Skip to main content

Explore The Adirondacks By Car: Accessible Sights, Attractions & Activities In The Northern Region

The Northern Adirondacks have some of the best scenic drives in the entire park. Tucked among the winding roads are incredible sights you can view right from the road. We've also sprinkled in sights that are just a short stroll from the parking lot. Follow these routes and check out some must-see stops along the way:

Lake Placid to Wilmington

View from Whiteface Mountain
Photo by Luke Dow

Start your trip off in Lake Placid and head east on Route 86 toward Wilmington. As you pass through the Sentinel Range Wilderness Area, you'll be driving alongside the Ausable River. When you reach Wilmington, turn left onto Route 431 to begin ascending the mountain. Along the way, make stops at:

High Falls Gorge

Home to four waterfalls on the Ausable River, High Falls Gorge is an incredible sight if you're up for some light walking. To access the falls, there are three paths ranging from a quarter to 1 mile long. The easiest route is a half mile round trip and takes around 45 minutes. The path to the main falls is accessible for all abilities. Summer admission (May - October) is $13 for adults and $10 for children.

Flume Falls

A parking area is located just across the bridge from The Hungry Trout. Park and walk up to the bridge to get a view of the upper section. If you want to see more, walk across the bridge, carefully cross the road, and follow the trail less then one tenth of a mile downstream. There is also the option to view a beaver pond and rapids along the West Branch Ausable River from the River Trail, which is hardened to be accessible for those with mobililty disabilities.

Whiteface Mountain

road sign with Whiteface Mountain

Road sign you'll see where 143 and Gillespie Drive intersect

The summit of Whiteface Mountain provides 360° views that reach as far as Vermont and Canada on a clear day. Skip the hiking and drive up the winding five mile highway. When you reach the top of Veterans Memorial Highway there are two options to reach the summit: take the elevator or climb the stairs and drink in the amazing views. The toll road costs $15 for the driver + vehicle and $8 for additional passengers over the age of 6. Veteran's Memorial Highway is open during the summer and fall.

To return to Lake Placid, you can trace the same route back or opt for more great views. As you descend Whiteface, make a left onto County Route 18. You'll follow along Franklin Falls Pond which offers an incredible backdrop of McKenzie Mountain. In Bloomingdale, make a left on Route 3 to head into Saranac Lake. From there you can pick up Route 86 to return to Lake Placid.

Jay Mountain Wilderness

The Ausable River as seen from a pedestrian footbridge in Keeseville NY
Photo by Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0

Kick off your drive from I-87 Exit 31 in Elizabethtown. You'll follow Route 9N into Keene, Jay, Ausable Forks, and Keeseville before it becomes Route 9 and brings you to Ausable Chasm.

Adirondack History Museum

On the brief stretch where Routes 9 and 9N overlap sits the Adirondack History Museum in Elizabethtown. Here, you can learn all about Adirondack life and culture. You'll also be able to experience a fire tower without having to climb a mountain first. Fire towers are an iconic piece of Adirondack history, and the museum is lucky enough to have one on-site. The fire tower at the Adirondack History Museum was constructed in the early 1990s using portions of the towers that previously sat atop West and Kempshall Mountains, making it an incredibly unique artifact. The museum is open May through October.

Ausable Forks

The Ausable River has two sections that come together in a small hamlet known as Ausable Forks. You can see the fork for yourself behind the Hollywood Theatre on Main Street (Route 9N). This is a quick little stop, but makes a great spot to grab a snack or lunch in town.

Keeseville Suspension Bridge

bridge

Photo by Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0

At the foot of Clinton Street in Keeseville, you'll discover a foot bridge dating back to 1888. While some may call it a swing bridge due the movement as you walk it, that is a misnomer. This suspension bridge gives great views of the Ausable River and the old mill. This bridge and two others in town are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rainbow Falls (Ausable Chasm)

For the more adventurous, take a tour of the Ausable Chasm and get an unparalleled view of Rainbow Falls. The Classic Tour is a one-mile walk before you hop onto a raft or tube and float down the Ausable River. This waterfall can also be seen from the Ausable Chasm Bridge where US Route 9 crosses the chasm. It's open to both cars and pedestrians. Ausable Chasm is open year round and reservations are required.

For your return trip, you can follow Route 9 back down to Elizabethtown, or hop onto the Northway (I-87) at Exit 34 after coming back through Keeseville.

See dining options in the northern Adirondacks »

« Back to Exploring the Adirondacks by Car

« Back to the Things to Do