From Lake George to Old Forge
The southern 'dacks landscape is mostly characterized by lakes. At the center of it all is Lake George, both the 32-mile-long lake and the village. The area is hopping with tourists in the summer and fall foliage season, but most everything shuts down for the winter. Route 28, the only east-west road in the region, takes you past tiny villages, the Gore Mountain ski resort (New York's second-largest), the magnificent Fulton Chain of Lakes, and over into Inlet and Old Forge, which also bustle with activity. It's about 90 miles from Lake George to Old Forge; but it's a beautiful drive (as are all the drives in the park) and it's worth spending some time cruising west from Lake George. The southwestern section of the park stays partially open in the winter to accommodate the thousands of snowmobilers who power through here each year. Enter the park via Route 30 and you'll pass the huge Great Sacandaga Lake, along with even more tiny villages and lakes.
