The Little-known Blue Mountain Lake Is One of the Best Places for Foliage in the Adirondacks

My hiking boots crunch fallen leaves as we approach the summit. I stop to take photos as an excuse to catch my breath, but I’m about to lose it again anyways — the vista opens up through the trees to reveal a spectacular scene. A patchwork quilt of rustic reds, fiery oranges, and bright golds stretch endlessly into the horizon. From my perch atop Castle Rock, the lake sparkles, dotted with a smattering of foliage-cloaked islands. The autumn air is crisp and refreshing in one of my favorite places to explore this time of year; Blue Mountain Lake in the Adirondack Mountains.

The tiny hamlet of Blue Mountain Lake might be small, but it delivers big on beauty. The Adirondacks have long been a popular destination for leaf-peepers, with the vibrant display appearing sometime in September, and a wide array of outdoor activities available to take it all in. While most visitors flock to well-known towns like Lake Placid in the High Peaks region, Old Forge, and the village of Lake George, these places tend to be packed with tourists who come to marvel at Mother Nature’s artwork and hike elbow to elbow on the popular trails. I grew up with this vast, six-million-acre park as my backyard and can confirm that it’s one of those lesser-known gems where it’s possible to feel like you’ve scored your own personal slice of autumn in the Adirondacks.

Situated in the western region of the park, almost equally between Long Lake and Indian Lake, Blue Mountain Lake is a place to leaf-peep the slow way. The haunting call of local loons are your alarm clock for the daily magic show. Sip coffee as the mystical fog burns off, revealing robust colors illuminated by the early morning light. If you’re lucky, the wind will be still, creating an illusion so strikingly beautiful; a mirror reflection, making it tricky to tell which way is up and which is down. The enchantment of this place is nothing new, though. Its most notable historic ties involve none other than Thomas Edison, a frequent guest of the elite Prospect House. In the 1880s, he made the luxury hotel the first of its kind in the world, with electricity in every room.

The most famous resident is Blue Mountain itself, a 3,750-foot-tall giant who watches over this corner of the Adirondacks. The peak is also one of the 25 fire tower-adorned summits in the park, luring hikers with a steep and challenging (a lot of open rock face that can be slippery when wet) 4.4-mile trail round-trip exploit. If you’re looking for a more bang-for-your-buck hike, the almost three-mile Castle Rock Trail is less technical (and sweaty) while still offering a fantastic panorama over the lake. Other great options for exploring this neck of the woods on foot include the Cascade and Stephens Ponds Trail, the Tirrell Pond trail, or a section of the remote, long-distance Northville-Placid Trail, which can be accessed from the neighboring Lake Durant State Campground. Another fabulous way to admire the foliage is via paddle, whether you hop in a canoe, kayak, or motorboat. Whatever autumn endeavors you choose, it’s wise to fuel up beforehand with a homemade breakfast sandwich from The Corner Store, a catch-all gas station, general store, deli, bakery, and coffee shop. Do yourself a favor and order the French toast sticks, too.

Post-adventure, grab a beer and some delicious grub from the food truck at the Strong Rope Brewery. Carve out some time at The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake for an informative and interactive deep dive into Adirondack history. Make sure to stop at the overlook on the cafe’s deck for an excellent view of the area as well. Check the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts to see what events and/or exhibits are currently on, and pop into the historic Church of the Transfiguration, a lakeside heritage chapel built in 1855.

Most of the lodging in Blue Mountain Lake consists of private camps, some of which you can rent, as well as small resort collections of housekeeping cottages with a rustic feel. Finding a place to stay, especially if you have your adventure pup tagging along, can be tricky. Since Indian Lake is nearby, The Woods cabin rental on Lake Adirondack is a fabulous pet-friendly choice, and if you time your trip with the last weekend in September, you’ll be perfectly positioned for foliage in Blue Mountain Lake and the Great Adirondack Moose Festival in Indian Lake. Oh, and out-of-the-world autumn sunsets from an Adirondack chair.