Seasonal Guide — When to Visit the Adirondacks

Summer is peak season in the Adirondacks — and for good reason. Long days, warm and swimmable lakes, and every outdoor activity operating at full capacity. July and August are the busiest months; accommodation, campground sites, and popular trailhead parking lots fill quickly.

Average daytime temperatures range from the low 70s to the mid-80s°F. Humidity is generally lower at higher elevations. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August — start hikes early and plan to be off exposed ridges and summits by early afternoon.

Best Summer Activities

• Swimming and boating on clear lakes — Mirror Lake, Lake George, and countless others
• Hiking the High Peaks — trails are at their safest and most accessible
• Canoeing and kayaking multi-day routes, including the Fulton Chain of Lakes
• Camping at state campgrounds under clear skies
• Stand-up paddleboarding on calm morning lakes
• Wildlife watching — loons calling at dusk is an iconic Adirondack sound
• Lake cruises on Lake George

Many experienced Adirondack visitors say fall is their favorite season — and it’s easy to understand why. The foliage is spectacular, the air is crisp and clear, the bugs are gone, the lakes are calm, and the summer crowds have largely departed.

Peak foliage typically runs from late September through mid-October, moving from higher elevations downward. Higher peaks like the High Peaks region begin turning in mid-September; lower valleys and lakeshores usually peak in early to mid-October. Follow the leaf peeper’s foliage report for real-time color updates during your trip.

Best Fall Activities

• Scenic drives along Route 28, Route 30, and the Olympic Byway — the colors are stunning from a car window
• Hiking with spectacular foliage views from fire tower summits
• Paddling on mirror-still lakes reflecting autumn colors
• Mountain biking on fall trail systems — beautiful light, no bugs
• Photography — fall light in the ADK is extraordinary
• Apple picking and farm stands around the park’s perimeter

Winter in the Adirondacks is magical — snow-covered peaks, frozen waterfalls, and a quieter, more contemplative version of the park. Lake Placid in particular comes alive in winter with Olympic sports, skating, festivals, and world-class alpine skiing at Whiteface Mountain.

Best Winter Activities

• Downhill skiing and snowboarding at Whiteface Mountain — the Olympic mountain with the greatest eastern vertical
• Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on groomed trail networks throughout the park
• Ice skating at the Lake Placid Olympic Oval and outdoor rinks across the region
• Snowmobiling — thousands of miles of groomed trails across the park
• Olympic bobsled experience at Mount Van Hoevenberg (Lake Placid)
• Saranac Lake Winter Carnival (held every February since 1898) — one of the oldest winter carnivals in the world, featuring an extraordinary illuminated ice palace
• Ice fishing on frozen lakes

Spring is the Adirondacks’ most underrated and least crowded season. Snowmelt transforms rivers into churning whitewater, waterfalls roar at their most impressive volume, and the forest slowly comes back to life. It is also known locally as “mud season” — lower elevation trails can be very wet and soft underfoot.

Best Spring Activities

• Whitewater rafting on the Hudson River Gorge — Class IV–V at peak spring flow
• Waterfall hikes — snowmelt creates spectacular cascades throughout the park
• Bird watching — spring migration brings warblers, loons returning to their lakes, and nesting eagles
• Trout fishing season opens in April — excellent fly fishing conditions
• Lower elevation nature walks as the forest greens up in real time
• Maple sugaring tours — late winter/early spring is maple syrup season