The DEC has announced the seventh year of Winter Weekends at Camp Santanoni and they start this upcoming weekend, January 18 to 20. Winter sports enthusiasts and history buffs will want to check these events out!
Winter Weekends: The Quick Details
Winter Weekends at Camp Santanoni in Newcomb allow guests to cross-country ski and snowshoe across the gorgeous Adirondack property in addition to visiting the historic buildings which are typically closed during the winter months. Two of the three weekends are long weekends, allowing for an extra day of fun.
This year’s Winter Weekends are slated for January 18 – 20 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend), February 15 – 17 (Presidents Day Weekend), and March 14 and 15. February’s Winter Weekend also lines up with the Great Backyard Bird Count. Binoculars will be available.
What to Expect at the Winter Weekends
A 9.8-mile round-trip cross-country ski or snowshoe excursion starts at Camp Santanoni’s Gate Lodge complex and goes to the lakeside main lodge complex. The Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) provides snowshoes at the Gate Lodge for those who need them.
Guests can visit the Gate Lodge and Main Lodge of Camp Santanoni, view displays about the Great Camp, and take interpretive tours. The Artist’s Studio, a log and stone building next to the Main Lodge, will serve as a warming hut; bring your own reusable mug or cup.
What’s New This Year
Restorations and updates are ongoing at the historic buildings and grounds. The Gate Lodge electrical system has been replaced, the Gate Lodge entryway roof has been repaired, and the DEC recently installed a new, larger woodstove and cook top in the Artist’s Studio specifically for these Winter Weekends. Work on the Main Lodge roof and foundation is expected to start this spring.
Winter Weekends are a collaboration between the Friends of Camp Santanoni and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s AIC; the Friends of Camp Santanoni group is a partnership between the DEC, Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), the Town of Newcomb, and volunteers.
“In winter, the reliably excellent snow conditions on the five-mile carriage road and seeing the Great Camp at the other end make for a great outdoor experience,” Steven Engelhart, Executive Director of AARCH, said in a statement.
