We have joy, we have fun, we have hiking in the sun!
Mountains to Hike, Bike, and Conquer
1.
Family hiking
Hiking challenges have become very popular in the Adirondacks. There is the famous 46 High Peaks challenge, the recently created Saranac Lake 6er and Lake Placid 9er challenges. Tupper Lake is home to the Triad - Coney, Goodman, and Mt. Arab. But what about the other peaks in the region? Tupper Lake is home to many spectacular climbs that haven't made any official list, and all of them are worth exploring! Whether you're looking for a full day adventure or a short hike you can squeeze in alongside other fun activities, check out these five family-friendly hikes near Tupper Lake.
2.
Fall in love with Placid
Lake Placid is a perfect place to take in the colors of fall. There are so many ways to enjoy the season, from outdoor adventure to romantic evenings by a roaring fire. Invent your perfect day with adventure your way and fall in love with Lake Placid in autumn.
3.
A gleeful grind
In mountain biking there are many ups and downs, literally. Ask anyone who bikes and they’ll tell you without hesitation that the downs are the best. Darting between trees, banking turns on berms, launching off jumps… it’s the closest thing to a high speed speeder bike chase on Endor a Star Wars fan can experience. The trick? Finding places with the elevation that allow for an extended downhill riding experience.
4.
Birding sweet spot
Hitchins Bog is a spreading strip of boreal habitat which sits in the southeast corner of St. Lawrence County, a short distance south of Tupper Lake and a stone’s throw north of the Hamilton County line. It is accessed along a railroad bed either by walking south from Horseshoe Lake or by walking north along the bed from the end of Sabattis Road in Hamilton County. Either way you approach it, the railroad bed takes you through a variety of habitats and offers you a long list of birds as a result.
5.
At home in the wilderness
It was a beautiful evening as I unloaded my boat for a paddle on Cheney Pond, one of my favorite little gems to explore in the Adirondacks. The mosquitoes were pestering me as I unloaded the boat, but once I pushed off onto the mirror surface of the lake, I left their annoying hum in favor of the deep, vibrating thrum of the bullfrogs which droned from various places around the shoreline.
6.
To the lighthouses
Lighthouses distinguished by their isolated locations, connection to the sea, and grand heights above the land inspire romance and a little mystery. Lake Champlain has a rich history of lighthouses because it’s a major body of water on the northern east coast of the United States, close to Canada. The lake was once a major throughway — before railroads — for exports like iron ore and lumber traveling all over New England and to the Mid-Atlantic states. Lighthouses may not be as useful today because of technology and different modes of travel, but they are not all lying dormant. Many still tower above the land and sea, beacons of the past, and are manned by the US Coast Guard. I had the opportunity to go on the “Lighthouses of Lake Champlain” open house sponsored by AARCH (Adirondack Architectural Heritage). I spent a Saturday exploring and learning more about the different lighthouses of the Lake Champlain region.
7.
Summer's best
Some of the best views in the High Peaks are views of the High Peaks. If you want proof of that, look no further than Jay Mountain, a peak that towers above Route 9N as it travels through the Ausable River Valley in the town of Jay.
8.
Hit the mud
I'm all for adventure, but sometimes it's a bit nerve-wracking trying something new. I think most people can agree with me on that. So when I was tasked with helping to start a Jeep Rally event at Titus Mountain, in conjunction with the Fourth Coast Jeep Club, nervous was an understatement. I had questions galore: What is a Jeep Rally? What can these vehicles do? What can we do on our mountain?
I started doing some research and another question came to mind: How crazy are these people? But the more I worked with the club members, the more I realized the name of the game was fun and good times, and that newbies and pros alike are welcomed as long as they have the same outlook. After running a very short trial course on the mountain with them to prepare for the event, I was already starting to catch the fever!