Skip to main content
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
  • See & Do
    • See & Do
    • See all
      • See all
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
      • Accessibility
      • Arts
      • Attractions
      • Downtown
      • Health & Wellness
      • History
      • Live Music
      • Parks
      • Shopping
      • Stories
      • Weddings
  • Outdoors
    • Outdoors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Hiking
        • See all
        • Nature Walks
      • ADK Guides & Tours
      • Birding
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Cross-Country Skiing
      • Cycling
      • Downhill Skiing
      • Fishing
      • Golfing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Mountain Biking
      • Paddling
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
    • Eat & Drink
    • See all
    • Cafés & Coffee Shops
    • Craft Beer & Cocktails
    • Restaurants
  • Events
    • Events
    • See all
    • Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
    • ArtWorks ArtMarkets
    • Can-Am Rugby Tournament
    • Celebrate Paddling ADK
    • First Night Saranac Lake
    • Plein Air Festival
    • Winter Carnival
    • 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
    • Stay
    • See all
    • Cabins & Cottages
    • Camping
    • Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
    • Resorts, Hotels, Motels
    • Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
    • First Time Visitors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Accessibility
      • Downtown
      • Getting Here
      • Greater Region
      • Stories
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
  • Local
    • Local title-header
      • Live Here
        • See all
        • Meet the Locals
        • Real Estate
        • Town of Harrietstown
        • Town of North Elba
        • Town of St. Armand
        • Village of Saranac Lake
      • Do Business Here
        • See all
        • Chamber Job Board
        • Essex County IDA
        • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
        • Professional Services
        • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
      • Community Initiatives
        • See all
        • Arts & Culture Master Plan
        • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
        • Saranac Lake Brand
        • Village Community Development Department
What can we help you find?
  • See & Do
      1. See & Do
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
        3. Accessibility
        4. Arts
        5. Attractions
        6. Downtown
        7. Health & Wellness
        8. History
        9. Live Music
        10. Parks
        11. Shopping
        12. Stories
        13. Weddings
  • Outdoors
      1. Outdoors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Hiking
          • See all
          • Nature Walks
        3. ADK Guides & Tours
        4. Birding
        5. Boating
        6. Camping
        7. Cross-Country Skiing
        8. Cycling
        9. Downhill Skiing
        10. Fishing
        11. Golfing
        12. Ice Fishing
        13. Mountain Biking
        14. Paddling
        15. Snowmobiling
        16. Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
      1. Eat & Drink
      2. See all
      3. Cafés & Coffee Shops
      4. Craft Beer & Cocktails
      5. Restaurants
  • Events
      1. Events
      2. See all
      3. Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
      4. ArtWorks ArtMarkets
      5. Can-Am Rugby Tournament
      6. Celebrate Paddling ADK
      7. First Night Saranac Lake
      8. Plein Air Festival
      9. Winter Carnival
      10. 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
      1. Stay
      2. See all
      3. Cabins & Cottages
      4. Camping
      5. Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
      6. Resorts, Hotels, Motels
      7. Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
      1. First Time Visitors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Accessibility
        3. Downtown
        4. Getting Here
        5. Greater Region
        6. Stories
        7. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
  • Local
      1. Local
        1. Live Here
          • See all
          • Meet the Locals
          • Real Estate
          • Town of Harrietstown
          • Town of North Elba
          • Town of St. Armand
          • Village of Saranac Lake
        2. Do Business Here
          • See all
          • Chamber Job Board
          • Essex County IDA
          • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
          • Professional Services
          • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
        3. Community Initiatives
          • See all
          • Arts & Culture Master Plan
          • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
          • Saranac Lake Brand
          • Village Community Development Department

Fall Paddling in the Adirondacks is Amazing!

Watch Video
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
Alan Belford
September 28, 2018

A time of year to be savored

Fall in the Adirondacks is meant to be experienced. It is a time of cool nights and warm days. It is a time of frosty mornings, the icy coating soon to be burned off by the bright sun. And it is a time of bright leaves which paint the landscape in a kaleidoscope of color.

And so fall must be savored. After all, the warm days offer us a throwback to summer, and we find ourselves drawn outdoors to enjoy it before winter’s white dominates the landscape. That also means that fall arrives with a certain amount of pressure. Savoring the days does not mean we can dawdle to enjoy them. After all, the days are numbered before the temperature drops, and the days themselves are growing considerably shorter than the summer days which never seemed to end. And so all of us outdoor enthusiasts must take advantage of the time of year to explore – it is our last chance to partake in a variety of activities until next spring or summer.

Paddling through the colors of autumn

That may be why I tend to paddle so much in late summer and early fall – in fact it may be the time of year when I paddle the most. I feel a certain impetus to get my boat on the water while I can before the ice sets in sooner than I am ready. After all, it is rather difficult to paddle our lakes during January. Meanwhile, winter brings with it its own set of activities that I love like cross country skiing,  but I still try to paddle as much as I can while the weather allows it.

Wren surveys a mid-fall evening along the Raquette River from Axton Landing.
Wren surveys a mid-fall evening along the Raquette River from Axton Landing.

Not only that, but paddling is an amazing way to experience the fall, a quiet mode of exploration while the blazing trees seem to just drift on by. After all, from the water we can witness the rich red of red maples, the yellow of striped maple, the yellow and golds of paper birch, yellow birch, black cherry, and American beech, the bright yellow of quaking and big-toothed aspens, and perhaps my favorite, the brilliant orange of sugar maples. And then there’s my other favorite – the deep purple (cue a guitar riff) of the understory shrub hobblebush. The list goes on and on.

Big-toothed aspen and sugar maple leaves litter the ground along Lake Colby.
Big-toothed aspen and sugar maple leaves litter the ground along Lake Colby.

Not only that, but paddlers experience the colors of the aquatic plants as well – which blush yellow, brown, and red as they die back and await the sun of next summer. These line the margins of rivers, ponds, and lakes across the region, where they are interspersed with late summer and early fall wildflowers like lance-leaved goldenrod, rough-stemmed goldenrod, New York aster, New England aster, flat-topped aster, closed gentian, cardinal flower, and a long list of others – all of which mirror their reflections in the water against the blue canvas of the sky above.

Flat-topped Aster reflects in the water with the clouds floating above.
Flat-topped Aster reflects in the water with the clouds floating above.

That may be one of the best things about paddling in general and fall paddling specifically. For as the hillsides and forests which surround our waterbodies transform in color, so does the dark surface of the water, making fall paddles a photographer’s dream.

The reflections of leaves and the colored hillsides in the water can be amazing!
The reflections of leaves and the colored hillsides in the water can be amazing!

Any paddle on the map will be splendid. And while many of our waterways are lined in places by the deep green of evergreens and conifers, these only serve to augment the colors which surround them, a juxtaposition of vibrance with steady consistency and a contrast of dark and light.

Paddling that lasts all season

I can randomly choose whichever waterbody or waterway I wish to explore on the map for a great paddle — Lower Saranac Lake, Little Clear Pond, the Saranac River, Lake Clear, Jones Pond, Osgood Pond, Lake Colby, Kiwassa Lake, Oseetah Lake, Middle Saranac, Floodwood Pond, Rollins Pond, Lower St. Regis Lake – if I was to write them all out we would never finish this story!

And while the dazzling colors of fall steal most of the headlines, paddlers would be remiss if they didn’t paddle in the latter half of the season as well – after most of the leaves have fallen. That time of year often offers beautiful paddling weather, and it is when my other, other favorite fall tree changes color. Okay, I like them all, but American larch or tamarack (whichever name you choose) is certainly on a short list for me. That is partly because it turns color after most other trees have already lost their leaves, partly because they are a deciduous conifer which sheds its needles, and partly because I love their color. In A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold called it smoky gold – a subtle beauty which glows in the bogs and wetlands which line so many of our lakes and rivers.

I love it when the tamaracks turn smoky gold.
I love it when the tamaracks turn smoky gold.

And even if the late fall weather should prove a tad chilly, paddlers will find that their pfd (life jacket) offers excellent insulation, and anyone taking a cool fall paddle should bring along dry clothes and a towel (not to mention food and water) should they suddenly find themselves taking a brisk bath. Wren, my dog, doesn’t mind such swims and, like all of our paddles, our fall paddles are usually built around a walk/hike and a swim (I swim as long as my body can take the cold, but Wren’s in the water until the lakes ice over!). On top of that, the cooler weather of fall is often an advantage. Hot summer weather can make mid-day paddles uncomfortable and unwanted (I shoot for morning or evening), but fall weather allows much of the day to be explored. And that’s important with reduced daylight and the threat of darkness creeping up on us.

This was an amazing early fall evening on Lake Clear Outlet.
This was an amazing early fall evening on Lake Clear Outlet.

An opportunity to unplug and exhale

And that thought brings us full circle. For like the daylight, the chance to paddle along bright trees and beneath a warm sun won’t last forever. Fall – and fall paddling – is a fleeting opportunity to be grasped and enjoyed. After all, there will still be football games on the television at night, and whatever device sucks you in and wastes your time can be set aside. Those emails, social media outlets, computer games, and TV shows will all be there when you return – for better or worse.

And this was a beautiful fall evening on Jones Pond.
And this was a beautiful fall evening on Jones Pond.

Getting out in the woods and onto the water is like taking a deep breath after being deprived of oxygen in our too-busy, too-much-time-spent-indoors lives. I can feel my mind coming up for air as the crisp autumn wind rushes into my lungs - it is why Wren and I are out every day, regardless of the weather, and why we’ll be paddling again soon. After all, there may be no better way to feel your mind being cleansed than by watching dancing leaves being chased across the surface of the water by a cool fall breeze.

Plan your fall paddling and outdoor adventure trip today by checking out our lodging and dining pages.


This week in ADK news:

Horsing around

Gorges colors

Fall is for dreamers

Joyful and small

Tour de color

Spruce it up

Zen at the top

 

Wren surveys a mid-fall evening along the Raquette River from Axton Landing.
Wren surveys a mid-fall evening along the Raquette River from Axton Landing.
Big-toothed aspen and sugar maple leaves litter the ground along Lake Colby.
Big-toothed aspen and sugar maple leaves litter the ground along Lake Colby.
Flat-topped Aster reflects in the water with the clouds floating above.
Flat-topped Aster reflects in the water with the clouds floating above.
The reflections of leaves and the colored hillsides in the water can be amazing!
The reflections of leaves and the colored hillsides in the water can be amazing!
I love it when the tamaracks turn smoky gold.
I love it when the tamaracks turn smoky gold.
This was an amazing early fall evening on Lake Clear Outlet.
This was an amazing early fall evening on Lake Clear Outlet.
And this was a beautiful fall evening on Jones Pond.
And this was a beautiful fall evening on Jones Pond.

Related Stories

4 Reasons to Hire a Guide
Fall Flavors
On Peaceful Waters
Saranac Lake is Fall-tastic for Kids!
Best Off The Beaten Path Fall Foliage Finds
A Father and Son Tradition
Sunrise Paddling, Saranac Lake Style
10 Cool Reasons to Paddle Saranac Lake
Earth Day Paddling Tips
Saranac Lake Adventure Travel
Three Fantastic Fall Hikes in Saranac Lake
A Fall Vacation with Hot Sara
Norman Ridge Ride
Fall Fishing in the Adirondacks
Paddle the Saranac River
Lost Among the Rows
A Decidedly Different Fall Day in Saranac Lake
Fall Events
Lake Kushaqua, A Beautiful Place to Rest
Fall Fun in Saranac Lake
Perfect Paddling at the VIC
Decidedly Different Saranac Lake
A Day of Yoga and Paddling
Paddle Lower Saranac Lake to Fish Creek
Paddling Middle to Lower Saranac Lake
Cycling Loops in Saranac Lake
Rain Won't Keep Us Away: Paddling the St. Regis Canoe Area
Paddle Into Spring
Paddling on Lower Saranac Lake
Must Haves for a Cool Paddling Town
A Beautiful Paddle: Hoel to Long Pond via Pink Pond
Boating, Birding, and Boisterousness on the Saranac Chain of Lakes
Three Mind-blowing Facts About St. Regis Canoe Area
Finding Winter Finches — and other Cold-Weather Species
The VIC's Black Pond Loop
A Day on McKenzie Mountain
A Fall Hike up St. Regis Mountain
Fall Paddling in the Adirondacks is Amazing!
A Jones Pond Paddle
A Paddle (and Birding!) on Lake Clear Outlet
Beat the Heat!
Saranac Lake Trail Running
Fall for Saranac Lake
Connect with the Saranac Chain
Exploring Dexter Marsh and Santa Clara Flow
Hiking and Birding in Bloomingdale Bog
Rebuilding a Whitewater Park
The VIC: It's Luxury Hiking!
The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration!
Three of Saranac Lake's Best Paddling Routes
'Round the Mountain Canoe Race - An Event For All Paddlers
First Paddle of the Season down the Saranac River
Family Paddling Day: Planned for You
Paddling Jones Pond in the Fall
A Fall Hike Up Mount Baker
An Evening Paddle on Lake Clear Outlet
Azure Mountain Adventure
The Great Adirondack Corn Maze
A Fall Paddle on Little Green Pond
A Fall Paddle on the Floodwood Loop
Top Three Loops for Foliage
Five Fab Fall Viewpoints
Crystal Clear Waters!
Fall Migration is in High Gear!
St Regis Mountain: Paddle and Hike
Fall Seasons Cold Water Paddling
4 Go-To Paddling Destinations for Fall Foliage
Gorgeous leaves, all access
Be there at the finish!
An Evening Paddle on Middle Pond
Crossbills and Boreal Birds
Paddling and Birding along Quebec Brook
McKenzie Road Bouldering
Not just a walk in the park
Slow paddle to Oseetah
Cross Country Skiing in Lake Clear
Enjoying Late Fall Cold Fronts And Their Migrants
Great Fall Birding!
Dia de Muertos at Pine Ridge
A Fall Paddle On Lake Clear Outlet
Don't be afraid of the kayak
The Possibilities Of Fall Birding
A Fall Hike on Baker Mountain
Fall Events: a blaze of glory!
Zooming Around in the Fall
A Ride That Takes You Off The Beaten Path
Don't miss the summer's coolest events
Wonderful Weddings in Cool Places
Gray Jays!
2015 Most Popular Blogs
Shopping without the stress
John Brown's Other Bodies
Excellent October Birding!
Five top tips for cooking the hunt
Brighton: Dusk 'til Dawn
Unleash Your Inner Picasso
Paddling and Hiking Around Little Green Pond
Camping in the Cold (Disclaimer: This is NOT a How-To Guide)
A Cool Adirondack Adventure
Daddy Longlegs Love Burlap
Fall Warblers and Other Migrants!
Upcoming Fall Events
Enjoying Late Summer Wildflowers!
Dog Days of Summer aka Beach Time!
Martha Reben: Staring down the Great White Plague
Paddling and Birding Around Jones Pond
Paddling Middle Pond
Paddling in the Adirondacks for the First Time!
Hiking with the Crew up Baker Mountain
Saranac Inn, golf with a taste of Scotland
Learning to Love Every Season
In Defense of Mud Season
Wedding planning with the pros
Two sides of the Trifecta
Four Seasons of High Points
Fly our Adirondack skies
Where to find hot beverages
The First Ski of the Season!
Healthy Holidays, Adirondack Style
Birding Along Lake Colby
Saranac Lake Remembers the Great War
A Guide to the Great Indoors
Fall Paddling; Being Ready for the Cold
Doing the Doggie Paddle: Paddling the Adirondacks with your pet!
The biggest Cure Tour of them all
History Comes Alive in Saranac Lake
Learning to Identify Fall Leaves
The Horse Knows The Way
Paddling and Snorkeling Little Green Pond
A Red Phalarope at Little Clear Pond!
Searching for Fall Warblers and Other Songbirds
Boat Trip Massages: Two Roads to Wellness
Forks, Fests, and Flatwater: 3 Featured Fall events
Paddling Little Clear Pond
3 Short Paddles found in the St. Regis Canoe Area
Paddling Lake Clear Outlet
Hiking and Exploring Azure Mountain
An Evening Paddle on Moose Pond
A Great Place to Break Down
Adirondack Paddling, Choosing the Right Paddle
Adirondack Paddling - Choosing The Right Boat
“One Particular Island” all to ourselves
Roughing it in style: a tour of White Pine Great Camp
Spring Paddling on Lake Colby
One Magic Canoe: The Seven Carries Canoe Route
Roadside Gems, Paddling the Saranac Lake Region
5 Hidden Gems for Hiking, Paddling & Trail Running
Our lakes were born for boating
Cold Water Paddling, Preparation & Fun
Top 10 Spots for Paddling in Adirondacks
Something to Gobble About
Ducks and Otters at Lake Colby
Muskrats!
Hiking during Hunting Season
Goodman Mountain
Ducks on the Pond
Snow up high on McKenzie
You Don't Paddle Into the Wind
Five things you can do in Saranac Lake on Halloween week
Hiking St. Regis Mountain
Fall at the VIC
Panther Trifecta
A Fall Paddle on Jones Pond
A Fall Hike Up Baker Mountain
Sparrows Along Lake Colby
Going to Church
Visitors in My Yard
A Hike Up Panther Mountain
Where the leaves are on fire with color
Artist at Work Studio Tour this week
The Colors of Late Summer
Fun family events for fall foliage season
Scarface Mountain Adventure
Bloomingdale Bog Birds
Late Summer Yard Birds
Stomping out the Saranac 6 – Week 2 – St. Regis Mountain
Lows Lower Dam to Lows Ridge, A surf and Turf Adventure
The Osgood's
A peaceful afternoon on Jones Pond
Entertaining events will keep you hopping this weekend
Hoel Pond to Slang Pond for Lunch
Camping in the rain - better known as "damping"
Paddling and Fishing the Colby’s
Follensby Clear Pond to "Round Pond"
Long Pond to Pink Pond's
Little Clear Pond and Grass Pond, a Canoeing experience
What can we help you find?
Sign up to receive more information.
Enter Email
Do•Stay•Eat•Shop•Events
Work Here•Contact Us•DEI•Media Kit•Privacy Policy
39 Main Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Powered by the Regional Office of
Sustainable Tourism
THERE’S MORE TO EXPLORE
We’ve got the best ideas for things to do on your next Adirondack adventure, and we will deliver them right to your inbox! THANKS FOR SUBSCRIBING! Your next adventure awaits you in your inbox! Tell us more about what interests you, and we can help you plan your next trip.
MANAGE YOUR PREFERENCES