Going Off-Piste: North Creek Edition
Travel off the beaten path in the Adirondacks near Gore Mountain.
A vignette of the magnificent North Creek Mosaic Project
People frequently ask us, “ Where should I go in the Adirondacks?”
Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Lake George, and Bolton Landing are top-of-mind recommendations. And those are all splendid options. They offer:
Lovely places to stay
Fun and exciting things to do – hiking, swimming, boating, the arts, shopping and more.
Terrific restaurants and cafes
Historic sites and attractions
But many lesser-known places are just as lovely, with similar attributes that make for a perfect out-of-the-way mountain getaway.
North Creek Railroad Station
That’s why we’re introducing a new feature on ADK Taste called Off-Piste*: our recommendations for places off the usual trail that offer great things to do.
For this inaugural edition of ADK Taste Off-Piste, we’re taking you to North Creek, NY, a charming hamlet in Johnsburg in Warren County, about 25 miles northwest of Lake George Village. While visitors immediately associate North Creek with ski season and nearby Gore Mountain, this mountain community has much to offer all year round.
Historic railway town.
The town is full of ADK history. It was the original northern terminus of the Adirondack Railway, the first railroad into the Adirondacks, built by Dr. Thomas C. Durant in the early 1870s.
Historians may remember the North Creek Railroad Station as the place where then Vice President Theodore Roosevelt learned of the death of President McKinley and his succession to the Presidency of the United States on September 14, 1901, after a wild ride from the High Peaks.
In the first half of the 20th Century, North Creek was a popular destination for ski enthusiasts from the Albany area and locations further south. Did you know North Creek ski bowl established the first ski patrol in the US? Now you do.
Today, the town is a fantastic jumping-off point for experiencing classic ADK diversions all year-round – hiking, mountain biking, skiing, the arts, fishing, tubing, rafting and more.
Revolution Rail crosses the Hudson River
Ride with Revolution Rail
This company offers thrilling railbike trips that allow you to ride the original Adirondack railroad tracks. Revolution Rail provides several routes and the opportunity to see parts of the Adirondacks you may not be able to experience any other way.
Fun for fishing fanatics.
The area around North Creek offers anglers ample opportunity in some of the most under-fished waters in the East. Johnsburg is at the edge of the Siamese Ponds Wilderness and the Upper Hudson River. North Creek’s website offers more insights on where to go in these fisherperson paradise spots.
If you need equipment or want a guide to enhance your experience, check out Streamside Fly Shop & Outfitter. They offer float fishing excursions on the Hudson and Schroon Rivers and fly fishing adventures on Thirteenth Lake during the Hex hatch. Evening floats for Bass on Alligator Pond are available. The season runs until the middle of October.
White water rafting on the mighty Hudson River.
You read that right: the Hudson River, the big river that the Statue of Liberty overlooks and the George Washington Bridge spans, starts in the Adirondacks, and North Creek is just a stone’s throw from its banks.
If you’re looking for a thrilling experience, you’re in luck; multiple rafting companies in and around North Creek are ready to take you on an adventure.
Excellent hiking at your doorstep.
Gore Mountain Skyride
While Gore Mountain is known as one of the top ski destinations in the Adirondacks and East Coast, it also has a lot to offer outdoor enthusiasts in temperate months. Their mult-trail hiking system means hikers can choose their adventure based on their ability, timeframe and what they want to see.
And if they need to get to the summit fast, Gore Mountain Scenic Skyride will take them to the top in just a few minutes. Visitors can take it up, enjoy the scenery, ride back, hike, or bike down. It accommodates bikes, strollers, walkers and wheelchairs, making the mountain and its spectacular views accessible to anyone.
Another hiking option is Moxham Mountain. This 5.5-mile round-trip hike gains approximately 1,500 ft. in elevation and is deemed moderately easy. Along the trail are lovely views before reaching the summit, where you will be rewarded with some marvelous vistas. It’s also hikeable year-round.
Arts and cultural activities abound.
Back in North Creek, try your hand at glassblowing at the Adirondack Glassblowing Studio. Classes are available for those seven and older. Bring home a beautiful reminder of your stay.
H’ART Studio
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2022, Tannery Pond Community Center (TPC), located on Main Street in North Creek, is dedicated to bringing the best music and dramatic performances, art exhibits and community events to the Gore Mountain & Schroon Lake area. Check their calendar for current and upcoming events. There is always something happening at TPC.
H’ART Studio & Gallery features works from many North Country artists, including paintings, mosaics, watercolors, jewelry, cards, books, canvas prints and calendars. It’s a great place to pick up a gift for someone special (including yourself).
Speaking of H’ART Studio, don’t miss taking an up-close view of The North Creek Mosaic Project, the most significant piece of public art in the Adirondacks. Kate Hartley (current owner of H’Art Gallery) saw the large 9’ tall concrete wall on Main Street in North Creek as the perfect opportunity to create a magnificent work of art for all to enjoy. The entire town participated in creating this magnificent mosaic.
The mosaic’s stunning 200,000 colored tiles depict various Adirondack scenes, including white-water rafting, downhill skiing, fishing, and tubing on the Hudson, plus the native flora and fauna of the North Creek area.
Ready to eat?
When it comes to food and beverage options, North Creek has you covered.
Hand-made deli sandwiches at Izzy’s
Directly across from the Mosaic Project is Cafe Sarah, a long-standing establishment in North Creek offering excellent baked goods, coffee drinks, breakfast items, sandwiches, salads and more.
Just down Main Street in a renovated storefront, Izzy’s Market & Deli is the go-to place to eat in or take out for breakfast or lunch. The interior is spacious, clean and pleasant, with a gorgeous pressed tin ceiling—plenty of tables and seating. They offer delectable made-to-order deli sandwiches, soups, and salads, and they even roast their own coffee. Why not order sandwiches to-go to take on your hiking, biking or other expedition? Wicked smart.
barVino
Small plates, big flavors, and great wines are all on the menu at barVino in the heart of North Creek. Their seasonal, constantly evolving menu features locally sourced ingredients and a stellar wine list. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting. Even the most finicky foodie will be pleased.
Basil & Wicks is about 2 miles south of North Creek on Route 28. A new chef has reinvigorated the menu, and we had a terrific meal there recently. The menu is an excellent blend of crowd-pleasing casual fare typical of Adirondack eateries and bespoke entrees to show off the chef’s culinary chops.
Also, just a mile outside of town on the road to Gore is beck’s TAVERN, a contemporary chalet with a quasi-industrial vibe. With a bright and warm interior, this tavern and restaurant serves hearty German-inspired food. They also host live music on their spacious lawn (check out their Yurts). It’s a fun, casual, family-friendly environment
Other food options in North Creek include The Barking Spider (open late), Hey Days 267 pizzeria, and the recently opened North Creek Lodge (we haven’t been yet, but they’re getting good buzz).
North Creek’s excellent options for a good night’s rest.
For a small town, North Creek offers great accommodation for overnight visitors.
Located in the center of North Creek, guests at the Alpine Lodge are within walking distance of the shops, restaurants, food markets, delis, wine shops, and other establishments.
Billed as the first “smart hotel” in the Adirondacks, Alpine Lodge offers guests ultra-high-speed broadband, wifi, and cellular network extenders for better cell phone reception (we get it; not everyone can or wants to “get away from it all”). Guests can charge their Electric Vehicles on the premises, too.
Rooms include en suite luxury baths, Beekman 1802 products, Kassatex luxury linens, and other amenities.
Established in 1987, the Goose Pond Inn has kept up with the times and the growing hamlet of North Creek. This little gem of an inn has four rooms with AC, en suite bathrooms, sitting areas, Roku TV and other amenities.
Each room is spacious and comfortable. The innkeepers have equipped two of the rooms with twin bunks for families to stay without being cramped. And furry family members are welcome, too. Goose Pond Inn allows a total of two dogs (each under 60 lbs) per room. There is a charge to cover the deep cleaning they do after your pooch leaves.
Garnet Hill Lodge
Looking for something a little more remote? Check into Garnet Hill Lodge, just 10 miles north and west of town. It is more than an inn; with its miles of private trails, Garnet Hill Lodge is a nationally-acclaimed Nordic ski center, a mountain bike park, a place to hike, and a place for paddling and swimming in a crystal-clear and unsullied Adirondack lake.
The Lodge is accessed by a steep drive up a winding road. Guests are rewarded for their efforts with splendid views of the surrounding Adirondack Mountains and the exquisite Thirteenth Lake. The Lodge has hosted many famous guests, including Robert Kennedy, who visited in 1967 was New York’s junior U.S. Senator.
The Kennedy family's seven children and several nieces and nephews were present, including Caroline, the daughter of the late president. Freckles, the family's black and white cocker spaniel, accompanied them and delighted newspaper reporters.
Camp Orenda
Ever wanted to try glamping, Camp Orenda is a short distance from North Creek. Recognized by Travel+Leisure, Architectural Digest and National Geographic as a premier site for glamping, Orenda offers six canvas tents complete with Adirondack-inspired furniture, including plush-down comforters, pillows, fresh linens, and clean towels, lighting, ceiling fans and electrical outlets.
Orenda's canvas cabins come equipped with "wood-burning-inspired" electric stoves for heat on cooler nights.
Other lodging options near North Creek include The Lodge at Gore Mountain and the newly refurbished North Creek Lodge.
Bringing home a piece of the ADK.
Did you know that shopping is the #1 thing visitors want to do when they come to the Adirondacks? Given the range of outdoor experiences the ADK is famous for, we were surprised by that fact. Luckily there are great places to shop in the ADK. Here are some of our favorites in North Creek.
As mentioned, H’ART Studio is our go-to place for unique, hand-crafted ADK items.
For the choc-o-holic in your life, stop by Barkeater Chocolates Factory Store for delicious handmade artisanal chocolates. You can find their products all over the ADK, but nothing beats visiting their factory store. They also offer chocolate-making classes and ghost tours (apparently, the old farmhouse where the store is located is haunted).
Founded in 2021, Adirondack All Seasons Outfitters is a year-round retail and rental outdoor equipment store. It serves the community with an environment filled with knowledgeable staff, equipment for all, and a place where adventure stories are always welcome.
Garnet
The non-skiing parts of Gore Mountain are recognized worldwide for being the source of outstanding garnets. This gemstone is revered for its beautiful colors, durability, protection, friendship, trust, commitment, and love. Garnet is also said to keep the wearer safe during travel. Garnet Studio is our go-to source for custom-cut stones and jewelry using local-mind garnet, 14K gold and silver.
Other shopping options in North Creek include Hudson River Trading Co. for gifts and home decor items. The town has a Top’s market and a Walgreens pharmacy for everyday needs.
Whether planning a last-minute summer getaway or an autumn leaf-peeping excursion, North Creek makes a great ADK destination.
Additional planning resources.
*Off-piste is a skiing term. It means going off the usual trails, often searching for fresh powder and hidden delights.
