Town
Where to Stay in Lake Clear
Lake Clear is a hamlet on Route 30 between Saranac Lake and Paul Smiths, among the lakes and wetlands of the northern Adirondacks. There is no town center, just forest, water and the lodge. The Lodge at Lake Clear was built in 1886 by Millard Otis as an inn, trading post and post office, and his family still runs it. Its 25 acres hold the original lodge, chalets with wood-burning fireplaces, cabins with Jacuzzi tubs and suites, along with the Adirondack Alps Restaurant, a 1920s speakeasy and a beach on Lake Clear.
Why Stay in Lake Clear
- •The Lodge at Lake Clear has a beach on the lake and has been run by the same family since 1886.
- •The St. Regis Canoe Area, New York's only designated canoe area, with motor-free ponds linked by carries, starts a few minutes north.
- •Less crowded than the Lake Placid or High Peaks corridor, with similar quality of scenery and outdoor access.
What Makes This Area Interesting
- •St. Regis Canoe Area — motor-free ponds linked by carries, a few minutes north; no motorboats allowed.
- •Saranac Lake village: 10 miles east; Hotel Saranac, downtown restaurants, and a more established Adirondack town.
- •Tupper Lake: about 20 miles southwest; The Wild Center and more paddling.
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Frequently Asked
Late June through early October for paddling and warm weather; summer suits the St. Regis Canoe Area best. Fall foliage peaks here in late September. The lodge is open year-round.
About 4.5 hours from the George Washington Bridge via I-87 North to Route 3 and then Route 30 north.
About 18,000 acres of wilderness with dozens of ponds, where motors are not allowed and paddlers travel between ponds by carrying their boats. Multi-day trips are popular, and the area starts a few minutes north of Lake Clear.