Outdoor adventures within reach

If you’ve waited all year saving your way to cross a few choice destinations off your travel list this year, we’re right there with you. We’ve been dreaming up log cabin stays, hearty breakfasts in the morning before a day out on the trails, cozy campfires to sing songs around at night . . . ok, maybe a little too dreamy. But luckily, the Adirondack Hub can make those dreams a reality! A certified outdoor-enthusiast’s paradise, the Hub is littered with adventures to be had. Carved by towering Adirondack High Peaks, the region boasts opportunities for thrills at every corner. The cherry on top? It’s flexible enough to fit your budget! If you're a traveler with a passion for adventure but also an eye for a good deal, you've come to the right place. 

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Stay 

Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks Campground

Tucked deep in the backcountry, it's no wonder that state and private campgrounds can be found in every nook and cranny of the Adirondack Hub. Nostalgic stays can be found by lakes and rivers, and at the base of High Peaks, ensuring you’ll find the perfect place to set up camp and make your home for the weekend, or week! Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks Campground brings all avenues of campers to one place. Glampers can set up shop in their yurts— yes, you heard that right — the campground houses a number of canvas yurts around the property, perfect for couples, or families looking to rent out two at a time! The camping resort has a complete package of amenities at your fingertips. An outdoor swimming pool, spa, sandy beach, boat rentals, fishing, eighteen hole mini-golf, gift/souvenir shop, snack shop, mini mart and game room are among the opportunities available when you’re not out adventuring on the trails.

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Loon Cabins at Schroon Lake

Looking for your own cabin to cozy up in as you plan out your adventures? The Adirondack Hub is home to a quaint collection of cabins scattered across the region. Choose from cabins that lead right to the trails, on the lake, or just a short walk from charming downtowns. For a stay with classic Adirondack charm and within your budget, Loon Cabins at Schroon Lake is ready to book. A collection of three small cabins, this is the perfect opportunity to snag your other outdoorsy buddies and reserve all three for a stay filled with sweet cabin memories. Originally built in 1945 as part of the Rawlins Cabins and Cottages, the Loon Cabins have since been updated with modern amenities, however, designed to maintain their vintage vibes. The cabins are perfect for diving into your fantasy of roughing it Adirondack style, without roughing it at all. 

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Blue Ridge Motel

The Blue Ridge Motel is situated in one of the most convenient spots in the Adirondacks. Situated in between the delightful downtown of Schroon Lake, and the extensive trail systems of North Hudson, hop between Main Street shopping and backcountry exploring. For over sixty eight years, the Blue Ridge Motel has served as a popular overnight destination for vacationing guests. Purchased in December 2019 by Blue Ridge Hospitality, LLC, a woman-owned business, the motel has been hard at work on extensive reservations, offering their guests many modern comforts. In addition to room renovations, the lobby was also refurbished allowing the motel to offer complimentary continental breakfast and a small gift shop!  

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Breakfast? Coming right up!

Newcomb Cafe and Campground

Located just steps away from your favorite trails, the adorable (and equally delicious) Newcomb Cafe will satisfy your cravings for fluffy pancakes, french toast, and breakfast platters. If you’re not in the mood for breakfast after a morning of hiking, their lunch menu is just as appetizing, and brings the comforts of home cooked meals right to your table. The cafe is within walking distance of the Newcomb Town Beach and boat launch on Lake Harris, and within a five minute drive of the Hudson River, Essex Chain Lakes, and Camp Santanoni – the perfect place to start your day!

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Pitkin’s Restaurant 

Established in 1907, Pitkin’s Restaurant has been serving for over a hundred years as a true dining landmark nestled in the picturesque hamlet of Schroon Lake. Needless to say, the restaurant has casual dining and quality menu choices down pat after all this time, set within a restored and authentic Adirondack restaurant. And, after a hundred years, their prices can be relied on to serve up affordable meals for your adventurous party of two to ten. Their self-proclaimed “modern rustic” style, new patio and event spaces, and broad menu choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner will have you craving for more and booking your next meal to make Pitkin’s a part of your Adirondack traditions. 

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What to do

Guided rafting trip down the Hudson with CloudSplitter Outfitters

We did say the Adirondack Hub was full of adventures didn’t we? CloudSplitter Outfitters is the closest outfitter to the start of the Hudson River, where you can consult with guides before the start of your next trip downriver, or enlist their services to aid you in exploring one of the main waterways of New York. The company offers rentals from standup paddle boards to kayaks and canoes. For your journey on the Hudson, you can even rent rafts to float downriver, with the guidance from your guide of course. The Hudson can go from calm waters to roaring rapids quickly, and guides know the best places to put in and take out, leaving all the stress at the river bank. Go in on a group experience, or enjoy a tour of the region with just you and a guide.

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A day at the beach 

There are few joys to be had better than rounding out a stay in the Hub with a day on one of the many lakes around. The local town beach is the perfect location for a calm outing. Each of the four towns in the Adirondack Hub — Newcomb, North Hudson, Minerva, and Schroon Lake — have great beaches, where you can enjoy some time in the sun and water! All of the beaches offer the chance to cool off and relax in an authentic Adirondack lake, surrounded by great views of forests and mountains. When you visit, you'll enjoy the magic of a day at a beautiful Adirondack beach, with sand, sun, and great fresh water.

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Save on outdoor memories

No matter where you go in the Adirondack Hub, you’ll be able to find the perfect stay, adventures, and relaxation without having to break the bank. For an escape filled with thrills and outdoor fun set deep in the natural beauty of the Adirondacks, book your next stay in the Adirondack Hub.

From short jaunts to long-distance ski tours 

Cross-country skiing in the Adirondack Hub may not involve groomed trails, but what it lacks in tracks, it makes up for in its range of backcountry options. From truly beginner options to engaging expert-only terrain, there’s an adventure to be had for anyone. Whether you're clicking into those fresh NNN or three-pin bindings for the very first time, or are on day 75 of your skiing season, you’ll find a trip below that is perfect for you.

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Camp Santanoni - Beginner

While the Adirondack Hub doesn’t have groomed trails, the road that leads back to Camp Santanoni in Newcomb is almost always packed down, making for an xc ski of any length you desire! The terrain is gentle, the width of the trail is big enough for two cars to pass each other, and there are usually other people gliding to the historic Great Camp. 

Camp Santanoni hosts the popular Winter Weekends, where many of the historic buildings are opened up for viewing, hot chocolate is served, and rentals are available. Keep in mind that if you ski from the parking area to the Camp and back, the round-trip distance is 10 miles with a bit over 700 feet of elevation gain. If this seems like a bit much for you, then just ski as far down the road as you are comfortable with. There are fun stretches of gentle downhill on the way back that you’ll enjoy, and the scenic farmhouse buildings towards the beginning can be a good beginner destination. 

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Rankin Pond - Beginner 

If you’re looking for something shorter than Camp Santanoni, yet you’re still new to skiing in the backcountry, consider Rankin Pond! Even if this 0.6-mile round-trip xc ski is considered “easy”, you should still have some experience on groomed trails before getting out in the backcountry.

The trail starts descending nearly right away, before leveling off, then making a final short descent to the shores of Rankin Pond. If the ice is safe, you could carefully make your way onto the pond and explore the different views of Crusher Hill to your east and Rankin Mountain to your north.

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Crane Pond - Beginner 

Skiing to Crane Pond is a combination of the two above xc ski trips. It has that backcountry feel of Rankin Pond while having a wide road to ski on like Camp Santanoni. It’s a 4-mile, 350-foot elevation gain round-trip adventure that provides the perfect introduction to the extensive trail system of the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area. Right after a scenic, icy waterfall, you continue left at a junction at around 0.8 miles in. At 1.5 miles you have two options, continue on the road where in the summer season it is typically flooded, or take a left around it through the trees on a marked section of trail. Before reaching the shore of Crane Pond, some vistas are looking towards the lofty Pharaoh Mountain across Alder Pond.

When you reach the shoreline at 2 miles, consider a short jaunt onto the frozen pond if conditions are ideal.

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Stony Pond - Intermediate

A rather big step up from the aforementioned adventures, the Stony Pond trail traverses hilly terrain for 2 miles (one-way) to the shore of the trail’s namesake. Along this designated snowmobile trail (which rarely sees a snowmobile), you’ll pass by a side trail for Twentyninth Pond (a nice side trip), a behemoth of a beaver dam, a lean-to, and a scenic pond nestled among some craggy, Adirondack hills. 

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Hoffman Notch - Advanced

There’s no way around it, the trip through Hoffman Notch requires fantastic snowfall, cold conditions for safe water-crossings, and loads of cross-country skiing experience. To avoid a 14-mile round-trip distance, it takes some planning. This route is best thru-skied, parking a car at the northern trailhead on Blue Ridge Road, and starting at the southern trailhead on Loch Muller Road. At times, the road isn’t plowed to the trailhead, so you may have to park a bit up the road and ski down to it.

From the start, the trail parallels and crosses the North Branch of Trout Brook numerous times, a difficult navigational task for inexperienced skiers. Following tons of yellow trail markers, a stunningly large marsh opens up views of Hoffman Mountain. Shortly after the marsh, aptly named Big Marsh, you start descending through the Notch (between Washburn Ridge and Hornet Cobbles). This section is all downhill, following and crossing Hoffman Notch Brook several times. The trees here are more open than the previous few miles, providing views of the rocky cliffs and spruce-covered mountains surrounding you. After 7 miles, you reach the car you parked at the northern terminus! 

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Do any of these skis seem fitting for you? If so, plan a day out of it! The Adirondack Hub is a great base camp for adventures, with cozy places to stay, tons of dining options, and many more options for cross-country skiing than just the ones above.