Location: Lake George
Top Things to do in Lake George
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Things to do in Lake George, New York (NY): The Best Nature & Parks
When people find a great vacation getaway, they keep coming back. This 32-mile-long "Queen of American Lakes" is chock-full of lodging, attractions, eateries and just about any form of recreation you can name. A significant player in American history, Lake George is the site of two great forts, Fort William Henry and Fort Ticonderoga, both open to the public. Before plunging into the myriad activities in this family-friendly town, start off with a relaxing lake cruise to learn about the area. Then, take your pick of recreation: parasailing, fishing, diving, jet skiing, hiking, golfing, minigolf, horseback riding and more. If you've got kids in tow, you can't get away without visiting the Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom, New York's largest amusement park. Hikers gravitate to the international trail system or Prospect Mountain, which offers panoramic views from the top; for an easier way up, hop on the tram. Among the cleanest and clearest of major U.S. lakes, Lake George is as splendid today as when Thomas Jefferson described it as "...without comparison, the most beautiful water I ever saw."
Restaurants in Lake George
1. Shelving Rock Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 195 reviews
A serene and beautiful waterfall located along an unmarked hiking trail in the Lake George system.
Reviewed By Nancy-in-NYC
We make a trip to Lake George every summer and this is my new top pick for BEST hike in the area, because there is such a big pay-off at the end! Start with the hike to Shelving Rock Summit, parking in lot # 3 or #4 on Shelving Rock Road. It took my family of four (kids ages 12 and 14) about 45 minutes to reach the summit, stopping along the way a bit to look around. Very nice hike (easy to moderate) with a pretty viewpoint at the end. After making it back down, you should continue down the road just a short bit past parking lot #4 and look for a metal gate/barrier on the left side of the road-- this is the start of the path to Shelving Rock Falls. Do NOT miss this... it was the highlight of our hike that day! In just a short walk on an unmarked dirt path, you will quickly reach a gorgeous waterfall with several different rocky spots to take a dip in your own private swimming hole! It was so fun and refreshing after the hike-- really memorable! TIP: We realized it would have been really helpful to have had water shoes in our backpacks for this... there are lots of rocks to climb around on, in and out of the water which is so much fun, and water shoes would have helped with navigating around on the rocks (some very slippery).
2. Prospect Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,209 reviews
A 2,030-foot mountain in Lake George that offers trips to the summit in "viewmobile" vans for awesome views.
Reviewed By DouglasB2068 - Stone Ridge, United States
It doesn't get a lot of attention but people should definitely take a drive up Prospect Mountain auto road at least one. There are several scenic overlooks to pull over at and take pictures. Once you get to the top parking lot there are bathrooms as well. From the top parking lot you can either hike a pretty steep trail up to the summit or wait for the shuttle bus that constantly runs back and forth between the parking lot and the summit. We took the bus up and then walked the trail back down. Great views up at the summit plus the remains of a cable car system that used to run from the top of the mountain down to Lake George Village. Definitely recommended.
3. Lake George
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,166 reviews
During a 1791 visit, Thomas Jefferson was moved to say, "Lake George is without comparison, the most beautiful water I ever saw." Not much has changed. Today this 32-mile long, 3-mile wide dazzling lake draws vactioners who come to enjoy a plethora of outdoor endeavors including sailing, swimming, cruising on historic steamboats, hiking and more.
Reviewed By pestman - Ogunquit, United States
Obviously, when you go to Lake George, the focal point of your getaway is the lake. The lake doesn't disappoint. You can either choose to just walk along the banks and stare into the distance or participate in a number of water activities from swimming, paddleboarding, parasailing, jetskiing, boating, kayaking, etc. You can even camp on one of the islands that dot the narrows on Lake George. The town itself is very quaint but also full of touristy shops and bars. But, as touristy as it was, it didn't feel very crowded or overwhelming.
4. Buck mountain hiking trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
Reviewed By R8951PYjuliea
My husband and I were in Lake George for a mini honeymoon during COVID, and decided to tackle Buck Mountain. We started on Monday in September at around 10 am and were pleasantly surprised that we barely saw any other people for the whole hike! There are two different routes up the mountain, and we opted for the route starting from Shelving Rock Road, which was 2.5 miles to the summit and then you go back down. The designated parking area was very small (maybe 4 cars) so get there early. We found it by entering “Shelving Rock Rd to Buck Mountain Trail” in Google Maps and downloading an offline map as there is no service as you go down the dirt road. The trail is well marked and easy for the first half, to the point that we weren’t sure we were on the correct trail since we had read this was a moderately tough hike! After crossing the “stream” (in quotes bc it was basically dried up when we went in Sept), the trail definitely gets more steep and rocky and I was happy to have my hiking boots for traction (one middle-aged woman I saw with sneakers was struggling a bit). The second half was a steady incline up to the top and we worked up a sweat. We are a relatively fit couple in early 30s who like an occasional day hike when traveling, but are definitely not experienced avid hikers and I would say the trail is moderate (we had great weather in 60s and sunny, definitely could see this being more difficult in high heat or with precipitation or more slippery conditions). It took us exactly 1 hr 20 min to go to the summit, spent about 20 min on summit to enjoy the view, have a granola bar and rest, and then 1 hr and 10 min back to the car. We then went on to drive to Shelving Rock falls and Shelving rock mountain trails further down the road before heading back into town which made for a delightful day of hiking!
5. Warren County Bikeway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 97 reviews
Reviewed By EJBLtravels - Media, United States
This was the highlight to our visit to Lake George. The path was wide and paving was smooth. Well kept up, with beautiful wooded scenery. We rode from Lake George to Glenn Lake and back (12 miles total). Slight inclines and a couple of small hills.
6. Shepherd Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By Diverpatrick28 - Bridgeport, United States
Park is on a hill going down to a beach that is closed due to covid. It has a large pavilion with a stage and tiered seating. Many chairs to stop and rest. It was very clean and we'll taken care of.
7. Black Mountain Loop
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By tyFoe
Beautiful hike and really was magical. I was concerned about the bitch bark trees that were dead all along the trail. The path was clearly marked. Lots of mushrooms on the trail. It was workout going up. I want to do this one again. 2 bridges, a stream, and go before dark, the mountain gets pitch black. The sunset was well worth seeing it. Mountain faces out west.
8. Million Dollar Beach
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 408 reviews
Reviewed By darcymania2016 - New York City, United States
After paying a parking fee, you are left steps from a lake-front beach. It was clean, and there were constant reminders to leave on your mask until you got a spot. People set up their areas more than 10 feet apart. The beach was clean, and the water was crystal clear. The water was warm, making you able to stay in for a while. The water area was well supervised by lifeguards making it a good overall experience
9. Usher Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
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