NEWSLETTER
Sitting at the crossroads of the Adirondack Park, Tupper Lake isn’t just any lake town. With pristine waters for paddling and picturesque hiking trails, Tupper Lake is the perfect destination to make you feel one with nature. From the newly completed 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail to a once-in-a-lifetime troll encounter at the Wild Center, here's your 48-hour guide to Tupper Lake's finest.
This article was originally published 08/18/2015, and last updated on 05/04/2026.
Friday
2pm: Putt Around
As you swing into Tupper Lake, start off your trip with a round of mini golf at Timberjaxx Pass! The ADA-compliant 18-hole mini-golf course is inspired by the Adirondack wilderness with a 9-foot waterfall and hidden passages. Top off the fun with a Hershey's ice cream, sundae, shave ice, or creamy custard at their on-site ice cream parlor.
4pm: Settle in
Get cozy at Trailhead by Weekender near the Tupper Lake business district. Whether you're here to hike, fish, golf, snowmobile, or simply take in the breathtaking scenery, Trailhead is your four-season basecamp for adventure. The property features luxury "smart" amenities including in-room Alexa devices, smart TVs with streaming services, an outdoor pool, yard games, a putting green, and bikes available to borrow. After a day of exploring, unwind by the fire pit and breathe in the "Forever Wild" natural beauty.
5pm: Grab Dinner at The Woodshed on Park
Credit: @thewoodshedonpark on Instagram
Graze on gourmet dining with a French-Canadian twist at The Woodshed on Park. Chef Evan Sloan, a Tupper Lake native, takes pride in crafting dishes from scratch using fresh, locally sourced ingredients to bake bread, buns, and biscuits daily, make fresh ricotta, and prepare all stocks and sauces in-house. Start your meal with bean dip or bisque followed by skillet chicken and biscuits or a certified Black Angus steak paired with an expertly crafted cocktail. The restaurant’s ambiance has been described as “cozy Alice in Wonderland” combining woodsy decor with vintage antiques.
7:30pm: Watch the Sunset
Walk over to Tupper Lake Municipal Park to watch the sun go down. Sitting in the heart of the Village of Tupper Lake, the park features a boardwalk along the scenic shores of Raquette Pond, making it the perfect place to stroll or sit while the sky turns pink.
8:30pm: Try a Local Brew
Credit: @raquetteriverbrewing on Instagram
Want to sneak in a quick sample of the Adirondacks' booming craft beer scene? Head over to Raquette River Brewing, a microbrewery beloved for small-batch ales, including the inventive and tasty mango wheat ale and maple cream porter. The brewery regularly features live music and seasonal events, plus food trucks on-site serving everything from wood-fired pizza to BBQ.
Saturday
8am: Enjoy a Hearty Breakfast
Start your day off right with a classic diner breakfast at the local staple, Main Street Restaurant. You’ll need the calories for what lies ahead!
9:30am: Check Out the New Adirondack Rail Trail
For a morning spin or post-breakfast walk, head up Washington Street to catch the trailhead for the Adirondack Rail Trail — the newly completed 34-mile multi-use trail connecting Tupper Lake to Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. The stone-dust path is open year-round and suitable for hikers, bikers (including Class 1 e-bikes), cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers.
11:00am: Enter the Wild
Head up to the world-renowned Wild Center, where you can spend the afternoon wandering wildlife exhibits, watching otters swim, and roaming the nature trails. Propel your senses on the "Wild Walk," a mesmerizing elevated trail that sweeps you through the treetops, revealing whimsical treasures like a human-sized bird nest and an expansive hammock-like spider web.
Visit between June 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 for your chance to see six giant troll sculptures made from reclaimed materials that are taking up residence at the 115-acre campus as part of the special outdoor exhibit TROLLS: Save the Humans. Advance tickets are strongly recommended as daily admission is expected to sell out.
3pm: Trek the Triad Trails
Spend the afternoon starting a leg of the Tupper Lake Hiking Triad. The Adirondacks are known for their hiking challenges, and the most family-friendly of the bunch is this three-mountain effort that's the perfect entry for new hikers. Mount Arab, Coney Mountain, and Goodman Mountain are all a short drive from Tupper Lake and range in duration from one to 1.7 miles with rewarding summit views.
6pm: Dine at Amado
Experience fine dining and al fresco ambiance at Amado. Start off with truffle and parm tots or fried yucca before diving into a wild boar Italian sausage pizza, sesame seared ahi tuna, or grilled tofu with sauteed kimchi. With vegan dishes, authentic Brazilian cuisine, surf and turf, and inventive cocktails and desserts, there’s something for everyone.
7:30pm: Go Stargazing
Credit: @adkskycenter on Instagram
A night spent at the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory is a night well spent–you’ll never look at the night sky the same way again! Tupper Lake’s state-of-the-art facility, located at 178 Big World Road, is miles and miles away from surrounding city lights, making its stargazing and views of the expansive night sky truly unforgettable. When darkness falls, explore the cosmos on a more micro level through various telescopes. It’s an out-of-this-world (sorry, we had to) experience!
Sunday
10am: Make Breakfast Sweeter
Grab a coffee and donut at The Washboard, a combination laundromat, donut shop, and gift shop that has been a staple in Tupper Lake for more than 30 years! Open daily 6am–2pm, you'll be able to spot it easily because the three-in-one business features two black and white horses on its roof.
10:30am: Hit the Beach
Spend the morning relaxing on Little Wolf Beach, considered by many Tupper-ites to be the town’s hidden gem. Open seasonally from Memorial Day through the end of September, this town-run facility has fun for the whole family, with activities like paddle boarding, snorkeling, volleyball and nearby playgrounds for the little ones.
12pm: Choose Your Rail Adventure
Credit: @visitoneidacounty on Instagram
Soak up the Adirondack scenery on a relaxing ride with the Adirondack Railroad, which offers scenic train excursions from Tupper Lake Station that let you capture views of Raquette River and Mt. Arab as you wind your way past lakes, marshes, and beaver flows. For a different track experience, hop on the Raquette Rambler, a guided 6-mile, round-trip railbike tour that will have you pedaling through the heart of the Adirondacks ($35/person).
More to Explore Near Tupper Lake
Courtesy of Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau/Ausable Chasm
Explore the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks - A 90-minute drive east will bring you to the breathtaking Ausable Chasm (pictured), where naturally formed sandstone dating back to 500 million years ago creates nice cool shade and epic scenery. Make sure to take a family float tour through the Grand Flume and Whirlpool basin, try rock climbing and rappelling, or simply enjoy a riverwalk. (Open year-round for self-guided trail walks (daily: 9am–4pm), with raft float tours and the Adventure Trail Via Ferrata expected to open May 15, 2026.)
Paddle the Raquette River - Tupper Lake is surrounded by some of the Adirondacks' most spectacular waterways. Rent a kayak or canoe and explore the Raquette River, which is one of the most popular spots in Adirondack Park for paddling and fishing. Guided canoe trips are also available seasonally through the Wild Center.
How to get there:
By plane:
Landing at Adirondacks Regional Airport will put you only 30 minutes from Tupper Lake by car.
By bus:
Trailways or Greyhound to Saranac Lake, and then taxi or rideshare for a 25 minute drive to Tupper Lake.
By car:
- From Montreal: 2.5 hours
- From Albany: 2.5 hours
- From Boston: 5 hours
- From NYC: 5 hours
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