NYC
From New Jersey
The Adirondacks are roughly 4-5 hours from parts of Northern New Jersey, and about 5-6 hours from parts of Southern New Jersey.
From Buffalo, NY
The Adirondacks are roughly 5-6 hours from the Buffalo area.
Eat, Drink, and Explore
No trip is complete without good food and an even better drink. Here are some of my favorites around the Adirondacks.
Grab a post-hike craft beer
- Big Slide Brewery: 5686 Cascade Road, Lake Placid, NY
- Paradox Brewery: 2781 US Route 9, North Hudson, NY
- RiverTrail Beerworks: 79 Woodruff Street, Saranac Lake, NY
- Lake Placid Pub & Brewery: 813 Mirror Lake Dr, Lake Placid, NY
- Bolton Landing Brewing Company: 4933 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing, NY
Find a cozy coffee shop
- Origin Coffee Co.: 2669 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY
- North Country Coffee Cottage: 3 Railroad Place, North Creek, NY
- Capisce Coffee & Espresso Bar: 5659 Cascade Road, Lake Placid, NY
- Cafe Sarah: 260 Main Street, North Creek, NY
- Blue Line Coffee House: 3109 NY-28, Old Forge, NY
Get a big meal after hiking
- Smoke Signals: 2489 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY
- Cafe Adirondack: 5 Olmstedville Road, Pottersville, NY
- Pitkins Restaurant: 1085 Main Street, Schroon Lake, NY
- Dack Shack: 2099 Saranac Avenue, Lake Placid, NY
- Lisa G’s: 6125 Sentinel Rd, Lake Placid, NY
- The Gem: 4983 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing, NY
- The Pickled Pig: 2639 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY
Explore local shops
- Pure Placid: 2470 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY
- Adirondack Decorative Arts & Crafts: 2512 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY
- Irish Treasures: 2567 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY
- Fulton Chain Supply Co.: 170 NY-28, Inlet, NY
- Foothills: 252 Main St, North Creek, NY
Find a place for sunset
So…where should you stay?
| If your vibe is… | You should stay in… |
|---|---|
| First-time visitor, foodie, Whiteface Mountain, High Peaks hiking | Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake |
| Hiking, Gore Mountain, unique activities | North Creek, Pottersville |
| Quiet getaway, lake views, camping | Indian Lake, Old Forge, Inlet |
| Relaxed lake weekend, unplugged, chill | Schroon Lake, Blue Mountain Lake |
| Easy drive from NYC, glamping, family fun | Lake George, Bolton Landing |
Erin’s Ideal Adirondacks Fall Weekend
This would be my perfect Adirondack fall weekend itinerary to get in all the hiking, leaf peeping, local brews, good eats, and beautiful views the park has to offer.
Friday
4:00 PM: Arrive in Lake Placid
5:00 PM: Check into stay
6:30 PM: BBQ dinner at The Pickled Pig
8:00 PM: Walk to Lake Placid Pub and Brewery and grab a beer
Saturday
7:00 AM: Early breakfast
8:00 AM: Hike one of the High Peaks or ADK Fire Tower trails
1:00 PM: Grab sandwiches at Dack Shack
2:00 PM: Nap (crucial)
3:00 PM: Walk around Lake Placid and do some shopping
5:00 PM: Take in the sunset from Mirror Lake
7:00 PM: Dinner and drinks at Marcy Bar
9:00 PM: Dancin’ at Roomers!
Sunday
8:00 AM: Grab breakfast at ADK Diner
9:00 AM: Drive up Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway
12:00 PM: Grab lunch at Capisce Coffee
12:30 PM: Start drive home
Adirondacks Fall Packing List
Here’s my go-to packing list for fall weekends in the ADKs where I know I’ll be spending time outside hiking and exploring mountain towns.
Pack:
- Hiking boots with warm socks
- Backpack
- Layers – sweatshirt, long-sleeve tee, leggings, sweatpants, hiking pants, etc.
- Rain jacket
- Warm hat, like a beanie
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle
- Snacks (I like CLIF bars and trail mix)
- Headlamp (I never hike without one) or a flashlight
- Hiking poles
- First aid kit
- Extra socks
- Comfy shoes (to change into after a long hike)
Where should you go next?
Want mountains?
Check out my Lake Placid Weekend Guide
Driving from NYC?
Check out 10 Fall Hikes Under 5 Hours From NYC
Want a challenge?
Read my Adirondack Fire Tower Hiking Guide
Ready to head north?
Because of all the time I spent in the Adirondacks growing up, it’s become my home away from home. Even though I find ways to visit my favorite towns multiple times a year, somehow I still find new hikes, towns, restaurants, and views every time I go back.
Fall is one of my favorite times to visit the Adirondacks. It’s the perfect time for those looking for a challenging mountain hike, a cozy weekend in a little mountain town, or simply an excuse to drive north and stare at some pretty trees.
Now all that’s left to do is pick a weekend, pack your hiking boots, and head north.
This guide will continue to be updated as I discover more exciting fall spots around the Adirondacks. Have a suggestion? Let me know about it here!
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This is great! I am going to be in Laje Placid next weekend and can’t wait to try your recs!