Exploring the Adirondack Mountains
One of the first places to receive Forever Wild status in the United States, these mountains have been cherished as an outdoor playground, accessible and open to all, for centuries. From the shores of Lake Champlain to the tallest ridge of the Tug Hill Plateau, the Adirondack Mountains offer an astonishing natural paradise filled with possibility for adventure in every season.
Skiing in the Adirondacks
If you're a skier or snowboarder, you've come to the right place. The Adirondack Mountains present some of the best skiing on the East Coast. Thanks to mountain topographies, lake effects, and jet stream dynamics, the region is known for weather patterns ideal for snow production – which means great conditions for skiing and riding at ski resorts in the Adirondack Park. Snow typically begins falling in October or November and can continue through April or May. Snow production is steadiest between December and March, with 15 to 30 inches of snow falling per month throughout the region. Even during wintertime, the mountain air is crisp and clear.
Exploring the Forests and Mountains
The mountains also greatly affect the region's weather patterns, which have helped to develop unique ecology, habitats, and alpine zones, and provide an ecological paradise for explorers and researchers. The mountains themselves are heavily forested, with hardwoods, fir, and spruce, and include three types of wetlands – swamps, marshes, and bogs – that are perfect for supporting hearty wildlife, including great blue herons, painted turtles, grouse, and loons. Thanks to the great variance in climate between seasons, the mountains are also a great host to several species of migratory birds, who put on a great show each fall and spring as they leave or arrive for the season. Hundreds of visitors "flock" to the region to attend annual Adirondack birding festivals celebrating this spectacular occurrence.
Fishing Adirondack Waterways
If the thrill of fishing or fly-fishing is what you're after, you guessed it – the Adirondack Mountains also shape the area's watersheds that feed some of the region's rivers and best fishing waters. The Lake Champlain Watershed, located between the Adirondack Mountains and the Green Mountains of Vermont, feeds the Ausable River, Saranac River, Lake George, Upper Saranac Lake, Lower Saranac Lake, and Lake Placid. Water quality in the Lake Champlain Watershed is rated as generally good-to-excellent, which makes it ideal for boaters and fishers. Bass, trout, walleyes, salmon, and pike are just a few of the types of fish that call the Adirondack Watersheds home.