Winter Activities at Raquette Lake

Snowmobile Country, Right Outside the Door

When the snow flies, Raquette Lake becomes one of the Adirondacks' great snowmobile towns. Uncas Road carries a major leg of the trail system, tying you into some 700 miles of groomed, interconnecting trails across Hamilton County — Inlet, Indian Lake, Long Lake, Old Forge. And once the ice is safe, the frozen lake opens up a whole second highway. Ride all day, park the sleds out back, thaw out in front of the stone fireplace.

Prefer it quiet? The lake and the surrounding woods are made for snowshoes and cross-country skis. There's nothing like this place when the snow is falling and the only sound is the stove ticking.

Two Things Worth Knowing

• The NYS trail map confirms Hamilton County's network of roughly 700 miles of trails, which generally open by mid-December, snow permitting.

• Uncas Road is closed to cars in winter, so winter guests should plan their driving route via Route 28.

Downhill Skiing

McCauley Mountain in Old Forge is a friendly local hill; Gore Mountain in North Creek is one of the biggest ski areas in the state.

Ice Fishing

When the ice is safe, shanties appear across Adirondack lakes. Never go out on the ice without checking local conditions, and read the current DEC ice-fishing regulations for the water you plan to fish.