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5 Adirondack Attractions You'll Want to Add to Your Lake George Fall Visit

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We're so lucky in the Lake George region that we're at the foothills of the Adirondacks, and all the six-million-acre park has to offer. Check out five Adirondack attractions and activities just a short drive away from Lake George this autumn.

Enjoy Historical Fun at Fort Ticonderoga & Scenic Sights at Mount Defiance

fall foliage view from mountain

View from Mount Defiance in the fall; Fort Ticonderoga is on the left.

The 2,000-acre Fort Ticonderoga offers plenty of chances to take in the foliage and grab gorgeous photos throughout the historic property and gardens, and they offer a stunning view of Lake Champlain. Plus, there's a bonus: If you visit Fort Ticonderoga you're allowed to drive up Mount Defiance, just 10 minutes away, for free. (It's otherwise $10 per car.) You can view the Fort and tons of foliage from 853 feet up.

Fort Ticonderoga is an hour away from Lake George and they're open (and so is Mount Defiance) Tuesday through Sunday through October. You can purchase tickets at the front gate with a credit card, but we recommend checking out the website and getting tickets ahead of time at the link below. (They also do ghost tours and have a corn maze!)

Buy your tickets for fall fun »

Go for the Gold - Colored-Leaves, That Is! - at Gore Mountain

gondola ride in the fall

Experience the vivid fall colors from high above with Gore Mountain's scenic skyrides. Don't stop there with the fall fun at Gore, though - they also offer downhill and cross-country mountain biking trails, hikes with informative signage, a mountaintop labyrinth, and disc golf.

Gore's scenic skyrides are open through early to mid-October (keep an eye on the Foliage Report), so hurry and get your tickets online beforehand! Gore is about 35 minutes from Lake George, and they also offer a Leaf Hunt game, hiking trails, and a disc golf course.

Admire Views of Foliage & Falls at Ausable Chasm

Ausable Chasm's Riverwalk is a fabulous way to get your fall foliage on! Your guide walks you along the river with chasm walls as high as 150 feet surrounding you. As with Fort Ticonderoga, this fall attraction is steeped in history, dating back to 1870, which is before the Winter Olympic Games, before Miracle on Ice, and before the Adirondack Park was even established.

They are open daily in the fall and reservations are not required, although, they do recommend arriving earlier in the day to avoid wait times for some activities. Self-guided hiking to explore the chasm is available daily (no wait after check-in). Ausable Chasm is about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Lake George.

Learn more about the Riverwalk »

Find a Slew of Fall Fun at Country Dreams Farm in Plattsburgh

Sleigh rides in the winter, a petting zoo in the summer, wagon rides and much more in the fall - that's what you can look forward to at Country Dreams Farm in Plattsburgh. Although this attraction is the farthest on our list from Lake George at 1 hour and 35 minutes, you can easily make a day of it with all they have to offer.

If you're looking for a family-friendly fall excursion this is a great pick - their corn maze is designed to be accommodating for all ages, but at the same time you can expect a challenge at every corner! Explore the maze, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, and choose the perfect pumpkin to bring home out of their pumpkin patch. Find them on Facebook for the latest hours - and check out their haunted maze while you're at it!

Check out their Facebook page for what to expect »

Ride the Rapids at Adirondack Adventure Center, Now Offering Whitewater Rafting

whitewater rafters

Adirondack Adventure Center in Lake Luzerne now offers whitewater rafting! Their "fall leaf peeping season" typically starts Labor Day Weekend with Class III whitewater rapids and goes through Columbus Day Weekend (not including Monday). As with Gore, you'll want to make a reservation to enjoy the foliage before the season ends!

Whitewater rafting trips are about two hours from start to finish, and the Sacandaga gets a constant flow of 4,000 cubic feet of water per second for rafting trips. And, a bonus: This reputable business also offers lazy river tubing and treetop adventures, and you can book adventure combos to save money. Adirondack Adventure Center is 10 to 15 minutes from Lake George.

Book your adventure »

Work a scenic drive into your Adirondack fall fun »

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