*Featured Photo by Kacey O'Brien
The Lake George Area changes with the seasons. After a scorching summer, fall eases in, the leaves begin to turn, and bustling sidewalks start to quiet down. Brisk mornings warm into sunny afternoons, then fade into cool evenings. The colors of the Adirondacks morph from emerald and seaweed green to a spectrum of yellows, oranges, and reds. The lakes are still pleasant and refreshing, but the fall air on wet skin forces a shiver or two.
Even though the climate begins to change after Labor Day every summer, the opportunities for fun remain essentially the same. The foliage is jaw-dropping and easily accessible. Waterfront restaurants are open and eager for visitors. Hiking trails continue to be beautiful challenges as the leaves and temperatures drop.
Fall is a gorgeous time to visit the Lake George Area. Let us plan a weekend trip for you—all you need to worry about is getting here and having fun!
Friday Evening
It’s around 6:00 PM. After a hectic week at work, you arrive in the Lake George Area prepared to unwind. You check into a clean and comfy hotel room, maybe an Adirondack cabin complete with dark wood paneling and a ten-point buck on the wall, or even a secluded campsite shaded by tall pines. It’s time to grab a bite to eat.
There are dozens of eclectic and delicious restaurants in the Lake George Area. You can choose from family-owned Italian, authentic Mexican, or American cuisine, such as a juicy burger, based on your mood and the location of your accommodations.
Glens Falls and Queensbury, the most populated towns in the region, make up the southern portion of the Lake George Area. That large population creates a lot of dinner options on a Friday evening. You can park in downtown Glens Falls and walk to more restaurants than your stomach can handle in one night. Fenimore’s Neighborhood Pub, located inside the Queensbury Hotel, is a casual gastropub that overlooks Glens Falls City Park.
Pictured: Fenimore's Neighborhood Pub in Queensbury.
Geographically, the center of the Lake George Area is made up of Lake George Village, as well as the towns of Bolton Landing and Warrensburg. Lake George Village and Bolton Landing both sit on the western shores of beautiful Lake George. A table overlooking the lake is easy to find. In the Village, join the Lake George Beach Club. This waterfront restaurant on Montcalm Street is newly renovated, serves quality food and drinks, and often has a lineup of live music for a complete dining experience. If you’re a craft beer enthusiast, the Adirondack Pub & Brewery just down the road is a great place to have dinner. Their award-winning beers are varied and excellent, with their fall seasonal brews especially going down quick on a Friday evening. Pasta lovers should head to Mario’s Restaurant, a family-owned Lake George Village fixture since 1954, serving Italian and American cuisine—including a fine wine menu.
The best view in Bolton Landing belongs to The Algonquin. The perspective of Lake George from a stool at their lengthy bar or from a table on any of their outdoor decks is hard to beat. The Algonquin serves burgers, sandwiches, seafood, steaks, and pasta. Anticipate being there for some time; it’s slow eating when you’re savoring the food and staring at those views, trust us. For a flavorful meal with guaranteed fresh ingredients, check out The Huddle Kitchen and Bar. Their outdoor seating is perfect for an early evening meal.
Pictured: A plate of food from The Algonquin Restaurant in Bolton Landing.
Warrensburg may not be located in Lake George, but it’s still chock-full of options for a great meal. For casual pub fare with a local feel, grab a stool at George Henry’s. Order some wings in a variety of sauces and wash them down with an ice-cold draft beer. Bandstand Brew Works is also a very popular local spot for craft beverages and American fare.
If you’re staying in one of the small outskirt towns of the Lake George Area, you’ll still have plenty of opportunities for a sit-down meal. In Lake Luzerne, head to the Long Horn Restaurant & Pub for sandwiches at the bar. Meanwhile, in North Creek, The Barking Spider is a casual and cozy place for assorted wines and beers with friends.
Whichever restaurant you choose, make sure to skip dessert—because we highly recommend heading to Martha’s Dandee Creme in Queensbury. Their towering ice cream cones and daily flavors are legendary in the Lake George Area.
Early Saturday
You wake up well rested, refreshed, and ready to get out and enjoy the Lake George Area sunshine. It’s impossible to explore every nook and cranny in one weekend, but there are a few things every fall visitor should check out. Hop out of bed, get dressed, and have a quick bite to eat. It’s time to take in the foliage!
Depending on when you visit, the fall foliage season is either getting better every day or is at its peak. There are several ways to see outstanding views of the colors. If you’d like to get out in the woods and walk among the leaves, take a hike to one of the Lake George Area’s breathtaking mountain summits.
The Dean Farm Heritage Trails in Stony Creek have a mix of easy and accessible walking paths for beginners, or more challenging climbs for experts. Meanwhile, Crane Mountain is a much more difficult trail in Thurman that requires hikers to climb two ladders to complete the loop. Each of these trails gives leaf peepers exactly what they are looking for.
Pictured: The Dean Farm Heritage Trails in Stony Creek; Photo Credit: Kacey O'Brien
If hiking isn’t your cup of tea, there are other opportunities to see the fall colors. Rent a boat—or trailer your own—to Lake George and spend the morning cruising around. Go to Gore Mountain in North Creek and take a scenic ride on the Northwoods Gondola for some bird’s-eye views of the foliage. Drive to the summit of Prospect Mountain to see a hundred-mile view of Lake George, the Adirondacks, and beyond.
Pictured: The Gondolas at Gore Mountain in North Creek; Photo Credit: Kacey O'Brien
Visitors in the Lake George Area have been admiring fall foliage from the decks of cruise ships for over 200 years. You can do the same with both the Lake George Steamboat Company and Lake George Waterfront Cruises. The Lake George Steamboat Company offers a Full Lake Fall Foliage Cruise on select Saturdays—departing at 9:00 AM—along with other autumn-time cruises, such as a two-hour Fall Noon Cruise on select dates in September and October. Meanwhile, Lake George Waterfront Cruises offers a variety of sightseeing cruises daily. Climb aboard any ship to get an up-close and personal look at the colors.
Saturday Afternoon and Evening
Meanwhile, for the rest of your day, chances are you'll want to experience some of the best that autumn in the Lake George Area has to offer. Again, it's impossible to condense everything into a single weekend, but here are some spectacular suggestions to fill your day's itinerary—especially if you're craving more breathtaking views along the way.
Mountain Biking is a popular activity during the fall season, with the cool crisp breezes pushing riders forward as they cruise through scenic woodlands and ranges filled with vibrant foliage colors. Trail systems like the Gurney Lane Mountain Bike Park and the Brant Lake Bike Park consist of multiple miles of pathways for all levels of riders. Meanwhile, year-round resorts like West Mountain and the North Creek Ski Bowl have their own available trail networks.
Pictured: The Excalibur Trail at the Gurney Lane Mountain Bike Park in Queensbury.
You can also gallop through the autumn Adirondack landscapes on a guided horseback riding tour at one of the area's many ranches, like the Circle B Ranch in Chestertown or Ruggiero's Public Horseback Riding in Lake Luzerne. These operators welcome guests of all ages and skill levels, and take guests through different terrains like woodlands, forests, and even mountain ranges. You'll often encounter local wildlife, panoramic views everywhere you look, and a knowledgeable guide more than willing to share plenty of fun facts about the surrounding area.
A spot of fishing during the fall season—perched along the water with vibrant seasonal colors of trees in the background—can be quite the relaxing experience, but it can also yield great catches for the avid angler. During this time of year, you may just catch some trout, salmon, bass, and pike, among other rarer species. The area is home to many beautiful streams, rivers, and, of course, lakes that all make terrific spots to cast at, which you can find using our Fishing page.
Pictured: Fall Foliage along the Hudson River in North Creek; Photo Credit: Kacey O'Brien
Sunday Morning
Your trip to the Lake George Area is sadly coming to an end, but it’s not too late to squeeze in some more fun. On Sunday, you can still enjoy a morning hike or a stroll through quaint downtowns before hitting the road. Stop at the arcades in Lake George Village or sunbathe on the beaches in Bolton Landing or even further north in Hague. Perhaps you can even hit up the Factory Outlets of Lake George for some fall discounts.
No matter how much you check off the itinerary, you’ll certainly have next fall’s trip to the Lake George Area already planned before you get home. And don't forget to take the scenic route on your way out.
Pictured: Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway in Lake George; Photo Credit: Kacey O'Brien
Want even more ideas for your fall-themed getaway? Check out our Fall Activities page for various recreational opportunities, events, and more!
