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What to Do > Spring, Summer, Fall

Our cabin rental is uniquely situated on a small cliff, right next to the freshwater Ausable River. You can enjoy some river life without even going outside (though we recommend you do). We regularly see ducks and otters from our kitchen and dining room. The screen porch that juts out over the river is quite possibly the best place ever to enjoy a coffee, wine and cheese, or a card game. Our riverview patio and beer garden is also a great place to hang. Dine alfresco at the picnic table and enjoy some local beers Adirondack style around the fire pit.

River Life

Swimming & Tubing

We’ve cut back the brush and carved in multiple paths allowing you to walk right down to the river’s edge. When facing the river, walk to the right a few paces, past the hammock, over and around the large sitting boulder, and then just past the rapids is where you will find our (nearly) private swimming hole. Only accessible via our property, or through miles of uncharted protected parklands via the other side. Swim across the river and enjoy the sandy beach. The pool gets up to 7 ft deep, depending on the height of the river. Water shoes are encouraged. The natural current of the river is great for swimming laps.

Our property comes equipped with multiple heavy duty inner tubes which you can either enjoy at Warner’s Camp, or take with you to another local spot. We use these in our swimming hole all the time. Connect them to the large boulder in the center and soak in the ultimate lazy river experience.

For a longer tubing or rafting experience, check out Ausable Chasm (35 minute drive). This portion of the Ausable river features impressive natural gorges, which can also been seen at the nearby High Falls Gorge (10 minute drive, no swimming or tubing here, just stunning views). Note: both the Ausable Chasm and High Falls Gorge are paid attractions.

Other swimming spots worth visiting include the Wilmington Flume Falls (9 minute drive) and the Jay Covered Bridge Swimming Hole (7 minute drive). For those brave enough, the Flume Falls swimming hole has some great cliff jumping spots, while the rock formations at the Jay swimming hole create a series of ‘natural water slides.’ Let the local kids show you the ropes. Partake at your own risk. Again, water shoes are encouraged. The Jay Covered Bridge area is also accessible from Warner’s Camp via bike. Those with small children should try Wilmington Town Beach (13 minute drive).

Enjoy a dip in the river after a long sit in our barrel sauna, and vice versa! The alternating experiences are incredibly refreshing. The water stays warm enough for tubing into early autumn. Even if it’s too cold for a dip, it’s always refreshing to look at. Waking up to this river is a wonderful and unique experience.

Fishing

Fly fishing is huge on the Ausable. This is another activity that you can enjoy from our property. Warner’s Camp has been a popular fishing spot for travelers since the 1800’s (read more about our history here). Set yourself up by the swimming hole which is regularly full of brown trout! If needed, you can hire a local guide from the nearby Hungry Trout fishing resort to show you the ropes and other local spots. Hint: The Hungry Trout also happens to be a great place to go out to eat. Order the local campfire trout!

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Biking

Road Biking

Bring your bike! Warner’s Camp sits on Route 9N, a famous and very pleasant road cycling route. The Ironman cyclers pass right by our house during the race. The ride from Upper Jay to Jay is a good one. Relatively easy and flat with river and mountains views the entire time. You can also ride down to the nearby town of Keene for food and drinks. The ride to Keene and back is equally as gorgeous, and slightly more hilly than the ride to Jay. Read more about road cycling in the area here.

Mountain Biking

Read more about mountain biking in the area here.

If you left your bike at home and would like to rent one, here are some options: Rent mountain bikes and gear at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington. Rent road or mountain bikes in Lake Placid at High Peaks Cyclery or Placid Planet Bicycles.

Hiking & Climbing

In the Adirondack High Peaks region, we are truly spoiled with a never ending supply of hiking opportunities. Warner’s Camp is surrounded by hiking trailheads. Become a 46er and attempt to conquer each of the 46 High Peaks. Cascade Mountain is a great one to start off with. Amazing views and not too long of a hike, but still a hefty trek. Hint: You can see the peak of Cascade Mountain from our house!

Aside from the High Peaks, there are numerous shorter and less crowded hikes to choose from as well. One of our favorite destinations is Balanced Rocks (on Pitchoff Mountain). Enter via the steps across the the street from Cascade. Beware that you do have to scramble over some steep rocks, but this relatively short hike has an amazing view. You can see the Olympic bobsled track from here. For an easier hike, consider the short trek to Copperas Pond, a secluded oasis where you can swim and picnic. Also try Rooster Comb, Flume Trails, Jay Mountain, Hurricane Mountain.

The above mentioned hikes are all within a 5-15 Minute drive of Warner’s Camp. Our favorite time to hike is in autumn, while fall foliage is in view. Fire up our barrel sauna after returning from your hike for an incredibly rewarding and refreshing experience. 

Mountain climbing and trekking is a major sport in the High Peaks area. Stop by The Mountaineer in Keene Valley (12 minute drive) for gear, maps, and climbing suggestions. They offer a variety of other sporting goods at the shop at as well; worth a visit. You can book a guided climbing experience with High Peaks Mountain Guides.

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Lake Life

Your closest options are Cascade Lakes (13 minute drive), Lake Placid and Mirror Lake (25 minute drive). Paddling on Mirror Lake is fun as you can pop into a bar or restaurant before or after. Read more about our favorite bar and restaurant options here. Lake Placid offers a more remote experience with stunning views. There are not any rental options on the smaller Cascade Lakes, but the mountain views here are really impressive. A great place to swim or paddle if you have your own equipment. You’ll drive by the Cascade Lakes on your way to Lake Placid if you pass through Keene first. The drive itself breathtakingly is gorgeous.

Here are some rental options: Lake Placid Ski & Board shop offers paddle boarding on Mirror Lake at the best rate. For boat rental on Lake Placid, try Captain Marney’s Boat Rental or Placid Boat Rentals. You can also book a guided Lake Placid boat tour from Lake Placid Marina.

The Adirondack Park is a giant protected playground with 3,000 lakes and ponds and 30,000 miles of rivers and streams. The opportunities are endless. We can’t possibly cover everything in this short guide, but we hope you find it useful as you determine what to do in the Adirondacks!