What is the Adirondack Park?

A wilderness vacation destination where six million acres of outdoor adventure awaits

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - The forest and waterways of the Adirondack Park are an outdoor-lover's paradise. The park, named for the Adirondack Mountains that lie within its boundaries, offers some of the best opportunities in the United States for outdoor recreation in a superb natural setting. The Adirondack Park is a state park that was created in 1892 by the New York State Legislature and was the nation's first preserved wilderness. It's also the only state park within a day's drive for over 25% of the entire North American population. There is no tollgate and no fee required to enter the park, ensuring that it is accessible to everyone. A thin blue line on all New York state maps delineates the Adirondack Park from the intensive development of the rest of the state and many people refer to the boundary of the park as the "blue line." At over six million acres, it is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States  greater in size than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Parks combined. It's roughly the same size as the state of Vermont and covers a fifth of New York state. Two thousand mountains lie within its boundaries, 100 of them taller than 3,000 feet. Two peaks, Marcy and Algonquin, are higher than 5,000 feet. Nearly half of the park is forest preserve, public land that has been set aside to remain in its natural state and is accessible to everyone. This means that, quite literally, visitors can park their car along the roadside and hike into the woods or take a dip in one of the lakes. Just be certain that it's public land - visitors can usually tell by identifying markers placed by the Department of Environmental Conservation. The geography of the park is unique, with one of its best attributes being the nonstop juxtaposition of mountains and water. At the base of many Adirondack Mountains, visitors will frequently find a lake or pond; and rivers often run through and along the mountain trails. In fact, over 3,000 ponds and lakes and 30,000 miles of rivers, streams and brooks are scattered among the mountains of the Adirondack Park. A 100-mile canoe route traverses the park allowing for a true wilderness adventure. There are also many mountainside ponds and lakes, the most famous being Lake Tear of the Clouds, the source of the Hudson River, located on Mt. Marcy. Over 2,000 miles of marked hiking trails make up the largest hiking trail system in the nation, guiding travelers past ponds, waterfalls and spectacular mountain vistas. There is a 120-mile wilderness-hiking trail that extends from Northville to Lake Placid. The High Peaks region is often synonymous with the Adirondacks. The High Peaks is a region located in the northeastern part of the Adirondack Park and contains mountains that are the highest in the state, with many peaks rising to well over 4,000 feet. These High Peaks include Mt. Marcy, the highest mountain in New York at over 5,300 feet. Visitors to the mountain summits enjoy some of the most beautiful views in the nation. The High Peaks offer an endless array of possibilities for hiking - from a short afternoon hike with the family to a week of wilderness backpacking. This is the territory of the "46ers" - a loosely organized club of those who've climbed the 46 highest peaks in the Adirondacks. Outdoor activities in the Adirondacks are certainly not limited to one particular season. Hikers are able to enjoy the mountain views year-round, thanks to their snowshoes, ice axes and crampons. Campers can enjoy the outdoors from early summer through the winter. Mountain bikers can spend their time outdoors from early spring through late fall. Paddlers can enjoy the rivers, lakes and streams from ice- out through late fall. Anglers are able to fish the region's brooks and rivers from spring through fall and can fish on the region's lakes year-round. Golfers can practice their game throughout the summer and fall on dozens of courses throughout the region. Finally, winter is no time to hibernate when visiting the Adirondacks - downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and dogsledding are increasingly popular pursuits. The Adirondack Regional Tourism Council can provide information about planning a visit to the Adirondack region. Call 800-487-6867 or visit www.Adk.com for more information.