With more than 100 towns and villages in Adirondack Park, it can get a bit overwhelming to decide which hidden small towns in New York to visit. Covering over six million acres, small towns tucked away within the shadows of our tallest mountains and most remote spaces offer peace, quiet, and endless outdoor adventures. If New York’s winter weather has you feeling a bit stir-crazy, then perhaps it’s time you take a getaway to one of the hidden gems in New York — one of our best-kept secrets.

Right in the heart of it all, the small town of Long Lake has so much to offer.
Google Maps
Talk about teensy tiny! This small town is home to just over 700 residents. Sitting on the shores of our 14-mile, 4,077-acre Long Lake, you'll love sneaking away up north to this amazingly scenic location.
If you plan on making this longer than just a day trip, you'll first want to check into the historic Adirondack Hotel, one of the best places to visit in New York.
Bryan W./Yelp
This hotel, built in the 1850s, is a vintage jewel and the only one like it within Adirondack Park.
Bryan W./Yelp
Located right across from the beach, the hotel offers a variety of fun activities including nearby shopping.
Giving you a waterfront view, the Adirondack Hotel has been a favorite place to stay and eat for ages. Inside you'll find cozy rooms and a Victorian dining room filled with windows that give amazing views of Long Lake, making you feel right at home.
Julie C./Yelp
This restaurant offers a full pizza menu, soups, salads, and kid's menu. For a snack, try some baked pretzels with pub mustard, or poutine, which is french fries topped with melted cheese curds and beef gravy.
Like many of our Adirondack towns, you can find beautiful waterfalls that are worth visiting any time of the year.
Bryan W./Yelp
A popular place to go hiking especially during the summer and fall, Buttermilk Falls can be found right off of North Point Road.
Bryan W./Yelp

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A short 5-minute walk from where you'll park off of the road, the falls are enchanting to see during the winter season when they're frozen over and surrounded by snow-capped trees.
robmadeo/Flickr
Long Lake also features the Adirondack Trading Post.
ADK Trading Post/TripAdvisor
It is easy to see why this special town is one of the hidden gems in New York.
It is known for scrumptious breakfast sandwiches and seasonal lobster rolls!
ADK Trading Post/TripAdvisor
The quaint little convenience store that you've always dreamed of is a great place to check out when you're hungry.
If you weren't able to find what you were looking for at the ADK Trading Post, then you're in luck!
Hoss's Country Corner/TripAdvisor
A place you'll find yourself returning to time and time again once you finally make your first visit, Hoss's is an iconic general store of the Adirondacks that's been a favorite for over 40 years. Filled with quirky characteristics, this place wows visitors with the fact that it has a tree growing through the middle of the store! From food and clothing to adult beverages and DEC licenses, you can't take a trip to Long Lake without stopping into Hoss's.
Yet to make any plans for the month of January? Good!
Joe Ross/Flickr
Because you'll want to visit the Long Long Lake Winter Carnival on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022.
A winter wonderland that you won't want to miss, the Long Lake Winter Carnival in New York is so much fun. Kicking off at noon, the party offers a variety of fun, such as its well-known Cardboard Sled Races, contests, ice-sculpting demos, hot food, a kids' balloon chase, a ladies' frying pan toss, and fireworks.
Buckshot11/YouTube

Have you ever taken a getaway to this small town? Is there another one of the best hidden small towns in New York that is worth a drive? Please tell us what you think in the comments below. For more unforgettable places to visit in New York, and a unique way to enjoy the fall foliage, check out the Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course.

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More to Explore

Why This One Little Town Is New York's Best Kept Secret

Carolyn Harmon | September 07, 2022

Where is another one of the best hidden small towns in New York?

The scenic Canandaigua, New York, known as “The Chosen Spot,” is a Native American translation that with its historic, interesting beauty holds true. Its location on the north end of the peaceful, Canandaigua Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, offers a variety of recreational activities including boating, fishing, and swimming. And if you are a shopper, enjoy the quaint, locally-owned shops, restaurants, art galleries, and places to stay. Some cultural attractions include Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park and Granger Homestead & Carriage House Museum. The town is conveniently located 24 miles southeast of Rochester, 68 miles west of Syracuse, and 93 miles east of Buffalo.

What is another one of New York's best-kept secrets?

The Friend's Boat Launch at Allegany State Park in Salamanca, New York, makes it a perfect spot for boating enthusiasts. Enjoy the events offered at the Quaker amphitheater, hiking trails, and caves, or just relax with a picnic while enjoying the view of the vast wildlife. In addition, the old Quaker Store has been renovated and houses a museum with exhibits documenting "The Wilderness Playground of Western New York," and highlights the park's features. If you are planning to spend the night, the accommodations are many from campgrounds to cabins. And for you bird-watching fans, the Allegany Bird Conservation Area is 95 percent forested, and as a result, contains one of the largest tracts of interior forest within New York. This habitat is ideal for breeding and migratory stopover forest-interior species, such as the scarlet tanager, Swainson's thrush, and the blackburnian warbler.

Where is one of the best lakeside restaurants near me in New York?

The Lakeside Restaurant & Tavern in Hammondsport, New York, is the best casual dining destination on Keuka Lake. Enjoy a sunset cocktail on the deck, arrive by boat, and simmer in the ambiance of live music from the Tiki bar. This unique eatery offers two bars with two restaurants. Try a Harvest Salad, with mixed greens, shredded carrots, almonds, bacon, goat cheese, cucumbers, and Brussel sprouts drizzled with honey sriracha vinaigrette. An appetizer of Thai Curry Clams can be a full meal, and for something heartier, a classic filet might do the trick, with herb butter and onion straws.

 

 

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