This New York Lake Town Offers Waterfront Lodging With Stunning Adirondack Views

It's impossible to count, much less visit, all the lakes, rivers, and waterfalls hidden in the Adirondacks. So it's hard to decide where to start. But there's one tiny lake town with plenty of places to stay along the edge of the water. Trips to Long Lake naturally include gorgeous mountain views.

Long Lake is the longest lake in Adirondack Park. The park, a National Historic Landmark, covers more than six million acres of northeastern New York. These stunning New York mountains hide dangerous hiking trails. The lake, which is 14 miles long, flows into the Raquette River, eventually connecting with the mighty St. Lawrence River. While the town, also called Long Lake, straddles the narrow body of water. Its land, part of a 1.1-million-acre deal, was purchased from the Mohawk Nation in the late-18th century. Long Lake was established in the 1930s and grew when the railroad brought tourism, but it still feels remote. Only about 650 people live there.

Long Lake is less than 45 miles south of Saranac Lake. This lakeside town is one of the best spots in the Northeast for a couples trip. Its Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) receives daily, nonstop flights from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). You can also explore the best of New York's mesmerizing Adirondack's lakes on this scenic road trip. From New York City, the beautiful drive through Upstate New York takes about five hours.

Though passenger trains no longer connect secluded small towns in the Adirondacks, waterfront lodging still lures people to Long Lake. The town's first hotel, Kellog's Lake House, was built in the 1850s. After the original building was destroyed in a fire in 1898, it was rebuilt and renamed the Adirondack Hotel. It's currently the oldest-operating hotel in the Adirondacks. The historic building now has 20 rooms (from $130 per night), a Victorian dining room with fireplace, and a casual cafe and taproom with outdoor deck. It's also ideally positioned across from Long Lake Town Beach.

Due to the Adirondack Hotel's success, more lodging was soon constructed along Long Lake. Paddler's Rest (from $179 per night) was originally built in the 1870s. The eight-acre property was a private home and then an inn, before being turned into a motel and cottages. Its recent upgrades include a fire pit, grills, and a game room.

Another spot that's been updated is Motel Long Lake & Cottages from the 1950s. The current owners did extensive renovations on the motel, which now has eight seasonal motel rooms and 18 year-round cabins (from $199 per night). The motel has a private beach and a boat dock. You can also rent a boat or borrow a canoe or kayak to go out on the water. All of these west-facing accommodations have absolutely stunning views of the Adirondack's Seward Mountain Range.

After deciding where to stay along the lake, it's time to start exploring the stunning mountains surrounding it. Long Lake is spread across nearly 450 square miles, making it the second-largest town in New York State. Much of that land remains undeveloped. 

Sargent Ponds Wild Forest covers nearly 45,000 acres near Long Lake's southern tip. This protected area is a year-round playground where you can go biking, boating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fishing and hunting. A short hiking trail heads to Buttermilk Falls, which has picnic and swimming areas. Other trails lead to incredible views from Castle Rock and the Owl's Head Fire Tower. Plus the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a water trail that extends from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent, Maine, runs right through the wild forest and Long Lake.

On the opposite end of Long Lake, you'll find an even larger protected area. The High Peaks Wilderness is inside New York's Forest Preserve. Its more than 275,000 acres make it the largest wilderness area in New York State. Mount Marcy and Algonquin Peak, the two highest mountains in the Empire State, are also here. You can expect difficult hiking trails and remote camping sites. Just keep an eye out for black bears as you move through the mountains. You could also see a bald eagle flying overhead or a moose in the wetlands. The Adirondack views aren't the only things that'll take your breath away.