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Enjoy the Long Days of Summer at Garnet Hill Lodge in the Adirondacks
Posted in Summer at Garnet Hill
A 4-Day Summer Weekend Adirondack Itinerary
We here at Garnet Hill Lodge love to help guests plan the perfect summer vacation or getaway. Summer is one of the most popular times to visit the Adirondacks, and we’re an ideal home base for warm-weather activities and adventures.
Garnet Hill has hiking, mountain biking trails and more things to do on-site, and we’re close to whitewater rafting, rail biking, and attractions you can cross off your Adirondack bucket list. Check out an example itinerary below for ideas on planning your perfect summer getaway.
Friday: Get Settled & Enjoy Happy Hour
Check into your Lodge or Cottage room as early as 4 pm and you’ll have plenty of time to settle in before our weekly Friday happy hours. Choose from a balcony room with a view, a standard room with easy access to the restaurant, or one of the Cottage options, suitable for families or groups traveling together.
Make your way over to the Log House Restaurant at 5 pm for happy hour specials on local beer, house wines, special cocktails and complimentary appetizers. Hang around for dinner, because the robust menu has offerings for everyone, from steak to salmon to chicken, and we have a children’s menu available as well.
Bonus suggestion: If you’d like to start the weekend early and arrive on Thursday evening, Garnet Hill Lodge typically offers vinyasa yoga classes at 9:15am on Fridays, so you’d be here in time to start the weekend off centered and ready for adventure.
Saturday: Hiking, Biking & Exploring
Breakfast is included with overnight stays, so start the day with a hearty and delicious meal at the Log House Restaurant before a day of adventures.
One of the best perks of staying on property at Garnet Hill is that you can pretty much hike out the door. No need to get up super early to secure a parking space at your desired trailhead – just grab your gear, and go! Bagged trail lunches are available from the Log House to bring with you upon request.
If you’d like to hit the trails with a mountain bike instead of hiking boots, you’ve come to the right place. Our trail system includes dedicated single-track mountain biking trails, and the on-site Outdoor Center has bike rentals, helmets, and anything else you may need for rent. (Note: overnight guests should pre-rent bikes ahead of time, and will receive a 20% discount).
Our close proximity to Thirteenth Lake makes Garnet Hill a top paddling destination as well. Canoes and kayaks are available for guests to use from 9 am to 4 pm daily, along with paddles and life jackets. Access to the beach and lake is 1.2 miles from the main Lodge, and we can provide you with directions.
Check out on-site summer/fall activities >>
Sunday: Venture Out for Off-Site Adventures
When you’re ready to enjoy activities and attractions off site, we have three key recommendations to check out, depending on the vacation vibe you’re going for:
For an easy-going adventure where you can learn all about the area, plan a visit to Adirondack Experience, the Museum on Blue Mountain Lake. Located about 40 minutes from Garnet Hill, this historic gem is open 10 am to 5 pm daily. Here you can dive into exhibits that depict the history of fire towers, logging, transportation, and much more in the Adirondack Park.
For a medium-level sense of adventure with incredible views, we suggest rail biking with Revolution Rail in North Creek, just 15 minutes from us. Widely considered one of the most unique things to do in the Adirondacks, as long as you can pedal a bike you can power a rail bike. They offer different tours that go about 7 miles round-trip with gorgeous sights of the Hudson River.
For an extreme adventure along the rushing rapids, make a plan to spend the day whitewater rafting with one of several nearby outfitters. Beaver Brook Outfitters, North Creek Rafting Company, and Whitewater Challengers/ARO all offer guided whitewater rafting trips on Sundays during the season, and they’re all within 15 minutes away.
Monday: Try Something New or Go Into Town
On the last day of your long weekend you might want to take advantage of any on-site perks or activities you haven’t yet. If you hiked or biked on Saturday, perhaps you make it a priority to get on Thirteenth Lake today for fishing, paddling, or even swimming. Or, if you hiked on-site, check out nearby hiking opportunities in the Siamese Pond Wilderness, Moxham Mountain, OK Slip Falls, or others.
Plus, don’t forget to try our 9-hole disc golf course! Opened in 2022, this fun and challenging course caters to players of different ability levels, making it perfect for families and groups of players to enjoy. Bring your own discs and the course is complimentary. You can also choose to rent or buy discs from the Outdoor Center.
We also recommend spending some time checking out the charming town of North Creek, about 15 minutes from Garnet Hill. Enjoy breakfast or lunch at Izzy’s Market & Deli, open at 8 am on Mondays, or becks Tavern, open at 12 pm.
The North Creek Depot Museum is open on Mondays from 12 pm to 4pm during the season, Barkeater Chocolates opens at 11 am, and you must drive past the incredible North Creek Mosaic, a massive art project on North Creek’s Main Street that depicts scenes from the Adirondacks.
Plan for your long Adirondack weekend getaway at Garnet Hill Lodge before the season is up!