Old Forge Pond
The Adirondack Natural Historic Landmark has many towns that act as gateways to the park. They provide motels, souvenir shops, and places to outfit a longer visit. Old Forge, New York, is just such a gateway, and visiting it offered exactly what you would expect.
Old Forge was settled in the early 1800’s along the Big Moose River as a farming and iron mining town. Farming was not viable, and when the mine failed, the river was used to provide power to a lumber mill, which also did not survive. In 1874, a dam was built across the river, helping to create a chain of lakes in this section of the park. But the town really came into its own when the railroad was built from Utica, allowing people from Utica and Syracuse to visit.
Today, Old Forge is a town set up for tourists. It sits on the shore of Old Forge Pond, where there is a public beach. There are a wide range of shops selling everything from inexpensive souvenirs to high end crafts and art. There are also a water park and and a go-cart/mini-golf center.
A former Howard Johnson’s is still serving food.
Adirondack Park offers a wide variety of lakes and trails to explore. On the advice of local photographer Kurt Gardner, I headed to Moss Lake, ten miles away. Moss Lake is small and beautiful, sitting among the foothills of the mountains.
From there, I drove up to a point where the road crossed the North Branch of the Big Moose River, where Mr. Gardner suggested I would find a place to take some good photos.
Old Forge is a great place for a day trip from central New York, or a weekend enjoying some of New York’s most beautiful nature.
Nuts and Bolts
Old Forge is 50 miles from Utica and 100 miles from Syracuse.
