Adirondack North Country Scenic Byways in New York State offers a unique experience for everyone. The area stretches from Lake Ontario in the west, to Lake Champlain in the east, and from the Mohawk River in the south to the Canadian border in the north. Along the thirteen interconnected roads that cover this region, visitors will find artisan studios, farmers markets, historical monuments, breathtaking scenery, interesting shops and restaurants, and plenty of adventure.
The thirteen scenic roads of the Adirondack North Country include:
1. Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway: This 188-mile trail runs from Fonda to Malone and provides travelers with a panoramic view of the forests, mountain ponds, and lakes that are scattered throughout the Adirondacks. Of interest along the way is the town of Malone, which has many architectural treasures, including some Victorian-style Painted Ladies. In Onchiota, you’ll want to make a stop at the Six Nations Indian Museum to enjoy the art and culture of the Iroquois Indian nation. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, plan to visit the Tupper Lake area, which was once the center of logging in the Adirondacks and now offers miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. For those who prefer a more relaxed adventure, visit the museums on offer at Blue Mountain Lake: the Adirondack Museum and the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts. History buffs will enjoy seeing the site of the last battle of the Revolutionary War, which was fought on October 25, 1781 in Johnstown.
2. Black River Trail Scenic Byway: This 111-mile trail runs along the western edge of the Adirondacks and takes you through the Black River Valley and the Tug Hill Plateau. Art enthusiasts won’t want to miss a visit to the Frederick Remington Museum of Art, which displays illustrations, paintings, and bronzes by this world-famous artist. For a touch of nature, stop by the American Maple Museum and visit some of the local maple syrup producers. As you travel along Route 26, you arrive at Whetstone Gulf State Park, where the three-mile-long gorge offers one of the most spectacular panoramic views east of the Rocky Mountains. Tug Hill claims to have the highest annual average snowfall, 200 to 300 inches, of any part of the East. Visitors can enjoy nearly 500 miles of trails for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Pixley Falls State Park is located along Route 46. Here you can explore the Black River Canal’s five combined locks, designed to connect the Erie Canal to the Black River. The park is also home to a 50 foot waterfall.
3. Blue Ridge Road Scenic Byway: From North Hudson to Newcomb, this 17-mile route cuts through woods along the southern fringe of the Adirondack High Peak region. To truly experience the quiet solitude of this area, one must visit Dix, the highest mountain in the Dix Mountain Wilderness and the only one with a marked and maintained trail leading to the top. The area sees few crowds and gives one a good chance to appreciate the quiet natural beauty of the Adirondacks.
Four. Central Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway: Heading north on Route 365 in the city of Rome, you’ll want to visit Erie Canal Village, where on July 4, 1817, the first shovelful of earth was removed for the construction of the original Erie Canal. In Thendara, take a train ride on the restored Adirondack Scenic Railroad. Old Forge offers visitors the opportunity to paddle down the Fulton Chain of Lakes and children can enjoy New York State’s largest water park at Enchanted Forest. Visitors to Blue Mountain Lake are welcome at the nationally recognized Adirondack Museum, which features 22 exhibit buildings on Adirondack art and history.
5. Dude Ranch Trail Scenic Byway: The name says it all! This 40-mile trail passes several horse ranches and lakeside resort towns. Warrensburg is home to Ridin’Hy, one of the area’s tourist ranches with a rodeo. Antique shoppers will also want to visit Warrensburg’s for its variety of antique stores. If you’re in the area in October, stop by the world’s largest garage sale. Near Lake Luzerne, horse lovers can visit the Painted Pony Rodeo and Bennett’s Riding Stables.
6. High Peaks Trail Scenic Drive: Climbing Route 73, you’ll traverse narrow passes flanked by towering mountains, glittering streams, waterfalls, and gem-shaped lakes. Keene and Keene Valley are home to hundreds of trails, including one that leads to the top of Mount Marcy, the highest mountain in New York State. The area promotes snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter and trout fishing and swimming in the Au Sable river in summer.
7. Lakes to Locks Passage – All American Road: This 225-mile route connects Waterford to Rouses Point and parallels the Hudson River, the Champlain Canal, and Lake Champlain. The Lake Champlain Bird Watching Trail, ranked by Audubon magazine as one of the top six destinations in the country for bird watching, offers many bird watching opportunities. In Keesesville, you can see the country’s largest single-span stone arch bridge spanning the Au Sable River. Champlain Canal offers historic trails, battlefields, bike trails, museums, and many interesting shops for the whole family.
8. Scenic detour of the military trail: This detour was once the transit route for colonial troops and supplies. It now offers a route to the Almanzo Wilder Homestead, Akwesasne Indian Reservation, a variety of fresh produce stalls, the 120-foot waterfalls at High Falls in Chateauguay, and the Akeesasne Mohawk Casino.
9. Olympic scenic route: Stretching from Sackets Harbor on Lake Ontario to Wilmington, this 170-mile trail offers unique North Country scenery, culture and crafts. Along Route 3, you will find the Natural Bridge Caverns, where you can take an underground boat tour on the Indian River.
Lake Placid is a year-round ski resort that hosted the Olympics twice. Those who wish to visit the Olympic Venues and learn more about the sporting history of this region can visit the website of the Olympic Regional Development Authority at orda.org.
10. Scenic detour of the revolutionary trail: Traveling east on Route 5 from Albany, you will find Fort Johnson, General Herkimer State Historic Site, and the Oriskany Battle Site. This area is also known for having some of the oldest quartz crystals, Herkimer diamonds, in the world. Visitors are welcome at the Herkimer Diamond Mines, the Ace of Diamonds Mine in Middleville, and the Treasure Mountain Diamond Mine. In Utica, the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute offers more than 25,000 pieces in its collection of American and European art from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
11. Roosevelt Marcy Scenic Byway: The route now known as Route 28N, is where Vice President Roosevelt was informed that President McKinley, who had previously been shot by an assassin, was sinking rapidly. Roosevelt quickly descended from the top of Mount Marcy to reach the North Creek train station. The train station is remarkably intact and provides an interesting record of railroad history dating back to 1874.
12. National Scenic Seaway Trail: This 160-mile stretch of New York’s 454-mile Seaway Trail runs along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Starting from Route 37 in Massena, visitors can climb to the top of the Eisenhower Locks Observation Deck in Robert Moses State Park. Clayton is home to some of the most unique museums: the Antique Ship Museum and the Handweaving Museum and Arts Center. Watertown welcomes visitors to the Jefferson County Historical Museum, Thompson Park Conservancy, Sci-Tech Center, and nearby Fort Drum. Salmon River, famous for fishing for salmon and rainbow trout, can be found in Pulaski. Explore the Great Salmon Wilderness at the southern entrance to the Tug Hill region. Oswego offers a tour of the Erie Canal, Fort Lake Ontario, and the Derby Hill Bird Observatory. More than 200,000 spectators turn out each year to enjoy the impressive fireworks display at Harborfest.
13. South Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway: This 112-mile trail along Routes 8 and 28 winds northeast through the Adirondacks, circling Lake Pisceo, then continues along Lake Pleasant to Speculator. In Salisbury Center, Covered Bridge is the only original covered bridge in Herkimer County. Built in 1875, it is still used today. Nineteen structures, including the Hamilton County Courthouse complex in Lake Pleasant, are on the National Register and can be found along the Southern Adirondack Trail. For more information on this region, visit the website of the Association of Northern Adirondack Countries at http://www.adirondack.org/.