Top 10 Things To Do In Saranac Lake, New York

things to do in saranac lake new york
Ernestina
Ernestina 
Published
| 4 min read

Saranac Lake’s beautiful nature makes it a thriving natural destination that anyone would love to visit at least once. Located in a small village 297 miles (477.9 km) from New York, it is the perfect place to escape from busy cities and free yourself from your daily routine. No matter if you choose to visit when leaves turn brown, or when the sun shines bright, or once the snow has melted, Saranac Lake offers plenty of spectacular scenery. If being under the sunshine, surrounded by amazing nature, fresh air or preserved architecture excites you, then you should check out our in-depth list below, of things to do in Saranac Lake, New York.

1. Experience fun and adventure at The Wild Center

Posted by The Wild Center on Tuesday, 19 November 2019

The Wild Center is considered a top attraction. Reasons? So many. In a space of 81 acres (32 ha), you can go wild by swimming with animals, exploring small tree houses and even hanging in a spider’s web and enjoy the amazing view of forests and lake under your feet. Also, you can choose a Wild Walk, a guided canoe trip and many other experiences. But keep in mind that pets are not allowed during open hours.

The Wild Center

Address: 45 Museum Dr, Tupper Lake, NY 12986, United States

Website: The Wild Center

Opening hours: Fri - Mon: 10am - 5pm (closed on Tue & Wed)

Visited this place?

2. Explore Baker Mountain Trail Head


This is a great option that provides amazing views of Saranac Lake and its surrounding mountains. You can climb to a height of 2,452 feet (744 meters) and all the directions are guided. You can go hiking in any season you like, but keep in mind that you will need special snowshoes and clothes in winter.

Baker Mountain Trail Head

Address: 189 Forest Hill Ave, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, United States

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Visited this place?

3. Admire the exhibits at Charles Dickert Memorial Wildlife Museum

Posted by Charles Dickert Wildlife Collection on Friday, 1 May 2009

Another option in Saranac Lake is visiting Charles Dickert Memorial Wildlife Museum, created by master taxidermist Charles Dickert. There you can find a big collection of over 100 species including blue herons, bobcats, white-tail deer, racoons and many other species. Also, the library has great collections for every curious mind. Both admissions to the museum and library are free for everyone.

Charles Dickert Memorial Wildlife Museum

Address: 109 Main Street, Saranac Lake Free Library, Saranac Lake, NY 1298

Website: Charles Dickert Memorial Wildlife Museum

Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat: 10am - 5:30pm; Tue & Thu: 10am - 7pm (closed on Sun)

Price: Free

Visited this place?

4. Enjoy a lantern-lit sleigh ride at Lake Clear Lodge


You can enjoy a lantern-lit sleigh ride through Adirondack woods. For this experience, you will need to be in a group of people and it takes 30 minutes to ride through the lantern-lit forest. After the ride, you can even explore the original Adirondack Lodge. While there, you can even add extra fun activities such as History of Prohibition Beer Tasting & Workshop and Roll in the Speakeasy Dough. Keep in mind that you need to reserve the ride in advance.

Lantern Lit Sleigh Rides

Address: 6319 Route 30, Lake Clear, 12945

Website: Lantern Lit Sleigh Rides

Price: Adults: USD 39; children (5 - 10): USD 15; children (4 and under): USD 5

Visited this place?

5. Visit the Ice Palace

Due to the weather deteriorating the Ice Palace, it’s closed and we’ve removed the lights in preparation for it to be taken down on February 13. www.saranaclakewintercarnival.com Photo: Mark Kurtz

Posted by Saranac Lake Winter Carnival on Friday, 8 February 2019

If visiting Saranac Lake in winter, you will be astonished by the Ice palace. Built with many huge ice blocks, it is very interesting to check it out and explore its inner space. Visiting Ice Palace is possible only in winter, and the best time to visit it is during the Winter Carnival. No tickets are needed to visit this palace and entering it is totally free.

Ice Palace

Address: 106-112 River St, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, United States

Website: Ice Palace

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily in winter)

Price: Free

Visited this place?

6. Take a boat ride with St. Regis Canoe Outfitters

Owners, Dave & Rivka were delighted to drive the 6.7 mile dirt road into the new parking lot. From there we portaged...

Posted by St. Regis Canoe Outfitters on Monday, 23 September 2019

This is a canoe and kayak rental service you should really try. Here, you have the option to choose from different packages and boats. The most popular ones are day trip packages, which last from two hours to a full day and you have the option to choose your boat. Then, they also offer guided trips daily, including history trips, youth trips or family trips. They even offer food packing service, which means you get real food packed in a waterproof pack. To make your experience there easier, you can rent tents for a night under the stars, sleeping bags, pads, water filters and many more.

St. Regis canoe outfitters

Address: 73 Dorsey St, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, United States

Website: St. Regis canoe outfitters

Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 10am - 5pm; Thu - Sat: 10am - 5pm (closed on Wed & Sun)

Visited this place?

7. Shop for souvenirs at Red Canoe Antiques

Pair of Victorian side chairs, marble top table, fantastic Syrocco floral mirror and a Noritake biscuit jar.

Posted by Red Canoe Antiques on Thursday, 28 September 2017

In this antique store, visitors will find great souvenirs. Here, you can look at different, well-presented collections and even Adirondack finds. This is a perfect opportunity for every history and souvenir lover. The prices are very reasonable and it is totally worth a stop. Keep in mind that in winter, this store might close a little earlier.

Red Canoe Antiques

Address: 1495 NY-3, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, United States

Website: Red Canoe Antiques

Opening hours: Thu - Mon: 10am - 5pm (closed on Tue & Wed)

Visited this place?

8. Watch a play at Pendragon Theatre

2 More performances of Mr. Toad's Christmas Carol, Friday & Saturday at 7 PM. Cheers to that!! (photo by Burdette Parks)

Posted by Pendragon Theatre on Thursday, 26 December 2019

Pendragon Theatre is a very exciting site for visitors. Here, you can spend a couple of fun hours, watching plays and enjoying the atmosphere. In this theatre, you can choose to watch new issue-based plays, small-cast musicals, family-friendly shows, and a return of classics with a twist. The Pendragon Theatre has a lot to offer for everyone, and this is why it is always very popular. Tickets are available on the website.

Pendragon theatre

Address: 15 Brandy Brook, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, United States

Website: Pendragon theatre

Price: Adults: 15 USD; Children (under 18): 10 USD

Visited this place?

9. Lakeview Deli

Posted by Lakeview Catering on Monday, 22 January 2018

When it comes to food, it is always a good idea to choose the best places. Lakeview Deli restaurant is one of them. This restaurant is a Certificate of Excellence 2016-2019 winner and you should not miss trying it. Its cuisine is very rich. It includes American cuisine, soups, as well as special diets such as vegetarian-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free. Also, the restaurant offers a takeout service. For more details about the menu, you can check out their website.

Lakeview Deli

Address: 137 River St, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, United States

Website: Lakeview Deli

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7am - 7:30pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 7:30pm

Visited this place?

10. Visit adirondack artists guild gallery

52 Main St., Saranac Lake, NY 12983

Posted by Adirondack Artists Guild on Monday, 2 January 2017

Gift yourself an amazing experience at Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery. In this gallery, more than 30 regional artists participate as members. They showcase new exhibits regularly every month, and not only this, but they also offer opening night receptions on the first Friday of the month. During your visit, you can meet artists as they work on their art. There is always so much to learn. Furthermore, the gallery is a host site for many events such as the 3rd Thursday ArtWalks (which features local music), the Studio Tours, and the Adirondack Plein Art Festival. This gallery is always a great option to spend some quality time. Remember that if visiting in summer, the gallery is open for extended hours on Thursday evenings.

Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery

Address: 52 Main St, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, United States

Website: Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery

Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 11am - 3pm (closed on Mon)

Visited this place?

Escape to Saranac Lake

Saranac Lake - Lake Flower
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mwanner used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Visiting Saranac Lake is a relaxing experience that will fill you up with positive energy while enjoying nature and its wildlife. This is a destination you will remember for a long time and once there, you will want to visit it again, any time you need a break from city life.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Ernestina is a travel freelancer who believes that life is not meant to be in just one place. She comes from a Mediterranean country, so she loves being outdoors with friends, exploring new...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Saranac Lake
Looking for accommodation?
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.