Schroon Lake to Lake Placid: Ten Ideas for Winter Activities

I am often sent emails from people looking for activities to do with children or family members of all ages. I am honored to be able to suggest ideas. (My email is below but do to very unpleasant spammers I can't make it a live link.) Below are a few ideas from Schroon Lake to Lake Placid, along the "Adirondack Lake Champlain Coast.

Inside activities:
These suggestions all have some sort of cost: pan for gems at High Falls Gorge 518-946-2278, Wilmington (also beautiful trails, waterfall), paint your own pottery at Brush On In, Lake Placid  518.523.6554, go to the Essex County Fish Hatchery in Crown Point (for a few quarters the kids can feed the fish) 518) 597-3844

Ice skating gets tricky this time of year. We have had so many melts and freezes. Schroon Lake and Ticonderoga flood the tennis/basketball courts or by the beach for an outdoor ice rink but that is not currently available but the playground at the Schroon Lake public beach is fun.

Hikes/Walks –
Mt Defiance (paved road but unmaintained in winter) in Ticonderoga is near by and an easy climb for kids (Again, without knowing the snow situation you may have to have snowshoes). There is a lookout point with two cannons if the children get tired. There are cannons on top and a flag pole. You can see Fort Ticonderoga from the summit.

In the center of Ticonderoga is the LaChute Trail, playground, waterfall and a covered bridge.  Or Crown Point Historic Site – no playground but tons of paved roads,

Adirondack Visitor Center (Newcomb) has trails, touch table and they have snowshoes you can use, kids’ sizes too - http://www.esf.edu/aic/wintermap.pdf. Call first as the snow has been tricky 518-582-2000 access to trails etc.. trails are open from dawn to dusk every day, building is open from Tues-Sat 10-4. Free

If you go to Lake Placid walk around Mirror Lake (or part of it). The whole walk is 2.7 miles and is paved the whole way round. If you are on Main Street and just want a short walk, head toward the south end of Mirror Lake, the path leads to Mirror Lake public beach where there is a playground.  Free

Natural Stone Bridge and Caves has snowshoeing Open Friday – Sunday 10-4. If you go to their website, print out the coupon and save a $1 off adult admission.  Last ticket is sold at 3:00 p.m. www.stonebridgeandcaves.com518-494-2283. Not sure if it’s open yet because of lack of snow. There is a playground on site and picnic tables. Indoor rock shop has geodes for sale. I always buy a few extra and let the kids crack them open at home.

To the south is Moreau Lake State Park near Saratoga Springs (Gansevoort). There is no parking fee during the winter (and currently no snow) so park in the upper lot and just walk around. Playground and nature museums are closed for winter.

© Diane Chase,  (adkfamilytime (at) g mail (dot) com)  author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes and High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities) for the towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Jay/Upper Jay, Wilmington, Keene/Keene Valley which is available online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the second guidebook in the four-book series of Adirondack Family Activities.

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