Overview
Old Forge is a village of about 750 people (2010) in the Adirondacks. As one of the western gateway communities of the Adirondack Park, Old Forge forms an extensive business district, primarily directed at tourism especially during the summer months.
3 sights · 5 things to do · 8 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Old Forge
Goodsell Museum
Local history museum in listed heritage house; various books and reprints of old maps for sale by the town's historical society.
Enchanted Forest Water Safari
A major amusement park and water park destination in New York. Calypso's Cove Family Fun Center adjacent; the same company also operates an inn and a campground.
McCauley Mountain Ski Area
Alpine ski hill, Last Run Café (+1 315 369-2551, winter only) and ski shop (instruction, rentals) (+1 315 369-3144). McCauley Mountain offers a 633 foot vertical drop, 21 ski trails, one double chairlift, two T-bar and t…
Old Forge Lake Cruises
It provides 2-hour tours the Fulton Chain of Lakes.
Norridgewock Tour Boat
Cruise along the Stillwater Reservoir
Adirondack Scenic Railroad
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 16°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Albany)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ART Watertown International Airport, Watertown — 56 mi away. Directions
- SLK Adirondack Regional Airport, Saranac Lake — 60 mi away. Directions
- SYR Syracuse Hancock International Airport, Syracuse — 70 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Enchanted Forest Water Safari, McCauley Mountain Ski Area, Experience Old Forge
- Lunch Adirondack Dog House
- Afternoon Norridgewock Tour Boat, Towns of Webb & Inlet Snowmobile Trail
- Dinner Adirondack Pizzeria
- Evening Slickers Adirondack Tavern
Day 2
- Morning Goodsell Museum, Old Forge Lake Cruises
- Lunch Benny's Ice Cream
- Afternoon Adirondack Scenic Railroad
- Dinner Billy's
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Old Forge is known for its unique style of rectangular Pizza.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Old Forge is a formerly-incorporated village in the southwestern corner of Adirondack Park, serving as point of entry to the park from a large area of Central New York. An Adirondack ski resort known for its lake-effect snow, the tiny village holds one of the records for the lowest winter temperatures in New York, at -52 °F (-46 °C) on February 17, 1979.
Get in
Get around
A car would be the best way to get around, but there are scenic railroad rides and cruises for seeing the area in depth.
By boat
By train
By snowmobile
See
Do
- - located in Old Forge
Do McCauley Mountain Ski Area
Alpine ski hill, Last Run Café (+1 315 369-2551, winter only) and ski shop (instruction, rentals) (+1 315 369-3144). McCauley Mountain offers a 633 foot vertical drop, 21 ski trails, one double chairlift, two T-bar and two rope tows. In summer, the chairlifts operate for sightseers daily (except W) 9:30AM-4:30PM mid-June to Labor Day and F-Su until Columbus Day ($5/person, $4 for ages 6-16 and over 65, children age 5 and under free.)
- The western terminus of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail is found near Old Forge. The water trail continues on for approximately 700 miles to the eastern terminal in Fort Kent, Maine. The route runs through public and private lands. It is based on routes once used by Native Americans and pioneers and is the longest water trail in the United States.
Buy
Shop Mountainman Outdoor Gear
Outdoors clothing and equipment, paddlesports shop (+1 315 369-6672). Moose River trips and boat rentals operate from Clark Avenue (+1 315 369-6670) and there's another set of locations in Saratoga Springs.
Eat
Old Forge is known for its unique style of rectangular Pizza.
Eat Adirondack Dog House
Hot dog stand, next to Water Safari.
Eat Adirondack Pizzeria
Pizzeria and arcade, wings, finger food, salads and submarines.
Eat Benny's Ice Cream
Eat Billy's
Italian-American
Eat Daikers
Restaurant with bar, finger food, pizza and live music. Fish fry 5PM-9PM every Friday.
Eat Frankie's Taste of Italy
Italian food, gelato.
Eat Keyes Pancake House
Breakfast and diner food.
Eat Tony Harper's Pizza & Clam Shack
Drink
Drink Slickers Adirondack Tavern
Pizza, burgers, sandwiches, soups, frozen mixed drinks.
Sleep
Motels
Go next
- Central New York. Utica is 50 miles (80 km) to the south.
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My experience
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