“Spectacular scenery unlike any
other in the Northeast.”
Explore by interest:
VIEW AREA MAPS Maps of the region to view or print.
Area Maps
LOOKING for more information on Where to Stay and Where to Dine?
Plan Your Stay
CARING for our favorite natural and recreational resources - See the new guide
Invasive Species Alert
One of many canoeing opportunities along the Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway, Lewey Lake on NYS Route 30 between Indian Lake and Speculator
Adirondack North Country Scenic Byways
Each of the Adirondack North Country Scenic Byways offers a unique route to new experiences marked by fresh air, clear water, spectacular scenery and invigorating outdoor activity. Currently featured are three of the region’s 13 Scenic Byways and each has a majority of its route within the Adirondack Park.
The protected Adirondack Park, with its 15 wilderness areas, provides habitat for moose, deer, otter, loon and bald eagle, as well as offering an untouched natural environment where anyone can log off, unwind and enjoy a walk in the woods or a paddle across the pond. Each of the three featured Scenic Byways offers numerous opportunities for wildlife viewing, hiking, boating and fishing.
Along each are colorful communities where the region’s history is told, cultural traditions are maintained and a slower pace of life predominates. Use the links below to explore what each of those communities have to offer and plan your trip to take advantage of their year-round hospitality.
Adirondack Trail
Beginning in Malone 10 miles from the border with Canada, the Adirondack Trail travels south through the center of the Adirondack Park. The Visitor Interpretive Center at Paul Smiths provides an excellent introduction to the Adirondack Park while the nearby St. Regis Wilderness Canoe area is a paddler’s paradise. A string of lake communities offer spectacular lake shore scenery -- Tupper Lake, Long Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, Indian Lake, and Speculator – while providing all the amenities a traveler needs. Passing through the historic communities of Gloversville and Johnstown, the route ends in Fonda on the Erie Canal.
Central Adirondack Trail
Beginning above the Hudson River in Glens Falls, the Central Adirondack Trial passes scenic Lake George on its horseshoe route through the south-central Adirondack Park. History and culture are on display at the world-famous Adirondack Museum, while Adirondack Great Camps of the Guilded Age are open for tours and a series of inter-connecting lakes and streams offer a boater’s paradise. In the historic city of Rome, the National Park Service tells the important revolutionary war role of a now restored Fort Stanwix, while Erie Canal Village recalls another exciting time in our nation’s history.
Olympic Byway
Beginning in Keeseville near the shore of Lake Champlain, the Olympic Scenic Byway travels west past Whiteface Mountain on its route along the beautiful Ausable River to the Olympic Village of Lake Placid. This is a major lake route, passing by the Saranac chain of lakes, Tupper Lake, and Cranberry Lake on its way to Watertown across the north-central Adirondack Park. The route connects with the Seaway Trail near Sackets Harbor on Lake Ontario, where historic sites from the War of 1812 can be found.