8 Reasons Late Summer is Better Than You Think

Written for Adirondacks, USA by author Lauren Breedlove, with photos by the author.

Locals wait all year for this: late summer. In the Adirondacks, there’s ‘summer,’ and then there’s our little secret season; a snippet at the end where all of the stars align for the best bits of the warm weather days. Most of the crowds have dissipated, their vacations during peak weeks just a recent fond memory. Restaurants and shops are still fully staffed and in their smooth summer stride, and  are packed with late-season goodies like local corn, cherries, and blueberries.

At this point, most of our summer menaces like black flies, mosquitoes, deer flies, and horse flies have gone, making it much more enjoyable to linger outdoors. While jumping back into the grind of school and work hangs on the horizon, late August and early September are still a time to relax, linger, and celebrate what makes late summer so unique.

With more than 3,000 lakes and ponds, and approximately 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, it’s no real shock that swimming is a favored Adirondack summer pastime. Early-season swimming can be goosebump-inducing, but by August, the summer sunshine has warmed waters to a comfortable temperature, making late-summer dips positively glorious. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a refreshing post-hike swim in the Adirondacks. Pair Giant Mountain and Chapel Pond, or Ampersand Mountain and Middle Saranac Lake for a day well-spent.

Classic, family-friendly beach swims can be enjoyed throughout the park, such as Lake Placid’s Public Beach on Mirror Lake, Schroon Lake’s public beach, the public beach on Lake Pleasant in Speculator, Inlet Public Beach, Black Point Beach in Ticonderoga, and Long Lake Town Beach, with water toys, a roped swimming area, and views of the Seward Mountain Range (to name a few). Uncover a wilderness swimming hole, like Marcy Field, Bog River Falls in Tupper Lake, hike back to peaceful Moose Pond in Bloomingdale, or wade into a waterfall pool at Split Rock Falls in Elizabethtown.

Spring leaves much of our vast network of hiking trails pretty wet and muddy—there’s a reason it’s dubbed ‘mud season.’ But by late summer, they’re typically dry and well-trodden, to boot; music to hiking enthusiasts’ ears. If you’re jonesing for a late summer hike, this is one of the driest times to hike the High Peaks, particularly the longer, notoriously challenging and muddy trails like the Santanoni Range, a 3-peak, 15.1-mile trek through remote backcountry wilderness. If that’s more than you’re willing to tackle, 6.8-mile Big Slide or 5.4-mile Giant Mountain are worthwhile ventures, best with dry, hardened trails.   

Ah, the summer sundowner hour. There’s nothing quite like sipping a deck drink at a waterside eatery, lounging in an Adirondack chair, or enjoying a dusk paddle, as the sun lowers and the fiery colors intensify across the sky. Late summer bestows the sunset sweet spot, hitting between 7-7:30 pm: not too early, not too late. Whether you grab a cocktail along the shores of Lake Champlain at the Old Dock Restaurant, put your feet in the sand at Tupper Lake Waterfront Park, book a campsite at Raquette Lake’s Golden Beach (it has this name for a reason), or hop in a kayak or canoe for a leisurely paddle on the remote and strikingly beautiful Henderson Lake, golden hour hits just right.

In the height of summer, a last-minute weekend trip to the Adirondacks can leave you out of luck. As the season wanes, finding accommodation becomes much easier, and minimum-night requirements tend to loosen up a bit, especially in popular destinations like Lake Placid and Keene Valley. 

Good things come to those who wait, and if you’re patient enough to visit Adirondack hotspots in the late summer, you can avoid the lines and the crowds. Shorten your wait for your after-dinner cone at one of the many delicious ice-cream spots in the Adirondacks, like Northern Lights Creamery in Inlet, Donnelley’s Soft Ice Cream, or Custard’s Last Stand in Long Lake. Enjoy the Wild Walk experience at Tupper Lake’s renowned Wild Center, or venture through history and nature by land and water at Ausable Chasm without the crowds.

You may not know this, but the Adirondack Park is an island paradise. We have hundreds of island campsites, and we may be biased, but they are nothing short of idyllic. Many are boat access only, offering a private and tranquil setting unlike most traditional camping. Some islands are so petite that they only have one site—so yes, you can have an entire island to yourself. 

Snagging one of these coveted spots during peak season is like winning the outdoor lottery, often requiring campers to book far ahead (like an entire season). With many visitors having wrapped up their summer vacations, late August and early September is, in our opinion, the absolute best island camping. Not only are more sites available, but temperatures are mild during the day, with cool mornings and evenings. 

These are some of the most popular island campgrounds easier to book in late summer:

• Indian Lake Islands Campground 
• Saranac Lake Islands State Campground

There’s always something fun going on in the Adirondacks, but some of the coolest events take place in late summer.

• Mid-August is for art lovers, with the Plein Air Festival, a multi-day event in and around Saranac Lake where juried artists paint Adirondack scenes while immersed in the beauty outdoors. 
• In late August, live music wafts about Schroon Lake for their annual Porch Fest.
• The second weekend in September, the Blue Mountain Lake Rustic Furniture & Artisan Fair takes place along Route 30, as well as on the grounds of the Adirondack Experience Museum. Vendors sell everything from Adirondack-style furniture, art, antiques, and more.
• In mid-September, the 90 Miler Adirondack Canoe Classic draws paddling enthusiasts for the 3-day event on our famous network of waterways stretching from Old Forge to Saranac Lake.

Something truly special happens throughout August in the Adirondacks: a seasonal transition with a beautiful overlap of summer and fall. Think: sweatshirt mornings and evenings sandwiched by bathing suits and shorts. Flaxen goldenrod and clusters of bluish-purple American-asters pop up, a sure sign summer is winding down. Rustic oranges and reds begin to make their debut in the higher elevations; a prelude to autumn’s main event. 

The scenery hits every cinematic note: layers of morning mist, mountains donning fog hats, and indulgent sunset colors in the cool evenings. Take advantage of this magic with an early sunrise jaunt up Cascade Mountain, Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain, or Rattlesnake Mountain. Or, set your alarm at your campsite and watch the splendor unfold from your sleeping bag.