When it comes to the iconic “I ❤️ NY” slogan, you likely aren’t thinking about New York’s Adirondack Mountains, lying approximately 300 miles north of New York City. It’s not difficult to imagine – in a state home to the most populous city in America and one recognized across our globe – the city garners more attention than anything else in New York. While the city’s well-deserved fame makes it a renowned destination for travelers from all over the world, NYC isn’t exactly a hidden gem for those living in or visiting the United States. 

If you’re looking for a hiking adventure, the minds of most outdoor enthusiasts immediately drift westwards. Again, it’s for good reason hikers everywhere dream of scaling 14ers in Colorado, summiting Angel’s Landing in Utah, visiting Yosemite National Park, etc, but Lake Placid hasn’t spent much time on the map since it hosted the Miracle on Ice in 1980. Below is why the Adirondacks are unique and why they should be on your travel bucket list. 

The Adirondack Mountains, outside of being the namesake for the chair of the same name, offer a whopping 46 peaks over 4,000 feet (1200m) in elevation. Mount Marcy, the tallest peak at 5,344 feet above sea level, is the 6th highest in the Northeast USA. But, don’t let the elevation fool you as the 16.2 mile trail boasts 3,585 feet in elevation gain. Anyone who isn’t sore after that journey should please refer me to their knee supplier using the comment box below. Also, once you’re there, the unique human heart – not emoji heart – shape of the Adirondacks, over the traditional line of mountain ranges, provides full 360-degree views from nearly every peak. 

There’s even a highly exclusive group of nature daredevils who have summited all 46 of these peaks, unsurprisingly called the Adirondack 46ers. Think you’re up for the challenge? I’ll see you out there. 

Before I begin, I’ll highlight key reasons Why You Should Visit the Adirondack Mountains

• Most peaks are only accessible by foot, offering extremely rewarding climbs 
• The Adirondacks are NOT a National Park, meaning it’s less crowded than other destinations 
• The sheer size of the range keeps crowds scattered. You’ll have portions of even the busiest trails to yourself 
• The latitude of Lake Placid makes it a comfortable Summer destination 
• Heart-shape of the range offers 360-degree mountain views from most summits
• You’ll meet friendly people, especially if you stay at TMax-n-Topo’s Hostel

Enough of an intro, let’s get into the hikes. When I visited Lake Placid in June 2022, I was lucky enough to climb 5 of the 46 peaks in just two days. Needless to say this was not by choice or any sort of robotic level of physical fitness, but sweet and dear Mother Nature. Her threat of storms highly encouraged efficient hiking days that week. 

For The Drunk Explorer, Day 1 involved a lovely descent up the Cascade Mountain Trail, which included the peaks of Cascade and Porter Mountains (2/46). Starting the sharp descent on a crisp morning proved helpful as I got to enjoy a cool breeze, pristine views and a crowler of beer from Boots Brewing in Watertown, New York at the summit. As expected with any hike that’s worthwhile, parking was limited here. I’d recommend getting an early start to assure you’re not hiking just to start the hike. 

Day 2 was one I’ll never forget. The Wright Peak, Alqonquin Peak, Iroquois Peak and Avalanche Lake Loop is a 14.2 mile loop that brings, 4,229 feet in elevation gain, 360-degree views from 3 of the Adirondack 46 high peaks, a wooden pier-style path above the immaculate Avalanche Lake and unexpected sunsets over an hour from the parking lot (5/46). In my naivety, I stopped at Soulshine Bagel in Lake Placid for breakfast before the trek. While it was a delicious bagel that gave me fuel for the day, it was the first hike where being on the trail by 8:30am proved to be “too late” for making it back to the car before dark. If you like to stop and enjoy the views (aka rest frequently) like me, I’d suggest starting this one no later than 7am. I’ll let the pictures explain why this grueling venture was worth every step and the soreness that followed. 

The loop does require paid parking at the Heart Lake Program Center, costing around $10. Please don’t let this deter you from completing one of the more fulfilling hikes I’ve ever completed. Seeing 3 of the 46 high peaks and the stunning Avalanche Lake were some of the best views I’ve ever had hiking, all with an excellent variety of scenery along the way. You’ll start on a heavily-wooded and flat path great for warming up, then emerge from the trees to an essentially private lake untouched by human development. After lunch, the climb begins. What’s basically a two hour staircase climb ends with mind-blowing views of the surrounding mountains from Iroquois Peak. Great spot for a brew from Strangebird Beer. Great spot to rest and enjoy. Just an overall great spot. The view from Iroquois will leave you wanting more, which is ideal because that’s exactly what was on deck for me. Finishing the day with Algonquin Peak, the range’s second-highest at 5,114 feet, and Wright Peak served as a challenging yet extremely rewarding encore for a journey that I’ll always remember. 

Day 3 brought accurately-predicted rainfall and what proved to be a much-needed rest day at TMax-n-Topo’s Hostel. Don’t even bother looking for other accommodation if there are openings at this hostel. TMax-n-Topo’s has a reputation in Lake Placid and The Adirondacks for being the best hostel for hikers in the area and you won’t hear any arguments from me after my week there. The owner built TMax from the ground and has resided in the area for over two decades. It’s just minutes from Downtown Lake Placid and many of the nearby 46 high peaks. The owner is so involved in the local community, he was prominently featured in the The 46ers documentary film in 2015. If it’s your first visit to the Adirondacks, you’ll leave TMax-n-Topo’s feeling like a local. 

My favorite amenity here was a backyard fire pit for guests to enjoy during chilly evenings. On clear days during my visit, lows were in the high 30s, even in late June. Nothing like having good conversation with other hikers and travelers by the warmth from the fire (and a glass of whiskey) after a long hike. While guests here do enjoy access to a full kitchen, Cascade Inn across the street is well worth checking out for a break from cooking. There is also a driving range adjacent to TMax-n-Topo’s if you need a slow day for your legs to recover. 

By the next day, the forecast cleared but my leg soreness did not. Listening to my body and my paper mache knee ligaments, I decided to drive Whiteface Mountain. This summit is, to my knowledge, the only of the 46 accessible by car (still 5/46). While views of Lake Placid were magnificent, the summit being reachable by vehicles and ski lifts does not provide the same level of accomplishment and solitude earned on other peaks. One key detail to note is that it’s $20 per person to drive Whiteface, NOT $20 per car. I did enjoy driving the road itself and coming down in low gear but this was a rather unpleasant surprise. If you’re visiting during the winter, the mountain is also home to the aptly-named Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort. 

Another rainy day created excitement of its own. I ventured to three nearby breweries: Raquette River Brewing in Tupper Lake, Blue Line Brewery in Saranac Lake and Big Slide Brewery in Lake Placid. Blue Line and Big Slide, were, in my opinion, more on the touristy side and not really trying to accumulate much repeat business. That leaves the hidden gem that is Raquette River Brewing. Even on a rainy weekday, they still had multiple food trucks setting up shop in the parking lot for the afternoon and a menu that boasted easily over a dozen beers on tap. Hope you’ve got time to hang out there because ride sharing apps aren’t too big in the region. 

The most memorable part of my experience was their one-of-a-kind growler wall. That’s not a misprint or typo. An entire wall of their taproom is lined in growlers from other breweries. They even catalog which glasses are present to avoid duplicates. If you have one from your local brewery not currently on the wall, they are happy to trade it for one of their growlers and add your favorite hometown brewery to their wall. Looking through their detailed list, I was confident there wouldn’t be one from Four Day Ray Brewing in Fishers, Indiana all the way in Tupper Lake. If you ever see my former growler, you’ll know who left it there! 

Obviously, no visit to the Adirondacks is complete without spending a day in Lake Placid. Even from street level, you’re surrounded by towering mountains and get to enjoy the privilege of watching the Adirondacks glisten in clear lake water. The area’s most acclaimed indoor attraction is Herb Brooks Arena, home of the Miracle on Ice during the 1980 Winter Olympic Games. Often heralded as the greatest upset in Olympic history, and arguably in all of sports, living history through seeing the rink and holding the torch from 1980 was a thrilling end to my time in the Adirondack Mountains.

After my visit to this beautiful part of New York, I decidedly fell in love with it. Before making the drive to Lake Placid, I hadn’t heard the story of The 46 Adirondack High Peaks. The sheer difficulty of traveling here makes scaling even 1 of 46 peaks that much more satisfying, and I was fortunate enough to have conditions suitable for reaching 5 in just one week. Safe to say climbing the remaining 41 peaks firmly etched its way onto my bucket list. 

Having a mountain range that’s largely untouched by society does present logistical challenges in getting to the area. You’re unquestionably renting a car if flying to Lake Placid, with the closest commercial airport being nearly a two hour drive away in Burlington, Vermont. For a cheaper flight, Montreal (2 hours), Buffalo (5 hours) and New York City (5 hours) would also be viable airports for reaching the Adirondacks. Gratefully, I was able to make the entire journey by car and able to avoid the cost of renting one. However you get to Lake Placid, it’s well worth the effort of making the voyage. This adventure was one for the memory books and I’m looking forward to sharing future escapades through my blog and Instagram. More importantly, I’d love to know if my content was an inspiration to add the Adirondacks to your upcoming bucket list items or itineraries. I can now confidently proclaim that “I ❤️ NY” and am positive a visit here will create a lover out of you too. 

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