
Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake
Spend time in Saranac Lake and you may never want to leave!
Saranac Lake is a storied village rich in history, creativity, and promise. Immerse yourself in the energetic downtown vibe or head for the mountains to hike, bike, or paddle. For years visitors have been coming to our place to heal, explore, and learn and we invite you to do the same. You’ll find a community of helpful, hardworking individuals who love the area and the small-town atmosphere.
Saranac Lake was awarded All-America City designation in 1998, as well as making the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Distinctive Destinations list in 2006. Saranac Lake has even been touted by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as a “Best Place to Live.” With a natural environment that’s a water-lover’s paradise, rich history, vibrant art scene, and an intact and resilient downtown, it is easy to see why.
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Living Here
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.

Decidedly Different
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:

Events
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.

Outdoors
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.

Shops
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.

Restaurants
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!

Art
We are surrounded by art in our area both in our natural landscape as well as the galleries, studios, quirky bug sculptures, and art events throughout the year.
- Housing
- Quality Schools
- Access to Good Jobs
- Safety
- Open Spaces And Public Places
- Cultural Opportunities
- Connection And Mobility
- Well-Maintained Infrastructure
There are opportunities to purchase and renovate homes.
Content on real estate offerings!
- Types of residential housing — rental, mixed use, multi-family, single family
- Neighborhoods
- Information on fixer uppers / vacant homes
- Information on financing
- Code Enforcement / Building Permit contact info
To attract families, a place needs to have quality local public schools that prepare children for college and/or work.
Content on Saranac Lake school system and area colleges!
- Saranac Lake Central School District
- St. Bernard’s School
- Northern Lights School
- North Country Community College
- Paul Smith’s College
- Daycare offerings
People like to work close to where they live and having good jobs keeps people in their town.
Content on major employers and commercial property!
- Adirondack Health
- Trudeau Institute
- Bionique
- Saranac Lake School District
- American Management Association
- Government Agencies
- Remote workers — The Carry CoWorking space
- Entrepreneurs — real estate listings for available commercial property
Safety is one of the most important aspects that people want in the place they live and play.
Content on how safe Saranac Lake is!
- Police
- Fire
- Rescue
- Ratings / score / statistics
Places to gather and recreate are important to staying healthy and connected to others.
Content on where locals play!
- Dewey
- Pisgah
- Other parks and trails
Music, art, dance, theater, museums, sports – these are all highly valued.
Content on what Saranac Lake has to offer!
- Saranac Lake Civic Center
- Saranac Lake Surge
- Youth Sport Leagues
- Saranac Historic Laboratory
- Adirondack Loon Center
- Adirondack Carousel
- Adirondack Center for Writing
- Pendragon Theatre
- Dance Sanctuary
- ArtRise
- ArtWorks
Access to highways, airports, and public transportation are factors for choosing a place to live. Having walkable and bikeable streets that are safe and easy to maneuver are important.
Content on Saranac Lake specific assets and amenities!
- Adirondack Regional Airport
- Franklin and Essex County Public Transportation
- Dack Bike Rentals
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
- Adirondack Rail Trail
- Adirondack Regional Airport
When public infrastructure isn’t maintained, it puts a drain on the economic development of a place as well as individual wellbeing.
Content on infrastructure quality and capacity!
- Water and Sewer infrastructure
- Broadband
- Utilities — electricity, gas, garbage removal, internet, security, and phone services