Six Must-Visit Towns In the Lake Champlain Region

Established in 1799, Willsboro is the oldest lake town in Essex County. The town's long peninsula creates a protected bay that has been a boater's sanctuary for centuries. It’s now home to lakeside restaurants and interesting historical sites. Go paddling, swimming, and birding at Noblewood Park, which offers vistas of Vermont's Green Mountains and the Boquet River delta. For an active adventure, hiking Rattlesnake Mountain provides one of the most famous views of the Champlain Valley. History buffs can visit the Adsit Cabin, an 18th-century log home built by a Revolutionary War veteran that stands as one of the oldest of its kind in the United States. The Willsboro Heritage Center Museum is a quiet space to dive into artifacts and stories from the town's past.

Westport has long welcomed travelers to the Adirondacks, by both boat and rail. This friendly community is the birthplace of the Adirondack Chair and maintains a scenic and close-knit atmosphere. The town is a cultural hub during the warmer months, featuring theater performances in its restored train station and live music at the lakeside pavilion in Ballard Park. Hikers can head to Split Rock Wild Forest, which contains over 11+ miles of trail through ecologically diverse forests. During the fall, Westport is home to the Adirondack Harvest Festival, where local produce and goods can be bought from the sources themselves. The town also features walkable streets perfect for a quiet winter stroll past historic homes and community parks.

The entire hamlet of Essex is a designated National Historic District, boasting an incredibly well-preserved collection of Federal and Greek Revival architecture. Walking through the town feels like stepping back into the early 19th century. A favorite activity here is riding the Lake Champlain ferry, which offers views of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains. Back on land, take the Gateway Trail to see historic sites and Essex’s natural landscape. Another great hiking option is Essex Quarry, which is a good opportunity to learn about how locals used to make a living. Essex also has a historic walking tour, where you can see the well-preserved and stunning architecture of the area. The Whallonsburg Grange serves as a focal point for community life, hosting indoor programs, films, and concerts all year.

Elizabethtown, the seat of Essex County, sits between the High Peaks and the Champlain Valley, and is an ideal base for outdoor recreation. For mountain bikers, there’s Otis Mountain and Blueberry Hill trail systems, with scenic riding, technical riding, and some beginner riding. If it’s golf you love, the historic Cobble Hill Golf Course is one of the most scenic in the Adirondacks. Elizabethtown also abuts the Giant Mountain Wilderness Area, home to hikes like Bald Peak and Owl Head Lookout. The Adirondack History Museum is a must-visit, housing a research library, a fire tower, and art galleries. For winter sports, the Blueberry Hill trail network offers miles of paths for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat-tire biking. There are some high-quality places to eat and stay here, too, including the oldest tavern in the entire Park.

Lewis is a quiet but culturally significant community. The town is famously the home of the Meadowmount School of Music, an elite summer program that has trained legendary musicians like Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman. During the summer, the public can attend weekly concerts performed by the world-class students at Meadowmount, a rare privilege in such a remote setting. The surrounding area is also perfect for biking and hiking, providing easy access to the Adirondack wilderness that borders the Lake Champlain valley. In particular, Mount Inez is a great hike both for the expansive views and for the history, owing to it being named after Inez Milholland, a famous voting rights activist. Gravel cycling routes are great here, too, ranging from beginner and intermediate to advanced.

Port Henry is affectionately known as the "San Francisco of the Adirondacks" for its steep hillsides overlooking Lake Champlain. As the official home of Champ, the legendary lake monster, the area features a board at Bulwagga Bay where visitors can track centuries of documented sightings. Hikers can explore the forest preserve through the nearby Moriah Hiking Challenge, a four-hike patch program that includes the easier Belfry Mountain fire tower and the vistas of Cheney Mountain. Beyond the outdoors, the community preserves its industrial roots at the Iron Center Museum, which highlights the town’s past as a leader in the iron ore and mining industry. This blend of lakeside legends and rugged history makes it a quintessential stop for anyone looking to experience the character of the Champlain Valley.