Saranac Lake

After spending time in Saranac Lake, you may find it hard to leave. Consider relocating here as an entrepreneur, student, professional, or in retirement. You’ll find the sense of place embraces you, just like it does for us. With two colleges, exceptional healthcare facilities, and business opportunities you may find that Saranac Lake is the home you’ve been looking for. Today, people live and visit Saranac Lake for the same reasons they did 100 years ago – fresh air, healing woods, and the welcoming, friendly community. 

Small towns across the country usually share some common traits. You’ve heard them before: a sense of community, volunteerism, a slower pace of living, being there for each other — the things that separate us from big-city life.

But Saranac Lake prides itself on being decidedly different. What does that mean? Here are some examples:

One of the country’s oldest winter festivals, our carnival features a giant ice palace, constructed every winter by a crew of community volunteers — they call themselves the “International Palace Workers 101” — who brave frigid temperatures to create carnival’s signature visual. The 10-day event includes a ladies’ fry pan toss competition (which is exactly as it sounds), themed parade, live music every night, snow rugby, and plenty of other weird festivities.

Winter Carnival may be our best-known bash, but it’s far from the only game in town. Music on the Green, 90 Miler, and Can-Am Rugby are perennial favorites, too.

Whitewater paddling, mountain biking down the side of a ski slope, a 10-day backpacking trip — these are all great ways to enjoy the outdoors. In Saranac Lake, we want you to enjoy the outdoors, no matter your comfort level or financial situation.

We have a year-round, multi-use recreational center at Dewey Mountain that features cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter and mountain biking and hiking in the summer. Newcomers to paddling can try their hand at canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding right in town on Lake Flower or the Saranac River.

You won’t find a mall or box store here, but you will find our amazing locally owned independent shops. Whether you are looking for that special homemade soap, a wool sweater, a fat tire bike, a good book, or a board game — our shops have what you need.

Outdoor dining with a view of the mountains, cozy drinks by the fire, or local music to entertain you while eating; the choice is yours and we are sure you will not be disappointed!