Hikes and campgrounds across America

Tinker Falls is a beautiful 50-foot waterfall in Labrador Hollow Unique Area, a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) State Forest on the border of Onondaga County and Cortland County in Central New York. The base of the waterfall can be reached via Tinker Falls Trail on an easy half-mile round trip hike with 50 feet of elevation gain. ...Read more.

Tranquil Labrador Pond lies at the heart of New York State's Labrador Hollow Unique Area on the border of Onondaga County and Cortland County. Fine views of Labrador Pond can be found on Labrador Hollow Boardwalk, a half-mile long wheelchair-friendly walkway through the wetlands bordering Labrador Pond. The quick walk reaches a viewpoint on the shore of the hill-cradled pond and is a great introduction to the Labrador Hollow Unique Area. ...Read more.

When the snow falls in Central New York, it's time to trade in your hiking books for snowshoes and explore a wonderland of winter landscapes. Onondaga County's Beaver Lake Nature Center is a perfect destination for winter fun. The 660-acre park operates trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and even rents snowshoes for a small fee so that everyone can get in on the fun. ...Read more.

Green Lakes State Park was created in 1925 to preserve two aquamarine-colored glacially-carved lakes in Central New York. There are trails circling both of these jewels, Green Lake and Round Lake, which you can combine for a peaceful and easy 3.25-mile hike. The trail is almost entirely level, providing a casual 90-minute walk through the verdant forest that frames the lakes. ...Read more.

Would you like to camp on an island in an Adirondack Lake? Take a trip to Blue Mountain Lake in Hamilton County. The picturesque 1,220-acre lake has six designated campsites that are free and first-come first-serve, so throw your tent and gear in a boat and check out the primitive camping on Blue Mountain Lake! To sign out a campsite, make your way to the public beach and boat ramp along Route 28 at the southeast corner of Blue Mountain Lake. ...Read more.

Several Adirondack lakes line the roadways in Hamilton County, New York (Blue Mountain Lake, Indian Lake, Long Lake, and Raquette Lake to name a few), but sometimes it is more refreshing to hike to a scenic lake that can't be seen from the road. Leave the vehicle noise behind on this easy 1.6-mile round trip hike with just 100 feet of elevation change. ...Read more.

For summit views without the usual summit effort, head to Sawyer Mountain in the Adirondacks. The trail to the top of the mountain gains 650 feet over a 2.5-mile round trip hike. While the trail travels through a sheltered hardwood forest the entire way, there are two overlooks around the summit that provide far-reaching views over the trees across the surrounding valleys, ridges, and summits. ...Read more.

The Adirondack Mountains are dotted with lakes and mountains, so it should come as no surprise that you can hike to one or two peaceful ponds on this trail near Eagle Lake and Blue Mountain Lake. For those looking for something on the shorter side, it is an easy one-mile round trip hike to Grassy Pond. For those looking to immerse themselves in the Adirondacks, hike past Grassy Pond for a six-mile round trip trek to Wilson Pond. ...Read more.