Lake George

The Lake George Region of Lakes to Locks Passage offers a delightful 50-mile loop around the western side of the lake that the French missionary explorer, Father Isaac Jogues, named Lac du Saint Sacrement for its crystal clear water. French and British armies raged years of warfare through this valley for the right to claim, and name, this magnificent lake. Regardless of what you call it, the Lake George Region is renowned for its beautiful scenery, recreational activities, and wonderful villages.

Lake George owes its beauty to the surrounding mountains whose ancient crystalline rocks, carved by glacial ice, thrust straight up from the water’s edge. Artists and writers found that the wild, craggy cliffs, dramatic mountain light and breathtaking vistas fulfilled their romantic expectations of American wilderness. By the middle of the 19th century, a booming tourism industry supported fashionable hotels and regular steamboat service. Although traveler’s tastes have changed over the years to favor more active recreation activities, Lake George still appeals to visitors all year long.

Today, the Lake George loop of Lakes to Locks Passage takes you to Glens Falls, which offers a vibrant downtown filled with cultural attractions. Travelers will find a wide array of shopping and some of the nation’s most venerable theme parks on US Route 9 through Queensbury and Lake George Village. Along the lakeshore, Bolton Landing and Hague offer a choice of invigorating water sports, challenging hikes, or leisurely relaxation. In Ticonderoga, where a historic portage linked Lake George with Lake Champlain, an interpretive trail helps to make the connection for the waterway known as Lakes to Locks Passage, the Great Northeast Journey.