'Dack Facts

Photo: Stillwater Fire Tower

Size

Created by the New York State legislature in 1892, the Adirondack Park covers 9,375 square miles, an area more than double the size of Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks combined.

Adirondack Rock

The rock that makes up most of the High Peaks region is Anorthosite. This rock, more often found well underground than at the Earth's surface, apparently is very common on the moon. The Adirondack Mountains are young, but these young mountains are made from some of the oldest rocks on the planet.

Adirondack Chair

The original Adirondack chair was made with eleven pieces of wood, cut from a single board. It was thoughtfully designed by Thomas Lee in 1903 to sit better on the steep mountain inclines of the area.

Fire Towers

The Adirondack Fire Towers were built after major forest fires in 1903 and 1908 destroyed over 700,000 acres. The first metal towers were erected in 1917.

March Maple Month

In honor of March Maple Sugaring Weekends... did you know that it actually takes over 40 gallons of sap to boil down into one concentrated gallon of Pure Adirondack Maple Syrup?

Common Loons

Loons require a long stretch (almost a quarter-mile) of water to run on before becoming airborne. Loons are long-lived, and territorial, often returning annually to the same lake to breed. (https://www.adkloon.org/)

Loons require a long stretch (almost a quarter-mile) of water to run on before becoming airborne. Loons are long-lived, and territorial, often returning annually to the same lake to breed.

Golf

Lake Placid built its first golf course in 1898, one of the first in the United States, and has more golf courses than any other region in the Adirondacks.

Teddy Roosevelt

On September 13th 1901, Adirondack-lover Teddy Roosevelt, returning from a climb to the summit of Mount Marcy, was intercepted by a park ranger informing him that President McKinley was near death. On his way back to Buffalo on September 14th, Roosevelt received another telegram that McKinley had died. Roosevelt arrived in Buffalo that afternoon, and was sworn in there as President at 3:30pm!

Verplanck Colvin

Ampersand Mountain, a 3300-foot peak in the High Peaks region, was made bald by Verplanck Colvin during his 19th Century survey. He used Ampersand as a survey station and ordered the removal of all the trees from the summit; now nothing but bare rock remains.

Wright Peak

In January, 1962, a B-47 bomber, on a training mission, crashed into Wright Peak, killing all 4 crewmen. Pieces of the wreckage can still be found on the summit, along with a plaque near the impact site.

Adirondack Guideboat

The guideboat was a fast, light, oared boat pointed at both ends - a cross between a rowboat and a canoe. It was big enough for the guide and his customers but light enough for the guide to take on his own over the many 'carries' between lakes.