Lake George New York: 1st Time Visitor Guide
Located in the southern Adirondacks, Lake George is a gem of upstate New York that’s been drawing nature lovers, families, and adventure seekers for generations. Known as the “Queen of American Lakes,” this destination blends scenic mountain views with a deep, clear lake perfect for outdoor fun. If you’re planning your first trip here, this guide covers everything you need, from the best hikes and places to stay, to insider tips and a sample itinerary.
Overview
Lake George is a 32-mile-long lake with a vibrant mix of small towns, forested trails, family attractions, and water-based recreation. It offers year-round appeal, whether you’re boating in summer, leaf-peeping in fall, or snowshoeing through a quiet winter landscape.
- Location: Adirondack Mountains, Warren County, NY
- Known for: Boating, hiking, history (especially Fort William Henry), lakefront towns, and accessible wilderness
- Family-friendly: Absolutely, plenty of amusement parks, beaches, and scenic spots!
Photos
How to Get There
- By car: Roughly 3.5 hours north of New York City via I-87 (Adirondack Northway)
- By plane: Closest major airport is Albany International (approx. 1 hour south)
- By train: Amtrak service to nearby Fort Edward, with car rentals or taxis available
Best Times to Visit
- Summer (June–August): Peak season for lake activities, boat rentals, and family attractions
- Fall (September–October): Crisp air and breathtaking foliage, ideal for hiking and scenic drives
- Winter (December–February): Quiet, snowy, and great for snowshoeing or cozy stays
- Spring (April–May): A quieter season with emerging wildflowers and fewer crowds
10 Best Things to Do
There’s a ton to do around this area, but one of the best recommendations I have is to check out this Tripadvisor page on Lake George which showcases visitor reviews and recommendations and the top options are:
- Take a boat cruise on the Lake George Steamboat Company and it’s historic vessels
- Visit Fort William Henry and learn about the area’s colonial history
- Swim and relax at Million Dollar Beach
- Explore Lake George Village, packed with shops, eateries, and arcades
- Go parasailing or jet skiing for stunning lake views from above
- Stroll the Lake George Battlefield Park with interpretive trails
- Enjoy Six Flags Great Escape, just minutes from downtown
- Try paddleboarding or rent a kayak to explore hidden coves (see rental options)
- Check out the Adirondack Winery tasting room
- Take a drive up Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway for epic panoramic views
Best Hikes (Beginner–Advanced)
Beginner
- Shelving Rock Falls Trail: An easy 1.7-mile roundtrip hike to a scenic waterfall and lake shore
- Rush Pond Trail: Flat, forested, and great for families or bikers
Intermediate
- Prospect Mountain Trail: 3.2 miles roundtrip with 1,500 feet of elevation gain; rewarding summit views
- Sleeping Beauty Mountain: Around 7 miles RT with moderate elevation gain and views of the lake and mountains
Advanced
- Tongue Mountain Range Loop: A demanding 11+ mile hike with ridgeline views and potential rattlesnake sightings, pack accordingly!
Packing List
You can get the majority of items below on my Amazon gear store here if you don’t already have these:
- Hiking shoes or boots
- Weather-appropriate clothing (layers in spring/fall)
- Swimsuit & towel
- Sunscreen and bug spray
- Water bottle or hydration pack
- Map or GPS if hiking off the beaten path
- Snacks or lunch if doing long hikes or day cruises
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Binoculars for wildlife or lake views
Where to Stay
- Hotels: Check hotel deals in Lake George
- Luxury: The Sagamore Resort (Bolton Landing), a historic lakefront gem
- Camping: Lake George Battleground Campground or Hearthstone Point Campground
- Cabins/Airbnbs: Many cozy lakefront rentals throughout the region (check options)
Things to Know Before You Go
- Parking in Lake George Village is metered, download the Passport Parking app
- Boat rentals can sell out in summer, book ahead if possible!
- Rattlesnakes may be present on some remote hikes like Tongue Mountain, wear boots and stay alert
- Cell service is limited on some trails, download offline maps
- Fort William Henry offers reenactments and tours, great for families
- Seasonal closures may apply to some hikes and attractions from late fall through spring
- Hotels also fill up quickly (and prices drastically rise) in the spring-fall season, book ahead if you can.
Related
Final Thoughts
Lake George is the kind of place that stays with you. Whether you’re paddling across quiet waters at dawn or taking in fall colors from a mountain summit, it’s a destination that offers both relaxation and adventure. For first-time visitors, it’s easy to feel at home and even easier to start planning your next return.
I live in the very beautiful Lake George region. I love to hike the Adirondacks. At 50, I am still waiting to get my second hip replaced. But once I am fully recovered, I plan on climbing the 46 high peaks with my sons.
They are being kind enough to wait for me, except for one of them that climbed Mt Marcy the other day with his friend who is leaving for Annapolis shortly. He said that he was never so sore and tired as he was from the hard hike down it.
He needs better boots that fit him correctly. He said that I could never do it. won’t stop me. Anyway, I would love to make one of those with you. When I am recovered enough, I will let you know.
That’s an awesome goal you set James and I look forward to your recovery for that to happen! Keep me posted 🙂
I love Lake George and live only 4 hours away. When I was a kid, there was Storytown and Gaslight Village. The last time I was there was a few years ago. Some of the village looked the same, but I think Storytown is now Six Flags and Gaslight Village is no longer there. I never thought of renting an island. I’ll have to check it out next time. Great article!
Thanks Kevin, I’ve been through what is or was formally known as Story town and if it has indeed been replaced with Six Flags, then unfortunately it’s gone, but if you keep traveling up 9N, you will run into at least 3 other awesome towns near the lake that are breathtaking to visit, of which Bolton was my favorite.
Great article. Lake George is such a beautiful part of upstate New York, especially right now as all of the leaves are turning wonderful colors! I did not realize you could actually rent an island on the lake though! That is pretty neat. Do you have any idea how much this typically costs per night? I might have to look into that in the future!
It depends on if it’s an empty island with no house or one with a house. Obviously for ones without a house, you will have to bring your own camping supplies and I guess those cost a few $100 a night, whereas the ones with the houses are FAR higher. Still it makes sense to do if you’re with a group of friends and you can split the trip.
I love Lake George. When I lived in New York I went there many times with my kids. It is a beautiful place and somewhere that you would want to return to.
I would go on scenic drives with the family and we went swimming in the lake too. The kids loved the water parks.
Living in Florida now, we really miss it especially in autumn when the color of the leaves and scenery is awesome!
Oh man, this place in autumn when the foliage starts must be one unforgettable sight! I just may do that as a day trip just to see this!
Mr. Vitaliy, I must admit I love scenic drives. We live in Tasmania and quite often we go for a drive, find a road we have never followed (or have and like it enough to drive again) and see what’s along it. We also find many of these by talking to the local people. We have found some marvelous places by doing this.
Like you I am not attracted to populous areas. They are usually full of tourists (by the way I don’t consider us tourists!) but if you can stay away from the crowds, exploring villages is great fun. We find out of the way eateries and have long chats with the village residents.
I love swimming but not in cold water. We are not too far north of the Great Southern Ocean so when I say cold I mean pretty cold! As for renting an island, all the river islands are privately owned by people who love their privacy. Or they are owned by the snakes that use the islands as breeding areas.
We live at the estuary of the Huon River and overlook the bay and marinas. Looking over the river and boats is a very soothing hobby and excitement also varies once the yacht racing season commences. Hey, I sound like a travel ad for Tasmania.
Maybe you should visit someday.
Well after reading the good things about Tasmania, I looked up images of it and I am floored by it’s nature. The only thing that would stop me is if it has big spiders. I say that because it’s right near Australia, a country known for having the largest spiders in the world.
Spiders, yes we have some but I haven’t seen any what I would call big. And Tasmania is part of Australia but we have banned the large spiders to the mainland!
Once, when we lived on the mainland, I saw a bird eating spider on the bathroom ceiling. Pete took it outside. We do this using an empty 1 litre ice cream container and piece of stiff paper. This spider took a 4 litre container and its legs still stuck out a bit. (By the way we don’t mind spiders!)
Well I’m glad there aren’t any as big as the ones in Australia, but my goodness, that story of the spider on the ceiling (the biggest one on earth) made me shiver. I don’t care how beautiful an area is, if the spiders are huge, I’m out lol.
Beautiful article. I have heard of Lake George, but have never been there. It seems like a good place to camp, and you can rent an island! How cool is that.
Can you do a bike trip on the 9N? Or any biking around the lake? You mentioned hiking, but I’m a fan of biking. I’m hoping more than just mountain biking is available. Haven’t done that. Oh, what about rock climbing. Also is the elevation flat or does it change a lot?
There’s a wide range of mountains all around Lake George and I am certain there’s mountain biking paths available, especially considering how there’s ski areas there too and typically those places also have bike paths.
Regarding 9N, I didn’t see any specific bike paths, but I have seen people walking on it (there are no sidewalks unless it’s in a town along the path) so I am pretty certain you can ride a bicycle there.
Over the years I’ve had several friends who would talk about going on family vacations to this area. From what I recall, several of them did the houseboat thing on the lake and they absolutely loved it. I’ve never rented a houseboat but I’d love to do that one day. From what you described, this place would be perfect for someone like me who loves to get out and enjoy nature as much as possible. Looks like a trip to northern NY is in my future…and renting an island would make it a dream trip! 🙂
You’ll have that option when you go there Mia, as well as a ton of other nature related places to see!