Stretched between the Adirondack foothills in upstate New York, Lake George has been a summer escape since the 19th century. The 32-mile lake offers sailing, kayaking, and boat tours, while the surrounding peaks lure hikers after panoramic views. In fall, the hillsides erupt in color and the crowds thin out — making it one of the best seasons to visit.
On the Water
The lake is 32 miles long and rarely more than 3 miles wide, a scale suited to human-powered craft as well as motorboats and sailboats. Kayak rentals are available at several points along the shore and provide the best access to the smaller coves and the 172 islands that dot the southern basin — a number that sounds improbable until you see them from above. The Lake George Village steamboat tours offer a panoramic introduction to the geography, and for serious paddlers, an island camping permit from the state park allows multi-day exploration across the full length of the lake.
The Surrounding Peaks
The Adirondack peaks visible from the lakeshore are accessible by trail, with the climb to Black Mountain — at 2,646 feet, the highest summit directly above the lake — rewarding the four-mile round trip with views that take in the full length of Lake George, Vermont’s Green Mountains to the east, and on a clear day, the White Mountains of New Hampshire beyond. The trailhead sits on the east shore, accessible by the ferry from the village. Prospect Mountain, reachable by the Veterans Memorial Highway, offers a shorter option with a comparable view and considerably less effort.
Fall and Off-Season
The villages along the western shore are at their best in late September and October, after the summer season has passed and the hillsides are turning. The crowds that fill Bolton Landing and Lake George Village in July are largely gone, the boat rentals still operate through Columbus Day, and the foliage reflected in the lake’s calm October water is one of the quieter pleasures of the Adirondacks. A number of the lakeside lodges drop their rates significantly after Labor Day and stay open through the foliage season — it is a better version of the same lake.
