Camping in the Adirondacks of New York

Greet the dawn in a realm of crisp mountain breezes, where boundless adventures await both on water and mountain trails.

Glimpse from the flap of a tent in the Adirondacks Embarking on a camping journey in the northeastern Adirondacks of New York means embracing nature while staying close to modern comforts. Immerse yourself in the tranquil evenings of the forest, listening to the gentle hum of a campfire and the melodic calls of loons, refreshing your spirit. Spanning six million acres, this park boasts numerous campsites and countless campgrounds, ranging from state-managed ones to private ones equipped with amenities for the entire family. After a rewarding day of hiking, camping serves as the ideal retreat to recharge and gear up for the next adventure!

Hiking on Ampersand in the Adirondacks – one of the best ‘bang for the bucks’ hikes on the east coast! Ok maybe not, but I think so.

The peak of Ampersand Mountain stands at 3,352 feet, offering panoramic views of the northeastern Adirondacks’ High Peaks region. While a majority of the hike is straightforward, the final mile can be challenging for those not in their best shape, as the incline intensifies closer to the summit. You can find the clearly indicated trailhead roughly eight miles from the village of Saranac Lake, New York.

Something our family did a few years ago, was the Saranac Lake 6er Hiking Challenge.
You can read more about that here: https://www.adirondack.net/hiking/challenges/6er/

The 6er Mountains include:

• McKenzie – 10 mi | 2221′ Ascent | 3822′ Elevation
• Ampersand – 5.4 mi | 1775′ Ascent | 3353′ Elevation
• Scarface – 6.8 mi | 1480′ Ascent | 3054′ Elevation
• Haystack – 6.6 mi | 1302′ Ascent | 2864′ Elevation
• St. Regis – 6.6 mi | 1266′ Ascent | 2874′ Elevation
• Baker* – 1.8 mi | 884′ Ascent | 2452′ Elevation

Ampersand was our favorite by far, and Baker was the easiest/fastest. If you are considering camping in the Northern Adirondacks, I highly suggest you check out one of these mountains, you won’t be disappointed.

I might create a future post about each mountain. Fun fact – we did each hike with our 2 year old daughter, which we carried most of the way in a back baby carrier, like one of these: https://www.rei.com/b/osprey/c/baby-carrier-packs