New York State’s Adirondack Park is a nature lover’s paradise, and it’s an easy day trip from Montreal, Quebec. Covering more than six million acres, the public park is home to the Adirondack Mountains, endless hiking trails, thousands of lakes and 30,000 miles of rivers and streams to fish, boat and paddle. The region is also known for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, and ice fishing, as well as its quaint mountain towns and Olympic history.
Whether you prefer to hike, ski or simply visit a new city, here are five Adirondack day trips you can take from Montreal.
- Go for a Hike
Although most of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks – so named for their shared elevation of at least 4,000 feet – might be a bit ambitious for a day trip, there are literally hundreds of moderate trails outside of the High Peaks that offer the same quality hiking and scenic views. Less than 90 minutes from Montreal, Lyon Mountain in Saranac, NY is a 7-mile out and back hike with a fire tower at the summit and amazing views of the Green Mountains in Vermont, the High Peaks to the south, and even Montreal on a clear day. Explore more hikes just across the border from Montreal.
- Hit the Slopes
Located less than 2 hours from Montreal, Whiteface Mountain is the fifth tallest High Peak in New York State, and the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center offers the highest vertical drop of any ski mountain east of the Rockies, at 3,430 feet. Skiers and snowboarders enjoy more than 90 trails, stretching 24 miles across three peaks, plus five terrain parks, twelve lifts, a gondola, and a lodge with dining, rentals and more. Learn more about Wilmington, NY, the home of Whiteface Mountain.
- Cast Your Line
For world-class fishing just across the border from Montreal, head over to Franklin County, NY, where you’ll find numerous rivers, lakes and ponds known for trophy catches. The Salmon River in Malone, NY is stocked annually with brown trout and rainbow trout, and catch and release fishing is permitted all year with artificial lures. There’s also public fishing access near the Canadian border along the Marble River in Chateaugay, NY. Learn more about trophy fishing near Montreal.
- Visit an Adirondack Town (or two)
Just over 2 hours from Montreal, Lake Placid is a quintessential mountain resort town with a walkable main street lined with shops, restaurants and bars, as well as Olympic history. Skate on the Olympic Oval during the winter months, visit the sight of the 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey game, and take a glass-enclosed elevator to the Mt Van Hoevenberg ski jumps. If you’ve got time to spare, pop over to Saranac Lake. Named on USA Today’s list of 10 best small towns with good food, Saranac Lake also offers an array of restaurants, bars, shops, and live music.
- Explore Natural Wonders
Experience the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks, and visit four majestic waterfalls within 2 hours of Montreal. Ausable Chasm offers cliff walks, guided tours, river rafting, and much more inside the sandstone canyon, while High Falls Gorge provides safe trail access for all ages to explore an otherwise inaccessible, narrow, granite-walled gorge with four spectacular waterfalls. Ausable Chasm is approximately 90 minutes from Montreal near Keeseville, NY and High Falls Gorge is located on Highway 86 between Lake Placid and Wilmington.
Return to the Adirondacks Again and Again
The Adirondack Park isn’t a place you can explore in a day, a week, or even a month. Once you visit, we know you’ll want to return again and again. For those looking to own a vacation home or mountain retreat in the Adirondacks, Adirondack Mountain Land has several parcels of land for sale near Montreal, including waterfront property, deeded lake access, build-ready plots, and land with stunning mountain and lake views. Browse our property listings or contact us for assistance with your search.