Two ways to explore the trails

Fall in Saranac Lake offers every kind of hiking experience. Wander a flat trail beneath blazing hardwoods or chase the challenge of a mountain summit. Either way, you’ll be rewarded with classic Northeast foliage views and a town ready to welcome you afterward.

This fall hiking guide explores Saranac Lake from two different trail perspectives. Olivia Penrose, a slow travel connoisseur, shares the best spots to fuel up with a coffee before an unhurried nature walk. Krissy Navrat, an Adirondack adventurer, covers the high-elevation hikes, plus where to go afterward for a burger and a beer.

Together, this guide captures fall hiking in Saranac Lake from both ends of the spectrum: those who prefer to linger among the trees and those who chase the thrill of the summit. Choose a pace, or mix and match for the perfect autumn adventure.

Fuel up

Before heading out on a hike or walk around Saranac Lake, fuel up in town! Designed with adventurers in mind, these breakfast spots range from quick and simple to sit-down restaurants to ease into your morning. Perk up with freshly roasted, single-origin coffee and a cozy atmosphere at Origin Coffee Co., and dig into their menu of pastries, sandwiches, and other goodies. Early Dawn Confections is your go-to for a from-scratch pastry, and their bagel selection is one of a kind in the North Country. Inside the Riverside Café at Nori’s, you’ll enter a world of healthy and organic food options. Their coffee bar is no joke, paired with fresh-made sandwiches, wraps, and vegetarian options, all featuring organic and local ingredients. If you’re in need of a cozy café breakfast before the trails, stop into Blue Moon Cafe! Blue Moon has been serving up their own Cold River Coffee Company coffee and teas since 1994, bringing specialty grounds to the region. Pair their brews with the immaculate pastry selection, or their stacked menu of pancakes, sandwiches, and breakfast platters.

Slow down and enjoy the foliage

Take a mellow walk on the wild side in Saranac Lake on one of our many nature trails! From popular multi-use trails that will take you through charming downtowns, to remote and quiet walks that will have you swept away with blazing foliage, there are plenty of places you can take a walk in nature that is less intense than hiking a mountain (but just as stunning).

• Red Dot Trail: The Red Dot Trail is an excellent trail with easy to moderate terrain. Once you get to the trailhead, you’ll quickly find how this trail got its name; red dots mark the trees along the trail! Cross the small bridge bringing you into a beautiful open forest, then climb up along an esker to a mix of habitats and a variety of birds and wildlife.

• Saranac Lake Riverwalk: The Riverwalk will take you on a stroll through town along a brick-paved path beside the Saranac River. At just 1 mile round-trip, follow the river and cross over its many bridges, then explore downtown Saranac Lake with its unique shops and plenty of stops for a mid-journey meal. 

• The Adirondack Rail Trail: The Adirondack Rail Trail is certainly a favorite for many casual adventurers in the region. At 34 miles (don’t let the mileage intimidate you), this recreational trail is open year-round, offering an adventurous way to walk in the unique scenery of the Adirondacks. This vehicle-free, multi-use trail will connect you with the scenic downtowns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake, all with a peaceful, scenic setting along a wide-open finished path. The cherry on top? You can make the walk as long or as short as you’d like with an abundance of access points along the trail.

• Mckenzie Pond Trail: On the west side of the 36,200 acre Mckenzie Mountain Wilderness Area, the 2-mile trail to Mckenzie Pond is scenic and well-marked, with a few unique features. Bridges can be found over stream crossings, and rocks and roots make it imperative to keep your attention on the ground below you. Once at the pond, look out to see White Pine Island, named for the giant white pine.

• Church Pond: Just off the road (also named Church Pond Road), the walk to Church Pond is picturesque and easy for beginners. On the water you can expect to find recreators paddling, and on land you’ll see a lean-to just on the shores of the pond, perfect for a picnic. Church Pond is on Paul Smith's Conservation Easement lands, and is open for the public to come and enjoy the views!

High-elevation adventures

If you're chasing fall color from above, the Saranac Lake 6er Challenge is the perfect excuse to lace up. Since 2013, the Village of Saranac Lake has challenged hikers to summit six peaks ringing the village, and every one of them turns into a proper leaf-peeping payoff once autumn rolls around.

Finish all six, then register online, pay a $15 fee, and earn a patch, a sticker, a member number, and the right to ring the bell at Berkeley Green.

• Baker Mountain: The shortest and most approachable peak in the Saranac Lake 6er Challenge, Baker Mountain gains 884 feet in elevation and is 1.6 miles round trip from the trailhead. Hikers seeking official 6er credit must start and finish on foot at the 6er Bell in Berkeley Green Park. This adds roughly 2 miles of flat walking on paved roads to the hike, a change implemented to help reduce traffic, parking, and congestion in the neighborhood surrounding the trailhead.

• St. Regis Mountain: A 6.8-mile round-trip hike with 1,650 feet of elevation gain, St. Regis Mountain leads to an iconic Adirondack fire tower at the summit, with views stretching across the McKenzie Wilderness, the High Peaks, and the ponds of the St. Regis Canoe Area.

• Scarface Mountain: A 7.6-mile round-trip hike with 1,500 feet of elevation gain, Scarface Mountain’s summit is wooded, but side trails lead to open ledges overlooking Oseetah Lake and the Saranac Lakes chain.

• Ampersand Mountain: A 5.4-mile round-trip hike with 1,780 feet of elevation gain, Ampersand Mountain rewards hikers with a bald, 360-degree summit offering views of the High Peaks, the Saranac Lakes chain, and surrounding Adirondack landscapes.

• Haystack Mountain: A 6.6-mile round-trip hike with 1,850 feet of elevation gain, not to be confused with the High Peak Mount Haystack, this Ray Brook trail offers a more approachable climb. The trail winds through the woods before a final steep ascent leads to an open rock face and scenic ledge.

• McKenzie Mountain: The highest peak in the Saranac Lake 6er Challenge, McKenzie Mountain is a 9.7-mile round-trip hike with 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Views from the summit stretch from Whiteface Mountain to the north to Mount Marcy to the south, while a ledge west of the trail offers views of the Village of Saranac Lake and the Saranac Lakes chain.

Still itching for more hikes after completing your 6er? There are plenty of bonus peaks nearby worth adding to your fall itinerary. Floodwood Mountain offers a quieter, low-key climb, with a 3.3-mile round-trip hike, 760 feet of elevation gain, and views northeast toward St. Regis Mountain. For a shorter hike with a big payoff, Azure Mountain is a 1.9-mile round-trip moderate climb with 940 feet of elevation gain, leading to a historic fire tower and some of the best views-per-mile in the region.

Where to refuel

After a day on the trails, Saranac Lake has plenty of spots to grab a drink, a meal, and a well-earned rest. RiverTrail Beerworks is a great place to unwind with a beer and a view. It’s a riverfront brewpub tucked along the River Walk next to the Adirondack Rail Trail, with a heated, screened-in patio and two fire pits overlooking the water. Prefer to stay downtown? Bitters & Bones offers rooftop dining, making it another way to sneak in some fall foliage views, along with craft beer brewed onsite. Grizzle T’s rounds out the lineup with a wide selection of craft beers, a full menu at The Scullery, and the perfect post-hike burgers.

For a more traditional sit-down meal, Sofia’s serves modern and authentic Mexican cuisine, making it a great option to pair with a brewery stop beforehand. If you’re ready to kick back after a long hike, grab takeout from Owl’s Nest Pizza instead.

Find your perfect fall adventure

Whether you choose to hike, walk, or simply munch on some fresh-made bagels at a local coffee shop, there’s plenty of ways to soak in the foliage this fall in Saranac Lake. Day dreaming like we are? Plan your fall getaway today!