Lake George, NY

Lake George, New York is located at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. A number of small communities dot the shores of the lake, each one offering their uniqueness to create the Lake George atmosphere. Imagine having a broad range of activities and lifestyles at your fingertips. Take your next vacation to Lake George, and you won’t have to imagine any longer!

Lake George is 32 miles long and three miles wide. While various communities line the lake, much of its shore remains unsettled. Conservation efforts at the federal and state level help make sure it stays that way. If you think quiet sandy beaches are beautiful – you’ll find it at Lake George. If you prefer cliffs and rocky areas, you’ll find that too.

Everyone likes clear water. Lake George is famous for its water clarity. Many locals and visitors use water straight from the lake for their drinking water. Not only is the crystal clear water a health benefit, but it makes for great scuba diving, too!

The water from Lake George empties into Lake Champlain through the La Chute River. The result is many beautiful falls and rapids. The water reaches the Atlantic Ocean after flowing from Lake Champlain to the St. Lawrence River. High Falls Gorge offers breath-taking views of four waterfalls and visitors may see them any time of year.

The Lake George area is rich in history. Samuel de Champlain was the first European visitor to the area in 1609 but it was French missionary Isaac Jogues who named it Lac du Saint-Sacrement, or Lake of the Holy Sacrament, 37 years later.
Sir William Johnson was in charge of British colonial forces that occupied the lake area during the French and Indian War. Johnson decided to rename the lake in honor of the mother country’s leader, King George. The fort of protection that the soldiers built at the southern end of the lake was named for the king’s son as Fort William Henry.

The French constructed a fort, too, now known as Fort Ticonderoga. The two forts controlled the waterways between Canada and New York. Just because the lake area is rich in history does not mean it has not progressed right along with society. There’s plenty to see and do and people from the most active lifestyles to those who just want to get away for a little rest and relaxation will find exactly what they are looking for at Lake George.