Day Trip to Lake Luzerne

…only 19 miles Northwest of Downtown Saratoga Springs!

Written & Photographed By Sue Clark, M.Ed. 

With the summer of 2023 fast approaching, it's a great time to let you know about a very special road trip destination that is only 19 miles northwest of Saratoga! That amazing destination - Lake Luzerne, is jam packed with history, waterfalls, beaches, dude ranches, parks,  several museums, gift shops, thrift shops, a historic school house, Adirondack craft classrooms, horses, riding trails, dude ranches, campgrounds,  inns, hotels,  places to grab a bite to eat, and much more! Many of the historic spots are easy on the wallet, as they are free to visit. Who does that? Lake Luzerne does!   

How do I know this? I know because I am one of the Lake Luzerne "Town Ambassadors,"  welcoming you to the fabulous hamlet of Lake Luzerne during July and August at the historic  Rockwell Harmon Cottage and Visitors Center at 37 Main Street in Lake Luzerne. I will be covering  Sunday afternoons. You can  also drop in to the Visitors Center and town historic sites  from Thursday through Sunday in the summer and meet all the other fabulous "Town Ambassadors." (You can also find me at the Cottage on Sundays during the beautiful fall season too.)  The "Town Ambassador" program began in 2015 to help spread the word about this gorgeous  location  in the Southern Adirondacks. Look for the "Open" flags flying outside each of the buildings indicating that they are open.  And... we are always looking for more "Town Ambassadors " that enjoy greeting visitors!  Contact the town if you are interested. 

The historic Rockwell Harmon Cottage and Visitor Center is a good place to start your exploring, as we are  full of brochures, maps and fun passports. The Cottage is the last  building still in existence of what used to be known as the  Rockwell Hotel, an Adirondack hotel destination that wined and dined many famous people, such as General Grant, back in its heyday.  "The Rock" has a back lawn that faces the rushing Hudson River, the very same waterway that Saint Kateri Tekakwitha used to portage her way to Canada. Bring your paints and easel and set up on the cottage lawn, bring your camera, walk the trails, or just sit by the Hudson in the Adirondack chairs... and decompress. It simply feels like magic here listening to the river and watching the sun peek through the woods.  For another fun activity,  pick up the "First Wilderness Heritage Corridor Letterboxing Passport"  at the Visitors Center, and go off to find the hidden stamps at each site you are directed to. Once found, you can stamp your passport. Or, pick up the " Walking and Windshield Tour Scavenger Hunt" and follow the clues!  

Located on  Lake Luzernes short Main Street,  you can play tennis or basketball,  visit our historic  1930's one room Gailey Hill Schoolhouse, tour the  Frances Garnar Kinnear Museum of Local History (and gift shop), or tour the easily accessed historic  Pagenstecher Paper Pulp Mill Museum, the first in the nation to use American made equipment, located in the  quaint Mill Park, with its own waterfall.  You can also take classes year round at the Adirondack Folk School (which BTW includes  another great gift shop,)  or visit the sunlit Rockwell Falls Library. You can stop and buy  a sandwich at the full service Luzerne Market, and then  walk over to the "Bridge of Hope," which is dedicated to our beloved veterans, and straddles  the roaring  Rockwell Falls, a sight you don't want to miss!  For the civic-minded, there is an Elks, an American Legion, and a VFW in the area with plenty of activity for the visitor. For the thrift shopper,  there is the "Serendipity Thrift Shop." Lake Luzerne does not lack for beautiful churches to attend,  including St. Mary's Episcopal, the First United Methodist, the Wesleyan  and the Rockwell Falls Presbyterian, with their own summer activities. Car trouble? Get yourself to the Carquest  Auto Parts Store, Cirillo's Auto Services, or JR Automotive, to name a few. There's also The Hardware Store in town for you "do it yourselfers."  You can pick up your bottle of wine on the way home for dinner at Baileys. 

Wine and Liquor.  Further out of town is the beloved Double H Ranch, a "seriousfun" camp created by Paul Newman and Charles Wood for children with chronic medical issues who want to attend a fun, medically supervised summer camp that is tuition free. A remarkable camp indeed!  You can also hear beautiful music at the Luzerne Music Center,  go whitewater rafting, visit the Adirondack Adventure Center, grab a bite at Harris Grocery, the Rockwell Falls General Store, or the Long Horn Restaurant and Pub,  Fishheads Roadhouse Kitchen, Rocco's II,  Joe's Mini Mart, Stewarts, or the historic Hitching Post Tavern / Nettle Meadow Artisan Cheese Store / Gift Shop, to name a few eateries.  Saratoga Corinth and Hudson Railway train rides  and  Revolution Rail can be found a short distance from Lake Luzerne. Lake Luzerne is also known as Dude Ranch Country,  so check out the miles of  horseback riding  trails throughout the extensive Dude Ranch Trail System while riding with any of the local riding stables, including Mountain View Rocking B Ranch, (formally Bennetts,) or Ruggiero's Riding Stables and Cabins. Want to swim, fish or kayak? Head to the picturesque Wayside Beach on Lake Luzerne.You can also picnic  in the Butler Pavilion Park area if you desire. The town  even has a "History Day" celebrating  town and cowboy history, and a very popular fall  Pug dog breed "costume contest" at the Pavilion Park every year, with awards!!! You'll also  find several private campgrounds to choose from, along with the Luzerne State Campground,  located along the Lake Luzerne / Route 9N  corridor. Prefer more plush surroundings? You can stay at  the elegant  Lamplight Inn, or choose from many  boutique motels in town.   And for an authentic western experience,  head to the "oldest continuous running weekly rodeo in the USA," the Grahams "Painted Pony Championship Rodeo," to get your BBQ and rodeo thrills under the lights, and to do your "boot scoot" dancing later on!  And don't let me forget  to share with you one more  LL event this year, which is the  new 6 week /  Wednesday nights "Lake Luzerne Food Trucks and Music Concert Series" starting July 12  with the ever popular Stony Creek Band, and ending on the final Wednesday of  August 16 with the "Spirit of Johnny Cash." (See schedule on town website.) FREE to attend!!! Next year don't forget the very popular  spring "Maple In April" Hadley town event , which includes the "Lil Sugar Dust Off Car / Truck Show." (Rescheduled for June 3, 2023 due to inclimate weather last  April.)  So  get your favorite hot rod, motorcycle, car club, camera  / hike group, babies, grandparents, and/or the kids, and come enjoy the rare air / fun destination  that is Lake Luzerne!  And let me take this time to thank the folks that keep Lake Luzerne rocking, including Hadley / Luzerne super advocate Sue Wilder, Town Supervisor Gene Merlino, Historian Pam Morin, the Hadley- Lake Luzerne  Historical Society, (celebrating their 50 year Anniversary  in June!),   the Lake Luzerne town garage crew for keeping the grounds and buildings  beautiful,  all the town officials, all the "Town Ambassadors," all the businesses, (bring me your brochures please!) and  all that have put forth the effort to keep Lake Luzerne amazing! 

NOTE: As with any road trip,  I would encourage you to look up the Lake Luzerne town website  or  Google / call / email any of the locations mentioned for updated hours and directions.