The Adirondack Mountains are a stunning mountain range in Upstate New York. They are geologically distinct from the Catskills and from the much larger Appalachian Mountains. They offer a completely different experience from hiking in the Catskills and have their own very unique history (both geological history and modern history).
The Catskills are another superb weekend trip out from NYC. One very different attraction the Catskills have is their many abandoned hotels and tourist infrastructure - they were once the holiday destination of wealthy New Yorkers. But both are worth visiting and offer some of the most stunning natural landscapes in New York State.
What to Know About The Adirondack Mountains
Compared to the mountains out west, the mountains of the Adirondack region don't rise all that high. The highest peaks get up to around 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) or more. But that doesn't mean they aren't breathtaking.
- Mount Marcy: 5,344 ft (1,629 meters) - Highest Mountain Of The Adirondacks
The name Adirondack is thought to seem from a Mohawk word 'ha-de-ron-dah' meaning 'eaters of trees.'
The Adirondack Mountains are mostly confined to the Adirondack Park and cover an area of around 5,000 square miles (13,000 km2). The mountains are in a roughly circular-shaped dome and are around 160 miles across.
- Size: Around 5,000 square miles (13,000 km2)
- Diameter: Around 160 miles (260 km)
They are known for their beauty and boast around 200 lakes, some of the most famous lakes include:
- Lake George: Once Attracted The Elite of NY Including the Roosevelt, van Rensselaer, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, and Whitney families
- Lake Placid: A Picturesque Lake Famous For It Lake Trout
- Lake Tear of the Clouds: The Source of the Hudson River
History of The Adirondack Mountains
During the Ice Age, the mountains were glaciated, but as the world warmed and the ice receded, forests began to replace the tundra. Today one can still see many of the scars of past glaciations. As the ice melted they were inhabited by various native populations - like the Laurentian culture and the Owasco culture.
It is thought that the first Iroquoian peoples, Mohawks, and Oneida arrived in the ranges between 4,000 and 1,200 years ago and the Adirondack Mountains soon became their hunting grounds.
Europeans began to arrive in the early 1600s and the first European known to travel through the center of the Adirondacks was the Jesuit missionary Isaac Jogues (a captive of a Mohawk hunting party) in 1642.
Massive deforestation was eventually ended with the creation of the Adirondack Park in 1885. In 1989 part of the region become UNESCO listed as part of the Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere Reserve.
- Designated: A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Since 1989
The Geographical Uniqueness of The Adirondacks
The Adirondacks are different geographically from the mountains around them. The Appalachian Mountains are an ancient (450 million-year-old) chain formed from faulting and folding continental collisions. The Catskills and Poconos are dissected plateaus formed from delta deposits.
The Adirondacks on the other hand have been uplifted by a hot spot. They first began to be uplifted some 10 million years ago and it is a process that is still continuing. They continue to rise at a rate of around 2 millimeters a year (which is faster than the rate they are being eroded away - meaning they are still rising).
- Age: Around 10 Million Years
- Rising: They Are Still Rising By Around 2 Millimeters A Year
- Hotspot: The Adirondacks Have Been Pushed Up By A Hotspot Under The Crust
What To Do In The Adirondacks
Today they are the largest protected area in the contiguous United States and are favorites for hiking. Altogether the Adirondack Mountains boast more than 2,000 miles of hiking trails.
Besides hiking, one of the favorite pastimes in the Adirondacks is water sports. There are plenty of places to rent boats at Lake Placid, Eagle Bay, and Blue Mountain Lake. The Adirondacks are made for being explored by water and activities include adventurous whitewater rafting, lazy river tubing, kayaking, canoeing, and more. Some of the companies offering these aquatic adventures are:
- Lake Luzerne: Adirondack Adventure Center
- Olmstedville: Adirondack Moutain And Stream Guide Service
- Warrensburg: Wild Waters Outdoor Center - Whitewater Rafting
- North Creek: Beaver Brook Outfitters: Rafting, Kayaking & More
- Saranac Lake: St. Regis Canoe Outfitters
If one wants to see the stunning beauty of the region from the air but doesn't want to hike to the summits to do it, then ballooning is an option. There is at least one hot air ballooning company (SunKiss Ballooning) in the region to go on this chill adventure with. Ballooning is a great option for those who don't mind getting up bright and early.
- Price Shared Flight: Starting From $295.00 Per Person
- Price Private Flights: Starting From $495.00 Per Person
- Duration Of Flights: 40-60 Minutes