Lake George
"Queen of North American Lakes"

As you may know, Lake George is one of the cleanest lakes in the world. The DEC rates its water quality as AA+; the limnologists (the lake scientists) categorize it as oligotrophic--very low in the nutrients that cause the growth of algae and other organisms that cloud the water. Conditions that have created and maintain this lovely water are the lake's small, forested watershed, its great water depths (192 feet at the deepest), the limestone on the lake bottom (which buffers acid precipitation), its undeveloped shoreline, and the temperate climate here. It is somewhat remarkable that the lake has maintained this water quality despite the intensive use by the many who come to enjoy its water, its islands, its beaches, and its splendid mountain scenery. Some people safely drink the water untreated; thousands of others use its water after minimal treatment by a municipal water system. We will welcome you to join those who come to be refreshed and relaxed by the beautiful surroundings. We invite you to become one of those for whom the privilege of visiting this beautiful watershed mandates careful stewardship of the land and lake so that generations after you can enjoy it as much as you have.

Enjoyment of the Surrounding Region

In the Summer
  • Fishing: Bring your own boat, launching it at a nearby marina, or charter one locally. We provide you with a waterproof fishing map that shows the hot spots for salmon, trout, pike, perch, and bass.
  • Golfing: Several championship golf courses are in the area. The closest is the Sagamore, designed by Donald Ross (15-minute drive).
  • Whitewater rafting and kayaking: Both short rides and extended tours are offered on the Hudson and Sacandaga Rivers from April to October.  Rent a kayak at Lake George Kayaking (lakegeorgekayaking.com).
  • Mountain biking: Gore Mountain ski slopes are open for biking in the summer, with a gondola and a chair lift to take you to the top of the mountain.
  • Museums: In Glens Falls, the Hyde Collection for fine art and the Chapman for local history.  Also the World Awareness Chiildren's Museum for a rainy day (All open all year). In Blue Mountain Lake (an hour's drive), the Adirondack Experience offers extensive exhibits on Adirondack history--an all-day excursion. Open May to October. Fort Ticonderoga at the northern tip of the lake offers very interesting tours of an important place in our nation's history.
  • Theater: The Lake George Dinner Theater in Lake George Village. Equity actors playing six days a week form late June until mid-October. The Adirondack Theater Festival will has a highly acclaimed shorter season during the summer.
  • Ballet and concerts: Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) with performances by the Lake George Opera Company in June, the New York City Ballet in July, the Philadelphia Orchestra in August, and rock and jazz groups before and after those (40-minute drive). See www.spac.org.
  • Lake George Music Festival: Offering low-cost classical and premiers of new music music concerts in Lake George Village and several other sites, nearby August 11 - 22, 2024. More info at www.lakegeorgemusicfestival.com.
  • Thoroughbred and harness racing: The Saratoga Race Track, a world-class flat track, is open from late July through Labor Day. The harness-racing track is open February through November. Both are in Saratoga Springs (40-minute drive).
  • The Adirondack Balloon Festival: In mid-September. Scores of balloons from all over the world. Walk among them as they are inflated and launched at dawn and dusk.
  • Great Escape: A Six Flags amusement park experience (20-minute drive).
  • Saddle-Up Stables: Horseback riding around a trail with stunning views.
  • UpYonda Farm: Environmental education center for all ages just 5 miles north of the house in Bolton Landing.  Very interesting.  Hike.  Butterfly house in summer.  Open year round.  See www.upyondafarm.com. Call 518-644-9767.
In the  Fall
  • The Adirondack Balloon Festival, September 21 - 24.  See adirondackballoonfest.org.
  • The splendid fall foliage, of course!
In the Winter
  • The Lake George Winter Carnival takes place on the frozen lake in Lake George Village every weekend during February. Snowmobile and outhouse races and other events.  No ice?  Events on the land around the lake!
  • Winter's Dream and Winter Realms  New WINTER EVENTS to open in Lake George Village in late November. One is called 'WINTER REALMS."     See https://www.visitlakegeorge.com/events/photo/page/5/     And info on 'WINTER'S DREAM" is at wintersdream.com.
  • Gore Mountain: A 35-minute drive, open from mid-November to mid-April. It has snowmaking on 95 percent of its 60 trails, 12 percent of which are easy, 58 percent more difficult, and 30 percent very difficult. Its summit elevation is 3,600 feet, its vertical drop, 2,100 feet. It offers 9 lifts: one gondola, 2 quads, 3 doubles, one high-speed triple, and 2 surface. Cross-country skiers can find trails in Pack Forest near the Hudson River (20-minutes), Crandall Park in Glens Falls (30-minutes), and at Gore Mountain (35-minutes).
  • West Mountain Ski Resort just east of Glens Falls.  Night skiing available there.
  • Snowmobiling: The county and a private association maintain an extensive system of snowmobile trails in the region. Pamphlets and maps of the trails will be found in the house. Snowmobile rentals with a guided tour are available locally.
  • Ice fishing on the lake when the ice is thick enough, during January, February, and March.  Note: Though there are multiple nearby sites where you can get onto the ice to fish, because we must protect our docks from the huge pressure of the ice by running ice eaters to keep the water open around the docks.  That means, of course, that you cannot get onto the ice from the Lake House property itself.
  • Bennett's Riding Stables for guided tours.  The horseshoes are studded!  They have a new name, though, and I can't find them on line.  Information to come . . .