Curb Free with Cory Lee: A Wheelchair Travel Blog - Sharing the world from a wheelchair user's perspective

The Ultimate Wheelchair Accessible Adirondacks Travel Guide

accessible adirondack tourism

If you are anything like me, you immediately envision skyscrapers, the Statue of Liberty, and maybe even start singing Broadway songs at the top of your lungs when you think of New York. Am I right? Sure, New York City is an incredible destination and it’s typically the first place to come to mind when thinking of New York, but there is actually so much more to the state of New York than just the concrete jungle. There are stunning mountains, accessible outdoor activities, and destinations you’ll never forget (and likely keep returning to) in New York as well. I recently had the chance to learn this on a trip to the Adirondacks in upstate New York.  

At over 6 million acres, the Adirondacks are larger than the Great Smoky Mountains , Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Glacier National Parks combined. While not a national park, Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected area in the continental U.S. Needless to say, the Adirondacks cover a huge area and you can’t possibly experience all of the sights and attractions within one trip, but I did give it my best attempt on my recent trip. 

Over the course of five days, I explored some of the Adirondacks’ best towns, including Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, and Lake Placid. Whether I was rolling above trees on an accessible path, boating around Lake Placid, traversing wheelchair-friendly trails, or enjoying delicious food and drinks, I had a phenomenal time discovering just how amazing (and how wheelchair accessible) the Adirondacks are. To help you plan your own trip to this magical destination, here is my accessible guide to the Adirondacks, including what to know before you go, things to do once you’re there, places to eat and drink, and where to stay –

accessible adirondack tourism

What to Know Before You Go to the Adirondacks 

Flying to the Adirondacks 

There are some smaller regional airports in the Adirondacks, but since I flew from Atlanta, I chose to fly in to Albany, New York on a nonstop flight. If you’re needing to fly in for your visit, either Albany or Burlington, Vermont would be the best airports to start your trip from. 

From the Albany airport, it was about a 2.5 hour drive to our hotel, the gorgeous Saranac Waterfront Lodge in Saranac Lake, which I’ll discuss later on in this article. From the airport to the hotel, it was a nice and easy drive through the Adirondack Mountains and the views were great along the way. If you opt to fly in to Burlington, Vermont instead, it will be about a 2 hour drive, but you will need to take a ferry to cross into New York. 

Accessible Rental Van

To get around the Adirondacks, my mom and I used an accessible rental van from MobilityWorks in Albany, New York . We were given a Dodge Grand Caravan and it was about $150 per day to rent. The van was fully adapted and had a fold-out ramp, tie-downs to secure my wheelchair while on the road, and upon my request, MobilityWorks even removed the passenger seat, so that I could sit up front in the van. The van worked perfectly throughout our entire trip and we were able to enjoy multiple locations in the Adirondacks because of it. It’s also worth noting that MobilityWorks offered airport pick-up and drop-off, which was super convenient. 

accessible adirondack tourism

When to Visit the Adirondacks 

I visited the Adirondacks in late June 2021, which was a great time to visit in my opinion. It was warm every day and we got lucky with the weather. Thankfully, it was quite sunny throughout our whole trip. I’d recommend visiting the Adirondacks in the summer in order to maximize your time outdoors (but be aware that black flies are prevalent between May-June), but it’s also possible to visit in the winter if you don’t mind the snow. You could even try adaptive snowskiing in the Adirondacks if you visit in winter. Learn more about adaptive snowskiing options in the area here .

accessible adirondack tourism

Wheelchair Accessible Adirondacks Attractions and Things to Do

Relax in the parks of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake

On my first full day in the Adirondacks, I started my morning at Tupper Lake Municipal Park in Tupper Lake, NY. This park is in downtown Tupper Lake and on the shores of Raquette Pond. It’s an expansive park with beautiful views and the park’s paved Waterfront Walkway is nice to roll on for wheelchair users. 

accessible adirondack tourism

While at Tupper Lake Municipal Park, you could roll along the waterfront, enjoy a picnic (I had a picnic breakfast of delicious donuts from The Washboard Donut Shop !), or learn about the town’s logging and railroad history on interpretive signs along the walkway. This is a park to relax in or stay active, no matter what your abilities are. 

accessible adirondack tourism

Another great park that I would recommend is Riverside Park in Saranac Lake, NY. Saranac Lake is about 25 minutes from Tupper Lake, so it’s easy to get to. As the name suggests, Riverside Park is on the water and has phenomenal views. I loved rolling on the paved paths throughout the park and in the summer, you may even be able to shop at the Farmer’s Market that takes place here. 

accessible adirondack tourism

Saranac Lake’s downtown area is within walking/rolling distance of Riverside Park, so definitely take time to explore the area. There are restaurants, shops, and the good news is that the large majority of them are wheelchair accessible.  

Go wild at The Wild Center

As one of the Adirondacks’ most popular attractions, The Wild Center is a must-visit on any trip to the area. It is located in Tupper Lake and since 2006, it’s been connecting visitors with the nature of the Adirondacks in innovative ways.  This is an indoor and outdoor “museum”, and I use that term loosely because it is not your typical museum by any means. 

accessible adirondack tourism

There is an indoor museum area, which has a gift shop, a theater that shows films about the Adirondacks, a cafe, and the Hall of the Adirondacks. The Hall of the Adirondacks is the exhibit, where you can learn all about nature. There are animals that are local to the area, including turtles and otters, and many interactive elements throughout the Hall of the Adirondacks. Visitors of all ages will have fun in this museum. 

accessible adirondack tourism

Once you finish the indoor museum, you can head outside and enjoy The Wild Center ’s variety of outdoor attractions. The most notable one is Wild Walk, which will give you a brand new perspective that you really can’t get anywhere else. There are platforms, bridges, and walkways that stretch over 1,000 feet and climb from the ground to above the trees. Once at the top, you will have spectacular views of nearby mountains and you may even spot some animals from up above. 

accessible adirondack tourism

The Wild Walk is wheelchair accessible and despite climbing above the trees, it isn’t steep at all. It’s a smooth and beautiful roll to the highest point. Along the way, you will see many signs describing different animals that live in the Adirondacks and other interactive exhibits as well. Rolling on the Wild Walk gave me a whole new appreciation for the Adirondacks. 

accessible adirondack tourism

Other outdoor activities that are wheelchair accessible include Forest Music, a trail through the woods with 24 speakers playing peaceful music to heighten your experience, and you can also enjoy animal encounters. More than 900 animals call The Wild Center home and throughout the day, there are animal encounters with snakes, birds, porcupines, and more. You never know what you’ll see at The Wild Center, but no matter what it is, you’re sure to have fun and you may even learn a thing or ten. 

accessible adirondack tourism

To learn more about accessibility at The Wild Center, check out my in-depth guide to The Wild Center by clicking here . 

Explore John Dillon Park’s many accessible offerings

Just 17 miles south of Tupper Lake is John Dillon Park. Hands-down, this is the most wheelchair accessible park I’ve ever visited. I spent five or six hours at John Dillon Park, but could have easily spent more time here. This place was built with accessibility in mind and the Outreach Coordinator for the park, Jason Thurston, is a wheelchair user himself, so you can expect fantastic accessibility.

accessible adirondack tourism

John Dillon Park has wheelchair accessible trails, including the 2.5-mile (5 miles round trip) Handsome Pond Trail. This trail is mostly graveled, but does have some boardwalk sections. The gravel was surprisingly very smooth & my powered wheelchair handled it like a champ. I was able to roll on the trail with ease and absolutely loved being outdoors in the Adirondacks for a while! 

accessible adirondack tourism

In addition to accessible trails, John Dillon Park also has 9 lean-to’s, all of which are wheelchair accessible. I had no idea what a lean-to was until I saw them in person, but it’s basically a cabin without a fourth wall and no toilet or shower. It’s completely open to the outdoors, but you can camp in it if you want. They have some lean-to’s with fold-down beds even, and all of them come with accessible picnic tables, fire pits, and you can have electricity to charge your wheelchair if needed. 

accessible adirondack tourism

If you would like to spend the night at John Dillon Park in a lean-to, it is completely free, but reservations are required. If you’re looking for the ultimate outdoors camping experience, this is it. You can reserve a lean-to by calling 518-524-6226 or emailing  [email protected]

accessible adirondack tourism

As if the lean-to’s and accessible trails aren’t enough excitement, the park also offers boating trips on an accessible pontoon boat and has accessible fishing docks available, so you can go fishing in Grampus Lake. To ride around in the pontoon boat, just ask a staff member and they’ll take you out. Trust me, they are super friendly and happy to make your visit as enjoyable as possible. 

accessible adirondack tourism

Enjoy a narrated boat tour on Lake Placid

Another Adirondacks town that you need to visit is Lake Placid. Lake Placid is most-known for hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games and you can actually visit the Lake Placid Olympic Museum while in town, but the best way to see the beauty of this town is from the water. 

I was able to go on a wheelchair accessible boat ride around Lake Placid with Lake Placid Marina & Boat Tours . The boat tour lasts about an hour and is accessible with some creativity. The crew from Lake Placid Marina & Boat Tours had a piece of wood that served as a ramp to get me onboard the boat. It was a pretty smooth and easy process to get onboard, and I was able to remain in my powered wheelchair throughout the boat ride.

accessible adirondack tourism

The pontoon boat is enclosed, so this would be a good activity to do even if there’s a bit of rain during your visit. While it was cloudy when I visited, we mostly got lucky with the weather and had great views for the entire tour. One thing to keep in mind is that there is not an accessible restroom onboard, so be sure to go before you get on the boat. 

accessible adirondack tourism

During the boat ride, the captain described the area on overhead speakers. We learned more about the Adirondacks and the history of Lake Placid, but the numerous mansions/lake houses that we went by were the highlights for me. They were truly exquisite to view and it was fun to hear all about who owned them (the CEO of Verizon, the CEO of Alpo dog food, and many others). 

accessible adirondack tourism

We also kind of saw Whiteface Mountain, site of the 1980 Winter Olympics’ alpine events, but it was rather cloudy. Our boat captain did a terrific job of keeping the tour entertaining though and telling cool facts that we wouldn’t hear anywhere else. This boat tour of Lake Placid was awesome and one of my favorite activities in the Adirondacks. I’m always a fan of being on the water. 

accessible adirondack tourism

Drink at some of the Adirondacks’ best breweries

After a day of rolling on accessible trails or boating, what better way to finish the day than with some locally-made beer?! I was somewhat surprised to learn that there are a ton of breweries in the Adirondacks. While I definitely didn’t have enough time to visit all of them, I did visit a few. Here are three breweries that are worth checking out while you’re in the Adirondacks:

Raquette River Brewing – This brewery is quite popular and was packed when I visited, and for good reason! It’s located in Tupper Lake, just a short drive from The Wild Center. I had the Mango Wheat Ale and loved it! I’m usually not a huge beer fan to be honest, but this one was great and I’d order it again in a heartbeat. Raquette River Brewing was easily the most lively brewery that I visited while in the Adirondacks and one that’s a must-visit! 

accessible adirondack tourism

Hex and Hops Brewing – This is one of the most unique breweries in the Adirondacks because it not only focuses on beer, but they make honey as well. Some of their beers even have honey in them, so you can get the best of both worlds! Hex and Hops is located in Bloomingdale, New York, just a short drive from Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, and Lake Placid. I enjoyed the Happy Little Pale Ale beer and the pork tacos. Everything was delicious and the brewery is completely wheelchair accessible. 

accessible adirondack tourism

Blue Line Brewery Pizza & Pub – This brewery is located in Saranac Lake and feels like a place for locals, as opposed to being touristy. There is outdoor and indoor seating, but only a couple tables inside are wheelchair accessible. Locally-made beers are available, as well as food. Their pizzas are quite popular, but they are also open for breakfast. I had breakfast here one day and it was really good! They had a lot of options to choose from.

accessible adirondack tourism

Roll on more accessible trails (and see butterflies!) at the Paul Smith’s College VIC

The last, but certainly not least, wheelchair accessible Adirondacks attraction that I was able to visit and would highly recommend is Paul Smith’s College VIC . The VIC (Visitor’s and Interpretive Center) aims to connect outdoor recreation, experiential education, and the arts, and what a remarkable job it does of that!   

accessible adirondack tourism

The VIC has multiple trails to explore, including the fully accessible Barnum Brook Trail. The trail is 0.7 miles long and very smooth to roll on. It’s mostly flat, but there are a couple spots that are a wee-bit steep. With a powered wheelchair though, I was able to easily do the entire trail and you likely could with a manual wheelchair as well. 

accessible adirondack tourism

The Barnum Brook Trail was phenomenal and I was in awe of the beauty of the Adirondacks while on it. What I really loved were the platform viewing areas, where I could just sit for a while and take in the surroundings. Simply gazing out at the marsh and nearby mountains was such a special moment for me, and one that I’d absolutely recommend.

accessible adirondack tourism

In addition to the Barnum Brook Trail, the VIC also has a butterfly house. It is easily wheelchair accessible and I enjoyed seeing the butterflies and learning more about them. The staff was happy to answer all of my questions and they were incredibly kind as well. 

accessible adirondack tourism

If you find yourself in the Adirondacks, the Paul Smith’s College VIC is definitely worth experiencing for a few hours! There’s nothing better than enjoying the outdoors, especially when they are this beautiful and accessible.

Where to Eat in the Adirondacks 

There are a ton of great restaurants in the Adirondacks, but three that I visited really stood out to me. Here are my three favorite restaurants:

Amado Restaurant 

Amado is in Tupper Lake and if you ask any local what is the best restaurant in Tupper Lake, there’s a 99% chance that they’ll recommend Amado. Several people told me how great it is before I visited, so I had high expectations. It still managed to go above and beyond my expectations. 

accessible adirondack tourism

I had truffle & parm tots for an appetizer and the Amado chicken pot pie floater for my entree. The tater tots were tossed in black and white truffle oil and parmesan cheese and were delicious, but the chicken pot pie entree was seriously one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. The pot pie was topped with garlic mashed potatoes, smashed green peas, and a creamy sauce. I can’t properly describe how fantastic this was, so I’ll just urge you to try it. 

accessible adirondack tourism

During the pandemic, Amado moved to outdoor dining only, which I enjoyed. On a nice night, it was perfect for dinner. To get to the tables, there was some pretty thick gravel, which was a bit tricky to roll through, but my Quickie powered wheelchair made it. It could be challenging in a manual wheelchair or scooter. 

Boathouse Saranac Lake Pub

Usually, hotel restaurants tend to not be that great, but Boathouse Saranac Lake Pub is actually excellent. This is Saranac Waterfront Lodge ’s on-site restaurant and breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served lakefront. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible with indoor and outdoor seating. 

accessible adirondack tourism

I had dinner at Boathouse and enjoyed spinach-feta-artichoke dip for an appetizer and grilled salmon for my entree. The grilled salmon was served with summer succotash and the fish was cooked perfectly. However, the spinach-feta-artichoke dip was the standout of the meal. It was so creamy and delicious! 

accessible adirondack tourism

The views from Boathouse Saranac Lake Pub are phenomenal, so if you can, definitely try to eat outside. Reservations are recommended, as this restaurant is quite popular. 

Big Slide Brewery

I thought about including Big Slide in my brewery recommendations above, but its food is so good that I wanted to give it its own section here. Big Slide is located in Lake Placid and was easily one of my favorite places that I ate (and drank). 

Not only does Big Slide Brewery have fantastic beer, but their food is exceptional as well. I visited for Sunday brunch and it was a cool, fun environment. The margherita pizza that I had was delicious, but so many of the options on the brunch menu sounded good. You really can’t go wrong here! 

accessible adirondack tourism

Big Slide Brewery is fully wheelchair accessible. You can join the waitlist for a table on Big Slide’s website here . 

Where to Stay in the Adirondacks: Saranac Waterfront Lodge

As we pulled up to the Saranac Waterfront Lodge , I felt excited to be staying here. Being one of the area’s newest accommodation options, it towers over the other businesses nearby and is perfectly placed at the water’s edge in Saranac Lake, New York. Going inside, I was immediately greeted by the front desk staff. They were very friendly and welcomed us to our newfound home away from home. 

accessible adirondack tourism

The lobby area is stunningly beautiful. It has chairs, tables, board games, and even a fireplace for those cold New York nights. The entire back wall is glass, so you can admire the beauty of the lake and watch the ducks as they swim along the water’s edge. 

accessible adirondack tourism

I stayed in a wheelchair accessible suite and it had a living area with a small refrigerator, coffee maker, large couch, and flat screen tv. Down the hallway, there was a bathroom on the left, complete with a sink and toilet with grab bars in one room and an adjoining room with a deep soaking tub and also a roll-in shower with a handheld shower wand. There was a small lip to get in the roll-in shower, but my shower wheelchair was able to go over it pretty easily. 

accessible adirondack tourism

Rounding the corner back into the hallway, it ends in the bedroom. There was a big, comfy king sized bed with a flat screen tv, a large desk and chair, and closet space with shelves and another couch! It’s also worth noting that a Hoyer lift could roll under the bed, as there was enough clearance. Just behind the couch was a window view of the beautiful, large lake and the rentable kayaks. 

accessible adirondack tourism

Saranac Waterfront Lodge provided excellent accommodations for my time in the Adirondacks and it was in a convenient location. All of the best things to do in the Adirondacks that are featured in this article were within a short drive of the lodge, which was nice.  

accessible adirondack tourism

My time in the Adirondacks was so much fun and I already can’t wait to return. No matter what your abilities are, the Adirondacks are the perfect place to enjoy some peace and quiet, as well as some adventure. At the end of my trip, all I could say was “Why have I never been here before?!” And if you visit, I can guarantee that you’ll be saying the same thing when you leave. 

*Thank you to The Wild Center and the Adirondacks for hosting me. While my experiences were complimentary, all opinions expressed within this article are authentic and my own.

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After being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at the age of two, Cory's thirst for adventure never ceased. He went on many trips around the US when he was younger, and then started taking things internationally when he turned fifteen. Since then, Cory has traveled around the world, all while managing to successfully graduate college and start up his travel blog curbfreewithcorylee.com, where he shares his accessible, and sometimes not so accessible, travel adventures with others. Through this, he hopes to inspire other wheelchair users to roll out of their comfort zone and see all of the beauty that the world has to offer.

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Accessible Adirondacks

By Gillian Scott

September 14, 2021

Explore More: accessibility , camping , dec

Outdoorspeople with disabilities have more overnight options in the North Country

When Jason Thurston stays at his favorite Adirondack campground, he can participate in activities that are out of reach for him in other outdoor spaces.

He can travel down trails to scenic overlooks or a backcountry lake. He can sleep in a lean-to at night and cook over an open fire. He particularly loves to watch the sunset from an observation deck overlooking the lake.

“To wake up and hear the loons and the birds is just so peaceful,” he said.

For Thurston, camping is no easy task: He’s a quadriplegic who uses a power wheelchair to get around. But thanks to the accessible facilities at International Paper’s John Dillon Park in Long Lake, he can spend days in the wild and watch night fall beside a campfire.

 The fully accessible campground, open from late May through late October, is owned by International Paper, staffed mostly by Paul Smith’s College students, and funded through an endowment from the pulp and paper company.

 It’s one of several options for people with disabilities who want to enjoy the Adirondack wilderness.

‘For everyone to enjoy’

Many state campgrounds and wild areas offer varying levels of access to people with disabilities. Some may offer accessible parking and trails, while others have accessible campsites and bathrooms. There are permits for accessible roads to accessible backcountry campsites in remote areas like the Essex Chain of Lakes, south of Newcomb. There are also special programs to enable access to hunting and fishing.

Various programs make exploring parts of the Adirondacks possible for those with mobility issues or disabilities that make backcountry travel a challenge. Flat trails, for instance, also help senior citizens who might be less steady on their feet or less able to travel rugged trails; families with small children; and even new outdoor adventurers seeking a smaller challenge.

Efforts to balance access with wilderness protection sometimes become controversial, as when the state purchased the Boreas Ponds Tract and its access road. Some wanted the road declared wilderness—off-limits to motorized use—but the state ultimately allowed continued access to a small parking lot where disabled users can park near the wilderness ponds and an accessible lean-to.

 “DEC designs and builds its public facilities to maximize accessibility to all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, going beyond the minimum accessibility standards wherever practicable and sustainable while minimizing environmental impacts,” said Lori Severino, a public information officer for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. “Under the Adventure NY initiative, New York State strives to improve and expand access to outdoor recreational opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.”

Severino said DEC planners identify opportunities for accessible facilities when writing unit management plans for public lands, adhering to standards laid out in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The DEC describes two of its campgrounds—Frontier Town and Scaroon Manor—as fully accessible. At both, accessible campsites include ring fireplaces with adjustable height grills, smooth hardened surfaces and accessible picnic tables. Both also feature accessible showers and restrooms.

Frontier Town Campground , in North Hudson, has two accessible horse-mounting ramps, while Scaroon Manor, in Pottersville, features accessible boat docks and fishing pier.

 “The outdoors are for everyone to enjoy,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “While we’ve made great strides in accessibility in the last three decades, there is more work to be done.”

The department does not track how many people with disabilities use these sites, and could not readily provide information on how many people ask for other accommodations. However, DEC says it is currently evaluating ways to measure use by people with disabilities with its DEC/APA Accessibility Advisory Committee and is looking into an outreach plan to increase use by people interested in accessible options.

john dillon park

John Dillon Park

Thurston, a Bloomingdale resident, is the outreach coordinator for John Dillon Park. 

He said he began visiting the campground several years ago and fell in love with its amenities. Besides the lean-tos with ramps and fold-down sleeping platforms, all 3.5 miles of trails are graded; Thurston said he has done the 2 miles into Handsome Pond in about 20 minutes in his motorized wheelchair. Because the park is totally off the grid, staff will provide custom-built battery chargers for people who have equipment that requires electricity, such as battery-powered chairs or CPAP machines. The park also provides firewood and will take away campers’ garbage. Even bearproof food storage containers are accessible.

Thurston said there is a sense of isolation that often can’t be found at a bigger campground.

“This really is unique in the sense that it’s backwoods,” he said.

Thurston always loved the outdoors and said the park and campground provide him with a new way to get outside. 

“I absolutely love the whole lean-to lifestyle.” said Thurston, who broke his neck in his swimming pool in 2004. “As a C6 quadriplegic, my options are kind of limited.”

He can’t use state campgrounds and backcountry sites that the state deems accessible because they would require a tent and he can’t get himself up off the ground or on and off a lightweight cot. 

He noted that although John Dillon Park is an excellent option for him, it won’t work for everyone with a disability. For quadriplegics who don’t rely on colostomy bags, as Thurston does, and who may have a toileting process that can take an hour or more and requires running water, John Dillon’s accessible outhouses with composting toilets present a hygiene barrier. Thurston said the park may eventually install a septic system, allowing for the construction of an accessible shower and bathroom facility, but funding is a challenge.

 Though John Dillon Park is designed for people with disabilities, people without disabilities can also stay there. And, Thurston noted, disabilities do not have to be physical.

“Any disability counts, as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “People with, for instance, mental health challenges may not be able to go to a big campground because of the crowds.”

Use of the park is free for everyone, but reservations are required for overnight stays. Thurston is not sure what portion of the campers have disabilites, but is planning to survey users about it—information that could help with grant applications.

john dillon park map

Improving access

Besides his work for John Dillon Park, Thurston is also chair of the DEC’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. The committee helps the agency consider accessibility when reviewing plans for wild spaces, such as the changes to the management plan for Debar Mountain Wild Forest, which would involve creating a day use area.

The committee is consulting the state on the Adirondack Rail Trail, a 34-mile recreational trail between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid that will be built on an old railroad bed. Thurston said the committee wants to make sure the trail has a “firm and stable surface” that can withstand wet weather conditions and remain accessible to wheelchairs. Accessible parking at trailheads will also be key.

RELATED: In Willsboro, the Adirondack Nature Conservancy built a 1.5-mile accessible loop in the Boquet River Nature Preserve READ MORE

The committee was formed after a civil rights lawsuit filed in the late 1990s—settled in 2001—argued the DEC was not doing enough to ensure people with disabilities had access to state forests. In the settlement, the state set up the committee, agreed to invest millions in capital projects, to keep miles of roads—typically old logging roads or fire roads—open to people with disabilities, and to open additional miles of roads.

 Scott Remington of Brant Lake has served on the committee for close to 20 years. He has used a wheelchair since a 1999 logging accident left him partially paralyzed.

“We’ve come a long way since the lawsuit,” he said, noting the construction of accessible picnic areas, boat launches and campgrounds. But, he added, “There is a lot more that can be done and that I hope will be done.”

In particular, Remington said he hopes the state will do more as it buys new lands to preserve existing roads, and consider ways the land could be used by people with disabilities. He said, for instance, there were “hundreds of miles” of gravel roads in the Boreas Ponds area, and it was a fight to keep just 7 miles open.

“It really frustrates me because I’ve lived here in the Adirondacks all my life,” he said. “I don’t want to see it destroyed. … We want to protect it. We also want to be able to use it in a responsible way.”

 Thurston said one of his big issues while working on the committee is increasing outreach to make sure people with disabilities are aware of the outdoor recreation options available.

 “To me, it starts with the user,” he said. “You find somebody that loves the outdoors that wants to go to a place and can’t, and then you make that accessible.” But, he noted, another part of the equation is making sure that people are informed about places that are already accessible.

 Finding accessible places can take a little online detective work. One place to start is the DEC Accessible Recreation Destinations web page . The page breaks down options first by region, then by county, then by site. So a web visitor could click on “Eastern Adirondacks/Lake Champlain,” then  “Warren County,” then on one of the sites, such as “Lake George Islands Campground.” Each site page lists the details. At Lake George Islands Campground, that means “2 wheelchair accessible campsites with tent platforms, level trail with a natural surface, picnic tables, dock and a privy.”

The DEC said individuals wishing to visit specific land units or properties can also go to the web page for that specific unit and click on the wheelchair icon at the top of the page to reach the list of accessible features. When in doubt, it never hurts to call a campground or region office ahead of time to ask about accessibility options. 

accessible leanto

Backcountry access

Users of some backcountry sites will also need to call ahead to regional offices. Someone wanting to use the accessible backcountry site on Fifth Lake in the Essex Chain , for instance, will need a code to open a gate. Once the gate is open, users can drive close to the campsite, which has an accessible outhouse and a graded trail to a flat tent site. 

It’s important to remember that no reservations are possible, though, so even after calling ahead for the code, a potential user could arrive to find the site already taken.

If primitive accessible sites are routinely unavailable to people with disabilities, DEC has the ability to designate those sites as exclusively for use by people with disabilities, DEC’s Severino said. 

“The accessible tent site on Fifth Lake was constructed in 2015 and has been lightly used,” she said. “The land manager expects that its use will increase with time and people’s familiarity with the area.” The road to the site, however, gets used during the day multiple times a week by people with special permits.

Reasonable accommodations

Those permits are part of the “reasonable accommodations” DEC offers to people with physical limitations. The Motorized Access Program for People with Disabilities provides a special permit to individuals with mobility disabilities that allows them to drive select routes on DEC roads that are not open to the general public. There are about 1,000 permittees statewide, many of whom are hunters who also have special hunting permits, Severino said.

Options for permit users vary by county. In St. Lawrence County, for example, one 5.64-mile route on the Santa Clara Easement Route in the Stony Brook Conservation Easement is open for hunting, fishing, trapping and wildlife observation. Warren County, on the other hand, has 4.17 miles open, spread across six parcels in the Lake George Wild Forest. 

Some parcels offer access for cars, but many are only for ATVs or four-wheelers.

DEC offers free and reduced-price hunting and fishing permits that may, for example, allow people with disabilities to hunt from a vehicle or use modified weapons. The department also partners with state parks in the NY Access Pass program, which provides qualified people with disabilities free or discounted access to state recreation facilities that normally have a cost.   

DEC offers case-by-case accommodations, too, and handles several such requests each year, Severino said. “Wheelchairs are allowed anywhere open to the general public,” she said. “DEC considers requests for other power-driven mobility devices to determine safe locations for their use in compliance with our environmental regulations.”

More to Explore

This article first appeared in the Sept/Oct 2021 issue of Adirondack Explorer magazine. Subscribe now to receive seven issues a year, delivered to your mailbox and/or inbox.

Revitalizing Au Sable Forks

Zero-emission snowmobiles, state looks to public for ideas about rail trail hub.

accessible adirondack tourism

Gillian Scott

Gillian Scott, a freelance writer and editor living in New York's Capital Region, writes an outdoors column for the Albany Times Union. She can be reached at [email protected].

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accessible adirondack tourism

Accessible Saranac Lake

Saranac lake is for everyone.

Saranac Lake's waterways, trails, and attractions make any vacation fun and bursting with opportunities to explore. Your vacation should only be limited by how much fun you want to have, not accessibility. To ensure that your next vacation is as much fun as can be, and to help you plan, we've put together this guide to some of the region's experiences that no one should miss and which are welcoming and designed with visitors with disabilities in mind.

Attractions

One of the best ways to learn more about the area is with a visit to Historic Saranac Lake and the Saranac Laboratory Museum , which tells the story of the village's role as a tuberculosis cure center and other local histories. Because the building is a historic landmark and was built in the 1800s, not all of it is accessible. However, the John Black Room, where rotating exhibits are displayed, is wheelchair accessible, as is the Cure Porch on Wheels, a new exhibit space and oral history booth. The staff here is always happy to spend time with visitors who are not able to see the entire space but wish to learn more.

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy the Adirondack Carousel ! Visitors of all ages adore this carousel, which features hand-crafted carousel animals, all of which you'll find in the Adirondacks. The building in William Morris Park is fully wheelchair accessible, and so is the carousel! Instead of a chariot, visitors who can't or don't wish to climb aboard an animal can ride in the mini Chris Craft boat for a sweet ride.

accessible adirondack tourism

While you're in the area, be sure to drive over to Tupper Lake to visit The Wild Center . One of the most beloved attractions in the whole state, The Wild Center is an interactive natural history museum with live otters, raptors, Adirondack amphibians, nature trails, and the Wild Walk, a raised series of wooden walkways that bring you up to the treetops! All of the indoor exhibits and most of the Wild Walk are wheelchair-friendly and were designed with everyone in mind! The Wild Center also offers special guided tours for the visually impaired and days dedicated to those with sensory issues.

Many of Saranac Lake's great hotels and motels feature ADA-compliant rooms. Choose a stunning lakeside spot at the Saranac Waterfront Lodge or downtown's historic Hotel Saranac as your home base.

Want to go camping? There are a number of campgrounds in the area that offer ADA-friendly camping for a wonderful outdoor experience. These state-run campgrounds are very family-friendly and are easy to get around, with gentle paved roads, plus a variety of amenities, including playgrounds and free activity programs.

Buck Pond State Campground in Onchiota features wheelchair accessible camping, camping pads, showers, restrooms, bathhouse, and picnic areas.

Fish Creek State Campground , located between Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake, offers wheelchair accessible day use areas, camping, picnic pads, grills, picnic tables, camping pads, showers, rest rooms, pavilion, and a fishing pier! 

Rollins Pond State Campground , located adjacent to Fish Creek, offers wheelchair accessible bathrooms, fire places, day use areas, and picnic tables.

Meadowbrook State Campground in nearby Ray Brook offers wheelchair accessible bathrooms, fire places, day use area, and picnic tables.

Outdoor activities

The Paul Smith's College Visitor Interpretive Center is a great place to get outdoors, breathe in that pine-scented Adirondack fresh air, and explore nature. The main building, which features gallery space, a theater, gift shop, exhibits, and a great room to relax and enjoy the views in, is all on one level and is fully accessible for visitors in wheelchairs, with walkers, and other mobility concerns. FYI: need help with the front door? Call ahead and a staff member will gladly assist you! Outside, the Barnum Brook Trail, while not ADA-compliant, is wheelchair accessible. This 0.6 mile trail is a loop with a network of bridges, boardwalks and overlooks. Those in power wheelchairs should have no trouble, but there is one hill with an 8-10% grade that should be considered. However, taking the trail counterclockwise will ensure you don't have to go up the hill.

accessible adirondack tourism

Adirondack Riverwalking and Forest Bathing is another wonderful option! With an ADA compliant website, and experiences specifically planned for persons with disabilities, they offer Forest Therapy for all. Forest Therapy has a flexible structure that makes it easy to adapt for a wide range of disabilities. Adirondack Riverwalking and Forest Bathing has partnered with Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living and local people with functional differences, to learn how to be more aware and in-tune with a wider range of needs. More than anything, they create an atmosphere where it is safe and comfortable to share your experience and ask for the support or modifications you need at any time during your sensory forest walk.

Have a boat and want to get out on the water? The Second Pond State Boat Launch is your ticket to exploring expansive Lower Saranac Lake and its picturesque islands. The boat launch at Second Pond has a concrete boat launch with stable docks and wheelchair accessible parking spots.

A snowy scene through the Adirondacks.

Part of what makes Saranac Lake so pretty is the beautiful Saranac River, which winds through downtown. It's popular with paddlers, fishermen, and sightseers. One of the nicest ways to explore the river in downtown is on the Riverwalk , a brick-paved path that follows the river, offering great views and access to downtown's shops and restaurants. Both ends of this 1-mile round trip path have ramps for access, and there are curb cuts along the route.

Beyond Saranac Lake

There are accessible spaces throughout the Adirondacks that offer Adirondack beauty to all travelers. Adirondack Wayfinder offers a specially designed road trip trail highlighting accessible camping, historic sites, attractions, and more!

Local resources

The Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living is a fantastic regional organization that provides many services to individuals and their families with accessibility concerns. The TLCIL even has a " Loan Closet ," consisting of items such as wheelchairs, walkers, temporary ramps, and more, which may be loaned out. If you find yourself trying to plan a trip to the area and want to borrow an item or simply ask for information, the TLCIL welcomes your call or email !

Accessible Adirondack Tourism  focuses on tourism in the Adirondacks for people with disabilities, their families, friends and companions. They provide a single-source website for people with disabilities to locate recreational, dining, lodging, retail, outdoor and other accessible resources within the Adirondack region, including the 14 counties of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Oneida, Oswego, Warren, and Washington.

Resource links

  • Adirondack Diversity Initiative
  • Adirondack Diversity Solutions
  • Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA)
  • Accessible Adirondack Tourism
  • Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living
  • Travel Unity

Additional travel tips

  • Questions? Please feel free to call ahead to chat directly with a hotel, restaurant, or attraction.
  • If you have special needs, please mention them at the time of reservation, and call the provider 24 to 48 hours before your arrival to confirm that proper accommodations have been made. Don't hesitate to ask for specifics such as door and bathroom measurements if you question whether or not your wheelchair will fit.
  • Please be specific and clear when describing a disability. Not all service providers know the "lingo" of accessible travel but they do want to help make sure you have a wonderful experience when you visit. Give as many details as you can about your needs. The more information a service provider has, the better they will be able to accommodate you and make your visit as easy and comfortable as possible.

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Accessibility in the Adirondack Hub

The adirondack hub is for everyone.

The Adirondack Park was created in 1892 to protect large expanses of the Adirondack Park, including mountains, lakes, and rivers, and to ensure that those lands would be available for "the free use of all the people for their health and pleasure." The Adirondacks aren't just for everybody, they're for every body. That means spaces that are accessible and welcoming for people of all ages, races, and physical abilities. We want everyone, particularly those with accessibility needs, to feel welcome here and that they may enjoy a vacation in the gorgeous Adirondack Hub, an ideal basecamp for adventure. We've put together some key places to go that are ADA-accessible to help you and your friends and family plan a fun vacation or day trip that everyone will enjoy.

Accessible attractions

The Schroon Lake area is known throughout the Adirondacks and the Northeast as being an arts destination. Every summer since 1915, the Seagle Festival (formerly known as Seagle Music Colony) has provided training for the best up and coming vocal artists in the nation, treating locals and visitors to exceptional performances of opera, musical theatre, standards, and more. Seagle's performances take place in its primary theater, expansive rehearsal studio, and the Boathouse Theater in downtown Schroon Lake. All three locations offer accessible seating, parking, and bathrooms. If you have a love of fine music, you won't want to miss a Seagle performance.

Actors dressed in period clothing act on a stage.

Overlooking Schroon Lake (the lake), the Boathouse Theater is the home of the Schroon Lake Arts Council , which hosts a vibrant array of events, including live music, jam sessions, and the ever-popular Adirondack Folk Music Festival. Built in 1824, the theater has been updated and features wheelchair-accessible seating, bathrooms, and parking. Outdoor concerts are accessible too, as there are sidewalks and areas that manual wheelchairs may traverse easily.

Both Seagle Festival and Schroon Lake Arts Council will gladly provide orientation for guests with visual impairments to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit. Feel free to call ahead with any questions or concerns!

an aerial view of great camp santanoni.

The Adirondacks are well known for being the home of the Great Camp: second homes for the rich that were built in the 1800s in a distinctive style of rustic luxuriousness. Today, some of those camps are long gone, while others are now historic sites where visitors can learn about Adirondack history and enjoy the fine craftsmanship of the camps. In Newcomb , Great Camp Santanoni is an expansive site that should not be missed. At the camp, learn about the history of the camp and the family that built it, view the farm area that supported the camp every summer, and enjoy views of Newcomb Lake. Many of the large, wide porches are wheelchair-accessible by ramp and there are accessible vault toilets on site.

Santanoni sits at the end of a 5-mile carriage road that does not permit motorized vehicles. For those with accessibility concerns, a horse and accessible wagon may be reserved to travel to the Main Complex. Qualified persons with disabilities can ride for free. This service is provided by Newcomb Farms and makes for a serene, relaxing way to travel!

From plush beds to classic camping, the Adirondack Hub has all sorts of options and wheelchair accessible options, at that! If you're looking for a stress-free home away from home, where your family can gather around a table and share a meal, or watch the sunset from a grassy lawn, try the Inn at Santanoni . This historic home features charming furnishings, plenty of space, amenities, and a ground floor bedroom and bathroom that are fully accessible. A ramp provides easy entry to the home, and the parking is no problem! 

A bright white kitchen with a country style interior.

If you're more interested in roughing it, the unique Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian and Day Use Area is a new campground in North Hudson which offers plenty of opportunity for fun. Built near the former site of a legendary children's amusement park with a western theme, all of the sites, showers, and restrooms at this campground are accessible. Even better, picnic tables and fireplaces were built to be accessible to everyone, too! There are facilities here for horseback riding and there are two ADA-compliant mounting blocks/ramps for riders.

For a camping destination close to a beautiful freshwater lake, check out Scaroon Manor , once the site of a luxury resort that was popular in the early 20th century. This state-run campground was completed in 2011 to be universally accessible (yay!). This means every site is accessible, from the fire ring to the smooth, hardened surfaces to make mobility easier for everyone. The boat docks and fishing pier are accessible, as well! The campground is located on Schroon Lake, where there is plenty of fun to be had, including a beautiful sandy beach and is not far from the restaurants and shops of Main Street.

Outdoor activities

A trip to the Adirondacks isn't a trip at all if you don't sample the vast acres of wilderness, including forest preserves, lakes, and streams. The Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb is a beautiful spot to get close to nature and learn about what makes the Adirondacks so ecologically fascinating! Inside the visitor center, view displays on wildlife, plants, and much more. The AIC often hosts free talks with naturalists, which are always worth attending. The visitor center has an ADA-compliant bathroom and while the main entrance does not have an automatic door, the friendly staff are happy to help out!

A deck facing out to the lake.

One of the highlights of a trip to the AIC is exploring the network of trails that wind through forest, over boardwalks, and past scenic lakes. Visitors with a power wheelchair have no problems on most of the trails (the Peninsula Trail does have stairs). A good place to start is the Rich Lake Trail, a 0.6 mile loop. You'll find the staff at AIC very knowledgeable and can help you plan the best visit!

Without a doubt, one of the can't miss stops in the Adirondack Hub is the Newcomb Overlook, where views of the High Peaks are incredible. Here you'll find a neat monument that explains what mountains in the High Peaks you're viewing, to better acquaint yourself with the Adirondacks. There are also picnic tables, a shady pavilion, clean restrooms, and plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the views! 

As you travel through the area, you'll likely be amazed and delighted by the sparkling lakes and ponds that pepper the landscape. Why not explore more and get out on the water? The Schroon Lake Marina offers a variety of boat rentals, including pontoon boats with a wheelchair-accessible door. The marina has a dock along their launch ramp that is used for making loading and unloading these pontoons easy and safe and the staff are friendly and very helpful. Just be sure to let them know you'll need one of those specific boats when making your reservation! Once you're out on the water, enjoy some fishing or simply feeling the sweet Adirondack breeze in your hair.

A family has fun on a pontoon boat.

While you're here...

Be sure to check out fantastic restaurants and breweries , shops , and beaches !

Additional travel tips

  • Questions? Please feel free to call ahead to chat directly with a hotel, restaurant, or attraction.
  • If you have special needs, please mention them at the time of reservation, and call the provider 24 to 48 hours before your arrival to confirm that proper accommodations have been made. Don't hesitate to ask for specifics such as door and bathroom measurements if you question whether or not your wheelchair will fit.
  • Please be specific and clear when describing a disability. Not all service providers know the "lingo" of accessible travel but they do want to help make sure you have a wonderful experience when you visit. Give as many details as you can about your needs. The more information a service provider has, the better they will be able to accommodate you and make your visit as easy and comfortable as possible.

Catch a show

Schroon Lake has a storied history with the arts, which has shaped the region’s rich cultural offerings of the present.

Accessible Adirondacks Trail

Want to go beyond the Adirondack Hub? The Adirondack Wayfinder offers a specially designed road trip trail highlighting accessible camping, historic sites, attractions, and more!

Explore a Great Camp

Travel back in time to the golden age of Great Camps and historic sites around the Adirondack Hub.

Find adventure

Discover the natural history and wonders around the region! Fill your itinerary for your next visit.

Indulge in regional flavors

There are many places to eat throughout the awesome Adirondack Hub region!

accessible adirondack tourism

Packages and Promotions

Valid apr. 7, valid feb. 27 - apr. 7, eclipse themed food at the lake harris lodge, lake harris lodge | restaurant & bar.

Enjoy eclipse and spaced-themed food and beverages at the Lake Harris Lodge! 

Valid Feb. 25 - Feb. 25

Wine and dine, the lodge at schroon lake.

Enjoy a bottle of wine upon arrival!

Valid Feb. 13 - Feb. 13

Treat yourself, staycation.

Make the most of your staycations!

Valid Feb. 25 - Apr. 9

Ski and soak.

Fill your day with skiing and snowboarding, before recharging at night in our saunas, heated indoor pool, and hot tub. Warm your mood après style with a signature cocktail and bite to eat.

The Paradox Package

Explore local craft brewing with our Paradox Brewing Package!

An ADK Love Story

You are in Love: cozy up in your cardigan and make your wildest dreams come true. Be enchanted by the lakes and write your own love story.

accessible adirondack tourism

Adirondack Experience

accessible adirondack tourism

Accessible Hamilton County

Hamilton County is famous and deeply loved for its small towns and big, big outdoors. Here, we’re all about celebrating the woods and waters and it wouldn’t be right if not everyone could share in it. Whether you or a loved one are looking for a wheelchair accessible trail or accessibility for hearing impairment, our Adirondacks are for you, too. Fortunately, there are a number of attractions and activities in Hamilton County (and beyond!) that are accessible for people with disabilities and offer an amazing Adirondack experience.

Attractions

With so many acres of forest, lakes, and rivers, you might not think there's any room for attractions. Fortunately, we're good at living in harmony with the amazing landscape. In other words, one minute you're driving past forest, the next you're at a museum! Just don't be surprised if the museum is in the forest. That's part of the charm here.

Known by many as the "Smithsonian of the Adirondacks," the Adirondack Experience: The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake is a must-see destination. Nowhere else will you find the collection of buildings and artifacts that the ADKX has on display. From the history of rustic luxury of Great Camps to the rugged, tough lives of miners and lumberjacks, railroad barons and the Indigenous people who first lived and traveled through these mountains, the ADKX's exhibits are interactive, engaging, and full of fun. The newest exhibit, Life in the Adirondacks, is fully accessible and highlights the best of the museum's collections.

A museum exhibit on indigenous people of the Adirondacks.

In Speculator, get your kicks on Route 66 ; a mini version, anyway! This fun attraction features small-sized retro buildings, perfect for a bit of nostalgia and for kids to let their imaginations run wild at the fanciful buildings. Close by is the Sacandaga Pathway , a wheelchair accessible nature trail that takes visitors through different types of habitat along the scenic Sacandaga River. There's plenty of time to do both!

Get outside

Love to fish, paddle, and get out on the water? Hamilton County has numerous destinations that offer accessible access to the great outdoors.

In the expansive, gorgeous Moose River Plains Complex, overseen by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, numerous opportunities for adventure are available. The Icehouse Pond Trail is an accessible trail that extends 0.4 miles from Otter Brook Road to the southeastern shore of Icehouse Pond where an accessible campsite and accessible hand launch are located. The Helldiver Pond Accessible Trail extends 0.2 miles from the trailhead at the end of Helldiver Pond Road to an accessible hand launch for paddling on the pond. In addition, an accessible campsite is located near the trailhead. Cedar River Flow offers an accessible fishing pier and shoreline fishing area at a dam, with an accessible campsite nearby. There are a total of eight accessible campsites in the Moose River Plains Complex, so be sure to check out the DEC website for more info!

Two people in kayaks on a lake with forest and mountains in the background.

Just want to hit the beach and enjoy some time in the sunshine? The public beach in Speculator has a ramp to get you access to the sandy beach, while the nearby pavilion is a great spot for a shady picnic. In Inlet, on the shore of Fourth Lake, Arrowhead Park has great views, nicely paved paths close to the water, and a covered pavilion for picnics. Don't miss the ice cream at nearby Northern Lights Creamery !

A park with benches close to a lake on a sunny day.

While you're in Inlet, get closer to Fourth Lake by renting a pontoon boat at Clark's Marina ! The staff at Clark's are great to work with and a wheelchair can roll on to the boat from the dock. From the boat, cruise the waters of the lake while birding, or try the fishing: Fourth Lake is home to a variety of species, including lake trout, Atlantic salmon, bass, and northern pike.

Inlet is close to the Fulton Chain of Lakes, which includes Fourth Lake. This area has accessible outdoor activities, including two accessible primitive camping sites at picturesque Moss Lake . It's a sweet spot, but still close to the amenities of Inlet and nearby Eagle Bay (go to Eagle Bay for great donuts!). Moss Lake is home to some fascinating habitats and is known for excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. Be sure to check out the wheelchair-friendly viewing platform for a chance to look — and listen — for moose, bald eagles, Eastern coyote, bluebirds, and more!

One of the most unique and completely awesome camping areas in the whole state is right here in Hamilton County. John Dillon Park , located between Tupper Lake and Long Lake, was created especially for people with disabilities. Everything here was designed to be accessible: lean-tos for sleeping (with accessible fold-down bed), fire rings and grills, gently sloped and graded pathways, restrooms, and fishing access. There are even pontoon boat rides for a fun jaunt on the water!

A man in a wheelchair cooks with an accessible grill in front of a lean-to.

For an overnight that doesn't involve cooking over an open flame, try The Hedges in Blue Mountain Lake, a classic Adirondack lodge that has been welcoming visitors for generations. The accommodations are comfortable, the scenery gorgeous, and the food totally scrumptious. The Hedges offers rooms with wheelchair accessibility, including in the bathrooms, while many of the public spaces, including the dining room, provide plenty of space for maneuverability.

An Adirondack lodge and cabins on a lake, as viewed from the air.

Explore more

There are accessible spaces throughout the Adirondacks that offer Adirondack beauty to all travelers. Adirondack Wayfinder offers a specially designed road trip trail highlighting accessible camping, historic sites, attractions, and more!

Additional travel tips

  • Questions? Please feel free to call ahead to chat directly with a hotel, restaurant, or attraction.
  • If you have special needs, please mention them at the time of reservation, and call the provider 24 to 48 hours before your arrival to confirm that proper accommodations have been made. Don't hesitate to ask for specifics such as door and bathroom measurements if you question whether or not your wheelchair will fit.
  • Please be specific and clear when describing a disability. Not all service providers know the "lingo" of accessible travel but they do want to help make sure you have a wonderful experience when you visit. Give as many details as you can about your needs. The more information a service provider has, the better they will be able to accommodate you and make your visit as easy and comfortable as possible.

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With millions of acres of public land, the Adirondack Park and all it's natural beauty belongs to everyone, regardless of ability. We've collected some of the best, prettiest, and most enjoyable ADA-accessible areas to help you plan an adventure that is destined to delight and include everyone.

Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living

Empowering people with disabilites through advocacy and service.

Services That Make a Difference

A peer run organization that understands the needs of people with disabilities.

Independence and Freedom

Accessible adirondack tourism fundraiser, mystery board game evening dinner.

We are strong advocates for people with disabilities and do not charge our consumers for our services.

Empowerment

We work to empower people with disabilities to achieve their goals and lead full, satisfying lives.

Working with our consumers, their family and friends we know that we are all stronger as a team.

Located in Saranac Lake and also serving Lake Placid and Tupper Lake, we are easy to reach. We will even come to you.

In-Page Navigation

Click on the buttons below to be taken to the relevant section within this page.

Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living (TLCIL) is a 501c(3) not for profit, non-residential civil rights organization providing a wide range of services to a growing population of people with disabilities. We work to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are honored and respected, allowing them to live with dignity.

Our consumers range from youth to the elderly, veterans and those with autism, who are deaf or hard of hearing, the blind and those with other visual impairments, those who have suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), stroke, cancer, arthritis, mental illness and physical impairments.

At Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living we enjoy working with our consumers and are strong advocates for people with a variety of disabilities. We provide an array of support services to help them lead full, productive and happy lives.

Please click on the boxes below to be taken to the corresponding section of our Services page to learn more about how we can help you.

Architectural Barrier Assessments

Benefits acquisition & advice, employment seeking, independent living skills training, information & referrals, loan closet, peer mentoring, transitional services, more than 1,300 consumers served since 2017, 100 consumers served in essex county in 2021, people we've helped, ppe and covid-19 related services, information and referral services, advocacy and legal services, benefits advisement and acquisition assistance, two decades of advocacy and support, years of service.

For over 20 years we have provided access to support services for people with disabilities throughout the Adirondack’s Tri-Lakes (Saranac Lake, Lake Placid and Tupper Lake) region.

Individualized Services

Dedicated staff, latest news.

Recent posts from Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living staff providing important news and information.

Please click on the post introduction, below, to be taken to the specific page for that post.

You can slide the news from side-to-side to view more articles.

Saranac Lake Sensory Garden

Friday, May 6th, 2022 @ 10:37:58 AM

TLCIL is working on the creation of a Sensory Garden here in Saranac Lake. A sensory garden is a...

NYS Senate Bill S7374

Thursday, May 5th, 2022 @ 10:37:46 AM

TLCIL recently advocated against NYS Senate Bill S7374. The bill, if signed into law, would have...

Let’s Keep Staying Safe!

Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 @ 10:37:33 AM

We’ve all been dealing with COVID for what seems like an eternity and, unfortunately, it’s not...

Event Schedule

Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living hosts, sponsors and attends events throughout the region.

Please click on the event introduction, below, to be taken to the specific page for that event.

“I went in for help applying for SSDI, and even when lawyers couldn’t help me, the center was there for me and won my case!“

“TLCIL is the last, true peer advocate organization in the county. They improve the quality of life in Franklin County by bringing organizations and resources together, meeting individuals where they're at and working directly with them to help ensure good outcomes. They work to empower instead of enable, to raise up instead of push along, and to defend where needed.”

What Our Consumers Say About Us

It's not about the work, it's about the people we work for.

Thank you to all of our consumers, their families and friends who have allowed us to be a part of their team and grow together.

“TLCIL has been a lifesaver for me. Mary, Susan, Kevin and staff were able to advocate for me when I was too ill to do it for myself. They made me aware of community resources I didn’t know existed or was even eligible for. Mary helped me through a devastating period of my life, from encouraging me to seek help for my mental illness and teaching me how to advocate for myself. This agency worked with me for two years, always with a friendly, knowledgeable attitude to help me win my disability case. TLCIL helped me get my life back and boosted my self-esteem in the process. I’ll never be able to express how grateful I am for all they’ve done for me especially during a pandemic when other services were halted. We brainstormed, problem solved and even laughed a little. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

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The Olympic Center is a sprawling campus on the outskirts of Lake Placid, NY.

Lake Placid

Spotlight: The Adirondacks

Great visionaries from Ralph Waldo Emerson to Henry David Thoreau have drawn inspiration from the forest canopy of the Adirondacks, writing of its enchanted mountain peaks, and igniting passions to explore the depths of nature. Larger than Yosemite, Everglades, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon combined, the Adirondacks are a natural splendor that promises adventure. Crest any of the 46 High Peaks to see why this park is deemed "forever wild," stroll charming villages to feel warmth and liveliness in the farm-to-fork restaurants, or explore historic fortresses that take you through the centuries. You'll find a lot to love in the Adirondacks.

Three Things You Can't Miss  | Family Fun | Spend the Day | Spend the Weekend | Spend the Week | Hotels & Stays  | Where to Eat | Getting There

accessible adirondack tourism

Three Things You Can't Miss

Observatory deck designed to look like a nest at Wild Center and Wild Walk in the Adirondacks

Wild Center and Wild Walk

The 115-acre Wild Center is a natural history museum that draws you into the vast beauty of Adirondack Park and brings a new perspective to nature. Don't miss the museum's Wild Walk treetop trail, where you can get a bird's-eye view of the Adirondacks while walking through the network of bridges, a giant woven "spider's web," and an observatory deck designed like a nest.

Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum

Winter Olympic Experiences

Home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid is a hotspot where you can tour the new Olympic Museum , ride up in the air on the Cloudsplitter Gondola to Little Whiteface  and take in the bird's eye view soaring over streams, ski trails, steep rock faces, and thick forests, zig-zag your way down Mt. Van Hoevenberg on the Cliffside Coaster , test your adrenaline on the Sky Flyer Zipline , and much more. 

Adirondack High Peaks 9

46 High Peaks

Summit any of the 46 High Peaks, look down on hidden lakes and granite rock faces, and absorb the beauty of Adirondack Park that is "forever wild." Mt. Marcy  (pictured) in Lake Placid is the highest in the state at 5,344 feet. Beginners may enjoy Cascade Mountain and Porter Mountain, also in Lake Placid. Climbers who have conquered all the peaks are recognized as the Adirondack 46ers.

High Falls Gorge

High Falls Gorge

Beautiful waterfalls are that much closer at High Falls Gorge, where kid-friendly trails bring you to four waterfalls on a 22-acre nature preserve. Providing safe, easy access for visitors of all ages, this park is perfect for scenic walks, picnics, and views of the Ausable River as it cascades over granite cliffs and into the ancient gorge. Have a casual lunch onsite at the River View Cafe .

Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course

Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course

If you've ever dreamed of flying or jumping from branch to branch like a bird or a forest animal, the skilled team at Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course near Lake George is here to help! Reserve your time online and get up in the air with the tree-top challenge obstacle course, six aerial adventure courses, zip lines, jumps, rope swings, slides, and ladders—it's a thrill for the whole family.

Natural Stone Bridge and Caves Park

Natural Stone Bridge and Caves Park

Take the family to visit the largest marble stone entrance of the east and a natural wonder of the Adirondacks! At Natural Stone Bridge and Caves Park, you can go on a self-guided tour and walk the above-ground nature trail with the family and view waterfalls and gorges, then have fun at the 18-hole disc golf course, or purchase tour tickets and take the kids on a gemstone mining adventure.

spend the day

Ausable chasm falls - photo by adirondack coast visitors bureau.

Wrapping along the shores of Lake Champlain, the Adirondack Coast is New York's eastern treasure, home to geologic wonders, waterfront retreats, and civil history. Head to  Plattsburgh City Beach , one of the largest freshwater beaches in America, for sandy shores, kayaking, and sweeping views of Lake Champlain. Crest the waves with your rental canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard from Adirondack River Rentals —it's a fun way to get out on the lake.

Fed by Rainbow Falls to the south,  Ausable Chasm  is one of Earth's true beauties and a must-see when visiting the region. Hike the Inner Sanctum Trail and look straight into the 150-foot sandstone gorge, walk Elephant's Head Vista to view the plunging waterfall, or float down the deep canyon river with a skilled tour guide. Right next door, you'll find the Ausable Chasm campground featuring tent sites and cabins for rent, plus  North Star Underground Railroad Museum . The museum explores the history of the Champlain Line, which led people to freedom by steamboats and canal boats on their journeys north.

spend the weekend

Lake George Steamboat Company

Cruise beautiful Lake George with the  Lake George Steamboat Company . Offering scenic cruises around the southern basin, islands, and Paradise Bay, it's the best way to experience the lake's natural beauty and still have time for a full day of activities. An Adirondack icon since its establishment in 1817, the historic steamboat also offers special entertainment, moonlight cruises, and meals on the water. For a bird's-eye view of the lake, check out  Parasailing Adventures , where you can fly two or three people at a time, guided by a professional crew.

Explore Lake George Village , lined with restaurants and boutiques; the area's down-to-earth vibe blends with its vibrant downtown to create a charming mountain community. Check out specialty shops, dine by the marina, then walk to  Shepard Park  or  Million Dollar Beach  for sandy shores, picnicking, and swimming. You'll also find family-friendly activities and nightlife. 

Hyde Collection exterior

Visit  The Hyde Collection Art Museum and Historic House , a fine arts museum with a range of collections from Renaissance paintings to contemporary photography as well as work by Picasso, van Gogh, and Rafael. Set in the Hyde House, a restored 20th-century mansion listed on the US National Register of Historic Places, the museum is known for its unique displays and devotion to cultural education.

Enjoy lunch, craft beer, and a tour at  Davidson Brothers Brewing Company . Home to the only brick kettle brew system in New York, the brewpub is serving up a variety of in-house ales including their signature IPA and Oatmeal Stout.

If you're a shopaholic, head to the  Factory Outlets of Lake George , just 15 minutes from downtown Glens Falls, for top brands at a price that won't break your wallet.

spend the week

Great Camp Sagamore

Inspired by W.H.H. Murray's novel  Adventures in the Wilderness ,  Adirondack  Great Camps  were designed to blend into their natural surroundings, offering rustic yet luxurious retreats for the Gilded Age elite. Today, they dot the northern landscape, offering windows into the wealth and charm of Adirondack Rustic. Many of these structures are still privately owned, but a few are open to the public through professional guided tours. Explore extravagant 19th-century luxury lodges and historic landmarks including  Great Camp Sagamore  (pictured), Raquette Lake, and  The Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake . 

Olympic Jumping Complex, Lake Placid, Essex County- Adirondack Region

Visit the  Olympic Museum , an homage to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, both held in Lake Placid. Take in panoramic views of the High Peaks at the top of the  Jumping Complex . If the weather is right, water ski, wakeboard, wake surf, or tube on Lake Placid with  ADK aquatics  (call in advance to secure your reservation) or rent rowboats, canoes, paddleboats, sailboats, electric boats, and stand-up paddleboards from  Mirror Lake Boat Rentals  for adventures on nearby Mirror Lake.

For a family-friendly hike, try Mt. Jo, where even the littlest of hikers will be rewarded with stunning views for just a bit of effort. Families with young kids should expect the 2.6-mile roundtrip walk to take about two and a half hours. Other options for families include hikes at Cobble Hill and Copperas Pond.

Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface Mountain

Head to Wilmington, home of  Whiteface Mountain , and see the beauty of the Adirondacks unfold as you ride the  Cloudsplitter Gondola  to the top of Little Whiteface. If you're looking for views on foot, hike the Whiteface Mountain Summit Trail. The terrain is challenging but the views are worth the journey—hikers be wary, this trail is not meant for young kids.

Stroll the paths and walkways at High Falls Gorge to view four spectacular waterfalls toward the base of Whiteface Mountain.

The tree-top view of the Wild Walk Center

Experience the mountains from the treetop canopy walk at  The Wild Center and Wild Walk . Experience the Wild Walk's elevated walkway above the forest featuring a four-story twig tree house, swinging bridges, a giant nest, and a spider's web made of sturdy rope that allows you to float above the trees. 

Can't get enough of nature? Without leaving the 155-acre Wild Center grounds, you can canoe or paddleboard on the tranquil Raquette River. Or if you want to go for a more serious hike, go offsite to nearby Mt. Arab and climb the fire tower for spectacular mountain views!

View of Algonquin, Mount Marcy High Peak area from Lake Placid,  Essex County- Adirondack Region

View the Adirondacks from the sky with  SunKiss Ballooning , a beloved hot air balloon company that flies at sunrise and sunset. It's a scenic adventure perfect for two people or large groups.

If you're with the kids, hike  Prospect Mountain , one of the most accessible Adirondack trails, which offers broad views of Lake George and beginner-level trails that everyone can enjoy. For a greater challenge, the  High Peaks  region boasts 46 mountain tops above 4,000 feet—making this a backpacker's paradise and one of the greatest wildernesses on the East Coast. Home to Mount Marcy and Gothics, visitors should consult a hiking guidebook or secure services of an Adirondack Guide before heading into the wilderness.

French & Indian War reenactment at Fort Ticonderoga.

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to storm a castle or defend a fortress against 18th-century colonial powers? Purchase your tickets in advance and visit  Fort Ticonderoga , where you can experience daily programming like tours, Fife and Drum Corps marching, historic trade demonstrations, daily cannon and musket-firing demonstrations, and various family activities.

Sample the local bounty along the Adirondack Coast Wine Trail, a series of wineries and cideries threading the shores of Lake Champlain. The trail is a blend of colorful landscape and bold flavor.

Kayaking-Saranac River

Canoe or kayak the  Saranac Lake Chain . Three lakes connected by the Saranac River, this natural linkage creates a 17-mile canoe and kayak route.  St. Regis Canoe Outfitters  will hook you up with their best tour guides and sporting gear including canoes, kayaks, and camping gear for rent. Cruise the water for stunning lake views and keep an eye out for bald eagles, beavers, and other wildlife. 

Explore the Adirondack Park on horseback with  Emerald Springs Adirondack Ranch , which offers guided tours and riding lessons—a perfect introduction to riding for the whole family.

Hotels and Stays

The heritage of lake george.

A cozy spot with a charming gazebo, fire pit, and heated pool. more

Camp Driftwood

Authentic, cozy cabins in the lush forest surrounding Indian Lake. more

Quality Inn Lake George

 Spacious rooms and a pool in downtown Lake George. more

Great Camp Sagamore

A former Vanderbilt retreat turned lodge. more

Alpine Lodge

A quaint, wood-paneled lodge located near Gore Mountain. more

Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort

A family-run resort on Mirror Lake with suites and balconies. more

Stony Creek Ranch Resort

An all-inclusive resort with horseback riding, kayaking, and more. more

High Peaks Resort

Beautifully appointed guestrooms on picturesque Mirror Lake. more

Whiteface Lodge

Rustic luxury in the woodlands outside of Lake Placid. more

The Sagamore Resort

A gem of Adirondack heritage that includes a spa and golf course. more

Mirror Lake Inn

An AAA Four-diamond resort on the shores of Mirror Lake. more

The Point Resort

An adults-only retreat on the shores of Saranac Lake. more

Where to Eat

Noon mark diner.

A cozy diner with a variety of comfort foods. more

Well Dressed Food

A comfortable, casual ambiance and flavorful fare. more

Emma's Lake Placid Creamery

Classic ice cream parlor with sundaes and thick milkshakes. more

The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn

Scenic views, American comfort fare, nightly deals, and après-ski. more

Caffe Rustica

Fresh Mediterranean and Italian meals in Lake Placid. more

Lake Placid Pub & Brewery

A destination for craft beer lovers across the country. more

Log Jam Restaurant

A Lake George casual dining favorite serving up tasty American fare. more

The View at Mirror Lake Inn

Lake Placid's only AAA Four Diamond-rated restaurant. more

Kanu Dining Room

Upscale dining at Whiteface Lodge with creative American cuisine. more

The Owl at Twilight

A hidden gem that brings a refreshing twist to fine dining. more

getting there

Take Amtrak or rail to several regional stations including Glens Falls, Fort Edward, Whitehall, Lake Placid, Ticonderoga, Port Henry, Westport, Port Kent, Plattsburgh, and Rouses Point.

There are two regional airports that service the Adirondack Mountains, including  Adirondack Regional Airport  at Lake Clear and  Plattsburgh International Airport . Adirondack Park is also accessible by car when flying into  Albany International Airport .

Interstate 87 and 81 make traveling by car easy, quick, and affordable. Several Adirondack Scenic Byways crisscross the region and run by off-the-beaten-path attractions, historic locations, and incredible museums .

Adirondack Trailways offers service from New York City and other New York State locations so you can access a variety of Adirondack locations.

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Improving Usability for All Visitors

ANCA and the Inclusive Recreation Resource Center at SUNY Cortland (IRRC) recently released a  guide to improving accessibility at destinations along three main tourism corridors in the North Country . Entitled “Improving Usability for All Visitors,” this guide lays out 10 “tips” any establishment can use to improve its ability to provide inclusive and enjoyable experiences for visitors with disabilities.

According to annual visitor surveys done by the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, the two main reasons visitors come to our area are to engage in outdoor activities and view our natural assets. To help make access to those assets more inclusive, ANCA and the IRRC offered a free webinar on April 28, 2015 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm to further explain this resource and discuss accessibility issues throughout the region.

This guide is the result of a multi-year collaboration between the two organizations to address the needs of visitors to the

Click here to download the guide

accessible adirondack tourism

ANCA and the Inclusive Recreation Resource Center at SUNY Cortland (IRRC) recently released a  guide to improving accessibility at destinations along three main tourism corridors in the North Country. Entitled “Improving Usability for All Visitors,” this guide lays out 10 “tips” any establishment can use to improve its ability to provide inclusive and enjoyable experiences for visitors with disabilities.

Assessment results can be found on the IRRC’s website . Select Adirondack, Thousand Island, or Capitol Saratoga regions to view this project’s assessment results.

Lake George –  Making Inclusivity a Priority

Over the past several years, the Village of Lake George has improved physical access on multiple fronts. This work, according to long-time mayor Robert Blais, has “uplifted” the Village’s image among travelers with impairments, and has “brought them back several times and has made us very ‘user-friendly’.”

Improvements to Physical Access to Lake George Amenities:

  • The number of handicapped parking spaces increased from 12 to 25
  • Parking meters near accessible spaces are clearly marked to help identify them
  • All Village streets have wheelchair ramps
  • Wheelchair accessible viewfinders are located throughout the lakeshore
  • Bench seating along walkways has open spots for wheelchairs
  • Permanent, stable beach access is available for mobility impaired visitors at Lake George Beach
  • Most businesses are ground entry or have ramps and curb cuts

With such important progress already made, the IRRC and ANCA worked with the Warren County Department of Tourism to revise visitor surveys and promotional materials to include “person-first” language.

Mayor Blais reports that the Village has benefited from a “very robust economy from visitors with disabilities” as a result of their inclusivity efforts. “Resorts that depend solely on visitors having an enjoyable experience must make certain that [their] venues… are  totally accessible for people with disabilities.”

  • Preplanned tours
  • Daytrips out of Moscow
  • Themed tours
  • Customized tours
  • St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

Things to Do in Elektrostal, Russia - Elektrostal Attractions

Things to do in elektrostal.

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  • Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

accessible adirondack tourism

1. Electrostal History and Art Museum

accessible adirondack tourism

2. Statue of Lenin

accessible adirondack tourism

3. Park of Culture and Leisure

4. museum and exhibition center.

accessible adirondack tourism

5. Museum of Labor Glory

accessible adirondack tourism

7. Galereya Kino

8. viki cinema, 9. smokygrove.

accessible adirondack tourism

10. Gandikap

11. papa lounge bar, 12. karaoke bar.

  • Statue of Lenin
  • Electrostal History and Art Museum
  • Park of Culture and Leisure
  • Museum and Exhibition Center
  • Museum of Labor Glory
  • Bahasa Indonesia
  • Slovenščina
  • Science & Tech
  • Russian Kitchen

Moscow metro to be more tourist-friendly

A new floor sign system at the Moscow metro's Pushkinskaya station. Source: Vladimir Pesnya / RIA Novosti

A new floor sign system at the Moscow metro's Pushkinskaya station. Source: Vladimir Pesnya / RIA Novosti

For many years now, Moscow has lagged behind St. Petersburg when it comes to making life easy for tourists, especially where getting around the city is concerned. Whereas the northern capital installed English-language maps, signs and information points throughout its subway system in the late 2000s, the Russian capital’s metro remained a serious challenge for foreign visitors to navigate.

Recent visitors to Moscow may have noticed some signs that change is afoot, however. In many stations of the Moscow subway, signs have appeared on the floor – with large lettering in Russian and English – indicating the direction to follow in order to change lines. Previously, foreign visitors using the Moscow metro had to rely solely upon deciphering the Russian-language signs hanging from the ceilings.

Student volunteers help tourists find their way in Moscow

However, this new solution has a significant drawback. “The floor navigation is visible only to a small stream of people – fewer than three people per meter. During peak hours, this navigation will simply not be noticed,” said Konstantin Trofimenko, Director of the Center for Urban Transportation Studies.

One of the biggest problems for tourists in the Russian capital remains the absence of English translations of the names of subway stations in the station vestibules and on platforms. The Department of Transportation in Moscow has not commented yet as to when this problem will be solved. However, Latin transliterations of station names can already be found in the subway cars themselves.

Finding the right exit

At four of the central stations – Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya, Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Lubyanka and Kuznetsky Most – the city authorities have now installed colorful stands at the exits with schematic diagrams of the station’s concourse and surrounding area, which provide information about the main attractions and infrastructural facilities.

The schematic diagrams are the work of British specialists from the City ID and Billings Jackson Design firms, who have already implemented successful projects in New York and London.

According to Alexei Novichkov, expert at the Design Laboratory at the Higher School of Economics, the design of these information booths raises no objections: The color solutions, font, layout and icons are consistent with international standards.

Kudankulam

However, the stands do have some shortcomings. “Many questions are raised about the fact that the developers of these maps did not apply orientation to the north, and have provided layouts of the surrounding areas with respect to the exits,” says Novichkov. “A system like that is used for road navigators, but most of the ‘paper’ guides and maps are oriented strictly to north. The subway map is also oriented to north, so people may become confused.”

Muscovites and foreign visitors are generally positive about these navigation elements, with most of them citing the numbered exits from the subway as the most useful feature.

The fact is that many Moscow subway stations have several exits. One of the busiest central stations of the Moscow subway in particular, Kitay-Gorod, has more than a dozen exits. Previously, these exits were differentiated from each other only with signs in Russian referring to the names of streets and places of interest to which they led – making it easy for tourists and those with poor navigation skills to get confused.

Now, when making an appointment to meet a friend, instead of struggling to find the right spot when they tell you: “I'll meet you at the exit to Solyanka Street,” you can just propose to meet under a specific exit number.

“I’ve lived in Moscow for seven years,” says Angelika, a designer from Voronezh, “but I still don’t always know where to go to find the place I need, so the new schematic diagrams will be very useful. Previously, some subway stations had maps, but not with so much detail.”

Teething problems

Foreigners, meanwhile, focus their attention on other elements. “It is good that the new information boards have QR-codes, which can be ‘read’ by smartphones,” says Florentina, a writer from Vienna. But there are also shortcomings. “The English font of the information on posters and in the captions to theaters and museums is too small – you have to come very close to see it well,” she says.

Pleasant encounters on the streets of Moscow

Florentina was also dissatisfied with the fact that such posters are not provided at all subway stations: “When I was trying to find Tsaritsyno Park (a museum and reserve in the south of Moscow) at a subway station with the same name, it turned out to be quite difficult,” she says.

“There are no maps with landmarks for other areas, such as those already in the city center. There were no clear pointers in the English language, and the passers-by I met did not speak in English, so they could not help me,” she adds.

Officials say that the navigation system is gradually being redeveloped and improved. According to Darya Chuvasheva, a press representative for the Department of Transport of Moscow, the introduction of a unified navigation system will take place in stages.

“By the end of 2014, the system will first appear on the first subway stations on the Circle Line. By the end of 2015, we plan to install the system at all major stopping points, subway stations and transport interchange hubs,” says Chuvasheva.

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accessible adirondack tourism

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  2. Olympic Center ⋆ Accessible Adirondack Tourism

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  3. John Dillon Park ⋆ Accessible Adirondack Tourism

    accessible adirondack tourism

  4. The Ultimate Wheelchair Accessible Adirondacks Travel Guide

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  5. John Dillon Park ⋆ Accessible Adirondack Tourism

    accessible adirondack tourism

  6. The Wild Center ⋆ Accessible Adirondack Tourism

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COMMENTS

  1. Accessible Adirondack Tourism

    Accessible Adirondack Tourism, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that is authorized to accept donations that are tax deductable to our donors. We're not just a website. We're also an online and in person educational resource for businesses, organizations and municipalities within the Adirondack region to assist them in their goals of ...

  2. About Accessible Adirondack Tourism ⋆ Accessible Adirondack Tourism

    Accessible Adirondack Tourism, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization that is authorized to accept donations that are tax deductable to our donors. We're not just a website. We're also an online and in person educational resource for businesses, organizations and municipalities within the Adirondack region to assist them in their goals ...

  3. The Ultimate Wheelchair Accessible Adirondacks Travel Guide

    Roll on more accessible trails (and see butterflies!) at the Paul Smith's College VIC. The last, but certainly not least, wheelchair accessible Adirondacks attraction that I was able to visit and would highly recommend is Paul Smith's College VIC. The VIC (Visitor's and Interpretive Center) aims to connect outdoor recreation, experiential ...

  4. Accessible Adirondacks

    One place to start is the DEC Accessible Recreation Destinations web page. The page breaks down options first by region, then by county, then by site. So a web visitor could click on "Eastern Adirondacks/Lake Champlain," then "Warren County," then on one of the sites, such as "Lake George Islands Campground.". Each site page lists ...

  5. Accessible Saranac Lake

    Accessible Adirondack Tourism focuses on tourism in the Adirondacks for people with disabilities, their families, friends and companions. They provide a single-source website for people with disabilities to locate recreational, dining, lodging, retail, outdoor and other accessible resources within the Adirondack region, including the 14 ...

  6. Welcome to the Adirondacks

    Welcome to the Adirondacks. At six million acres, the Adirondack Park is the largest protected region in the contiguous United States. In fact, it's larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Glacier National Parks combined! This massive expanse of nature, divided into both public and private land, provides endless outdoor recreation ...

  7. Accessibility in the Adirondack Hub

    The Adirondack Hub is for everyone. The Adirondack Park was created in 1892 to protect large expanses of the Adirondack Park, including mountains, lakes, and rivers, and to ensure that those lands would be available for "the free use of all the people for their health and pleasure." The Adirondacks aren't just for everybody, they're for every body.

  8. Accessible Hamilton County

    The Helldiver Pond Accessible Trail extends 0.2 miles from the trailhead at the end of Helldiver Pond Road to an accessible hand launch for paddling on the pond. In addition, an accessible campsite is located near the trailhead. Cedar River Flow offers an accessible fishing pier and shoreline fishing area at a dam, with an accessible campsite ...

  9. Accessible Adirondacks

    Accessible Adirondacks. With millions of acres of public land, the Adirondack Park and all it's natural beauty belongs to everyone, regardless of ability. We've collected some of the best, prettiest, and most enjoyable ADA-accessible areas to help you plan an adventure that is destined to delight and include everyone. With millions of acres of ...

  10. Home

    Accessible Adirondack Tourism Fundraiser MYSTERY BOARD GAME EVENING DINNER. April 21, 2023 - 5-9pm TICKETS $50 - SPACE IS LIMITED Town of Harrietstown Town Hall ... For over 20 years we have provided access to support services for people with disabilities throughout the Adirondack's Tri-Lakes (Saranac Lake, Lake Placid and Tupper Lake ...

  11. Give / Donate ⋆ Accessible Adirondack Tourism

    As the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the entire Adirondack region that is specifically dedicated to accessible tourism, we have a lot of ground to cover, and much work to do. We need your help to build levels of service and outreach, awareness campaigns and to continue operations. Please give today so that visits by people with disabilities to ...

  12. Adirondacks NY

    Wild Center and Wild Walk. The 115-acre Wild Center is a natural history museum that draws you into the vast beauty of Adirondack Park and brings a new perspective to nature. Don't miss the museum's Wild Walk treetop trail, where you can get a bird's-eye view of the Adirondacks while walking through the network of bridges, a giant woven "spider ...

  13. ANCA

    ANCA and the Inclusive Recreation Resource Center at SUNY Cortland (IRRC) recently released a guide to improving accessibility at destinations along three main tourism corridors in the North Country. Entitled "Improving Usability for All Visitors," this guide lays out 10 "tips" any establishment can use to improve its ability to provide inclusive and enjoyable experiences for visitors ...

  14. Accessible Adirondack Tourism

    Accessible Adirondack Tourism, Saranac Lake, New York. 1 like. Providing accessible tourism information to people with disabilities who want to visit, work and live in the Adirondack Region.

  15. Accessible Adirondack Tourism

    Accessible Adirondack Tourism, Saranac Lake, New York. 7 likes. Providing accessible tourism information to people with disabilities who want to visit, work and liv

  16. Moscow metro tour

    The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours' itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin's regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as "a people's palace". Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics ...

  17. YANTAR-SITI

    Write a review. Hotel Yantar-City is located in Elektrostal. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and offers free Wi-Fi. Guests can visit the restaurant or order room service. The hotel has a shared lounge and luggage storage. Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. All rooms are equipped with a refrigerator. Read more.

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