Lake Clear - The Great Adirondack Connector

From ancient waterways and Native American trails to national scenic by-ways to the center of New York State’s only wilderness canoe region and now, a new Adirondack Rail Trail and NYS Cuisine Trail, we continue to be in the center of nature, history, adventure, fun and personal re-connections.

The Waterway Connection

First, the waterway system, using portages, could connect you from the Great Lakes to Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River. Home to the six Native American nations united under the Iroquois Confederacy, which was formed in the late 16th century, it has been referred to as one of the world’s oldest democracies and provided many of the original trails and waterway routes later traveled by, among others, the French and British explorers and traders leading up to the time of the American Revolution.

The popular 90-mile Canoe Race, which takes place each September, commemorates the connecting waterway system from Old Forge to the Saranac chain of Lakes. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail highlights this connection, extending it all the way to Fort Kent, Maine, next to the Canadian border, showcasing a 740-mile route.

The Scenic By-way Connection

The waterways and Native American trails often provided a basis for our modern road system, and we are now part of the Adirondack Trail, a component of a national scenic by-way as well as a New York State Adirondack Lakes Cuisine Trail which encompasses Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, and Tupper Lake.

Rails & Trails

In the late 1800s, Lake Clear became an important railroad junction where you could connect not only to Saranac Lake and Lake Placid but also north to Canada and south to New York City. This brought many here for another connection, the Cure Cottage Days, when we became known as the “healing woods.”

The section of rail between Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake, which goes through our 25-acre Great Camp, is now part of a new connector, the Adirondack Rail Trail, which is currently under construction.

Lake Clear: The Hub of Adirondack Adventures

And Lake Clear is often in the middle of these connections. Interestingly enough, our property is the geographic center of the 34-mile Rail Trail; we are strategically located in the apex of the Tri-lakes and Olympic regions and are in the window of New York State’s only wilderness canoe area, home to four seasons of fun with hiking, paddling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and summer and winter fishing. Did you know that Lake Clear was known as a sportsmen’s lake with a famous fishing lure named after it? (It’s called the Lake Clear Warbler)

There is so much history here, brimming with incredible nature, things to do, and hidden gems to explore. We thought we would celebrate Summer 2024 with a unique nature treasure map that points out unique natural and historical gems as well as fun spots you can access right from our estate without hopping in a car—if you care to adventure.

Then, due to our geographic center as a connector to a host of unique outdoor and indoor experiences from the adventurous to doing your reconnecting with family and friends, we have come up with a novel Destination Adk Passport. Here, we connect with various venues that provide discount tickets or value-added experiences to maximize your time and fun, from the Wild Center to Corn Mazes.

A Treasure Map of Fun

All of this is centered around our 25-acre lodge, which has been family-operated since 1886 and where generations of family directly provide personal service to you.

And we have not even mentioned that you will need the password to check out our 1920s Speakeasy, library, 1886 Stagecoach Dining room, home to our Adirondack Alps Restaurant, world-renowned mountain-lake sunsets at our beach, and a host of fun activities, from History of Beer Tastings and cooking demos to holistic wellness weekends and Foodie events like the History of Food.

From our family to yours, journey to disconnect to reconnect, in our summer Adirondack Destination Great Connector experiences!