Winter Activities in the Adirondack Mountains

Winter in the Adirondacks is utterly magical, and you won’t find a better perch for experiencing the seasonal splendor firsthand than Saranac Waterfront Lodge!

Set along Pontiac Bay of postcard-perfect Lake Flower—part of the marvelous Saranac Chain of Lakes—our property provides waterside accommodations, numerous on-site amenities, and utterly warm-hearted hospitality, serving as an ideal springboard for wintertime adventuring and sightseeing amid one of the Northeast’s grandest mountainscapes.

Here’s just a sampling of the wintertime fun (weather permitting) you can get up to as a guest of ours here at Saranac Waterfront Lodge.

Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding

You’re truly spoiled for choices in the downhill skiing and snowboarding departments when you call Saranac Waterfront Lodge your wintertime “base camp” in the Adirondacks. Near at hand, for instance, you’ll find one of the East’s premier ski resorts: Whiteface Mountain, set on the eastern flanks of the eponymous Adirondack High Peak. Boasting superlative vertical (3,430 feet total) and more than 90 trails—including the ultra-challenging Double Black Diamond runs of the Slides—Whiteface Mountain is a paradise for skiers and riders, and Saranac Waterfront Lodge guests get a discount on the slopes!

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from our lodge, meanwhile, the Village of Saranac Lake runs its very own ski hill in the form of Mount Pisgah Recreation Center. Host to 15 skiable acres and six trails covering a nice range of difficulty, Mount Pisgah’s also notable for its topnotch night skiing and riding.

Tubing

Both Whiteface Mountain and Mount Pisgah offer snow tubing in addition to their downhill trails. The two-lane track at Mount Pisgah, serviced by a handy-dandy rope-tow, is super delightful, and—as with the ski trails—comes illuminated for nighttime use.

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing

Downhill trails serve up plenty of thrills, sure, but there’s much to be said for the deep solitude and cardiovascular workout cross-country skiing and snowshoeing provide. Here again, you’ve got a huge variety of options at your fingertips, from easily accessible groomed trails right on the doorstep of Saranac Lake to the expansive winter backcountry.

A great place to start is the nearby Dewey Mountain Recreation Center, which maintains a fine network of Nordic-skiing and snowshoeing trails.

Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife tracks while huffing along the cross-country and snowshoeing trails: Everything from red foxes, bobcats, and fishers to white-tailed deer and moose leave their prints in local woods!

Ice Fishing

World-class angling isn’t restricted to the “soft-water” season here in the Adirondacks. Ice fishing is a popular pursuit in these parts, and there are numerous top-draw lakes ready to hand: from Lake Clear and Jones Pond to Lake Colby, host to the annual Colby Classic Ice Fishing Derby.

Quarry coveted among ice anglers here includes northern pike, trout, yellow perch, and pumpkinseed.

Snowmobiling

Soak up the snowbound scenery of Saranac Waterfront Lodge’s big backyard—from birch- and conifer-nestled lakes to grand sightlines toward looming Adirondack domes—along the region’s extensive snowmobiling trails. Explore the well-maintained circuit that links Lake Placid, Tupper Lake, and Malone while calling our lakeside lodge home.

Festivalgoing

Locals and visitors alike revel in the bountiful snowpack and frosty sublimity that define the Adirondack Mountains and the Saranac Chain of Lakes in wintertime. A bucket-list experience is attending the 10-day Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, a celebration of the season that includes everything from snowshoe races, curling, and fireworks shows to the construction of the Ice Palace out of Lake Flower-harvested ice blocks.

This year’s Winter Carnival is just past, but it’s never too early to start planning a trip for next year’s edition…

Embrace the Wonders of the Adirondack Winter at Saranac Lake Lodge

More than a few guests of ours swear winter is their favorite season here in the Adirondacks. Come see for yourself on a cozy and pampered escape to Saranac Lake Lodge (weather permitting)!