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Cool50's avatar
Cool50
Explorer
Jun 06, 2013

Advice wanted - Lake Placid/Saranac Lake area

Hello Everyone: DH and I are planning a 2 - 3 week fall getaway to the Lake Placid/Saranac Lake area. We have never been there so need advice on where to stay and any must dos. We typically park in an area for a few days, check out the local sites then move on to another area. But if the campground is nice we could stay for a week or more and make day trips in the toad. We are into light bicycling and short easy walks. We have a 40ft class A and prefer to plug into shore power, but if you know of the perfect place to spend a night or two we would boondock. Also, we are coming down from the Ottawa Ontario area, so any route advice would also be greatly appreciated.

2 Replies

  • Norskeman's avatar
    Norskeman
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2013
    X2 in 100 Acre Woods side - North Pole Resorts in Wilmington. Nice big sites and trees between each site. Much better than the KOA. We did the same as you are planning - took day trips from there.

    http://www.northpoleresorts.com/100-acre-woods/

    Nice trip to take - Route 30 south out of Tupper lake to Blue Mountain Lake - is a nice drive - visit the Adirondack Museum - http://www.adkmuseum.org/

    Coming from Ontario and if you are close to the St Lawrence river area (crossing at Ogdensburg, NY) - try Higley Flow State Park some time. It is near South Colton, NY. Great for canoe or kayaking. Nice roads in the park for bicycles. Three of the loops have 30 amp service.
    It is 65 miles north east from Lake Placid and 36 miles east of the Ogdensburg, NY - Prescott, Ontario bridge. I can give you advice on sites that would fit your class A.

    You might want to try Wellesley Island State Park some time too - great for bicycling and walking - very large park.
  • mbopp's avatar
    mbopp
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2013
    In that area we stay at North Pole Resorts in Wilmington, 8 miles or so from Placid. The 100 Acre Woods side is newer and has pull-through sites and 50-amp service. There's also a KOA but we've never stayed there.

    There are a few DEC (State) no-hookup cg's in the area but getting a 40' MH into some of them may be tight. I don't think Wilmington Notch would work for you even though it's closer to Placid. Fish Creek Ponds may be your best bet.

    Even though Rt 86 is marked for cycling it's a narrow, winding road.

    For things to do there's the Whiteface ski lift and High Falls Gorge. And the Olympic Center and bobsled run. Also John Brown's Farm and a maple sugaring tour. And the shops in Lake Placid.

    The Flume Trail system in Wilmington has some easy hiking. Cobble Hill in Placid and Mount Baker in Saranac Lake offer some more strenuous climbs but nothing like the High Peaks. The VIC at Paul Smiths offers some easy trails through the woods and a bridge over the pond.

    Leaf peeper season peaks on Columbus Day weekend or the week before that. It's best to have reservations if you go then. And it can get below freezing at night.

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