Explore walking tours along Lake Champlain

So much history, and so accessible, too. The charm of our towns and villages is partly from the fascinating architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Adirondack history is not only the story of beautiful nature. It is also the story of the Industrial Revolution. The water power and abundant natural resources of the area were attractive to early settlers, and soon titans of industry were building luxurious homes and headquarters.

Explore the downtowns, waterfronts, and historic buildings with our many historic walking tours. Choose your own speed.

Let history surround you

There are many leisurely historic walking tours through one of the area's eclectic lakeside communities, with some amazing collections of architecture. We never get tired of exploring the historic town of Essex, featured on the National Register of Historic Places and one of the few remaining villages in America featuring intact pre-Civil War architecture. The La Chute River Walk Trail is another local favorite for exploring the natural and industrial milling history along the La Chute River near Fort Ticonderoga.

 

Legendary

Crown Point
NYS DEC Campground Bridge Road, Crown Point | (518) 597-3603
The site of the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse has a rich historic past. It was originally occupied by a windmill, built by the French in 1737. The Champlain Memorial Lighthouse rises from a small point of land just south of the Champlain Bridge. The...
History
9cc49f4b-8558-4156-9eb6-b2cb2a1e77a3
Keeseville
1A Mill Street, Keeseville | (518) 834-9606
Booklet available from: Friends of the North Country. Fee for booklet. Seventeen Ausable River bridges are listed on the National Register, the first such group listing in New York State. Crossing the River: Historic Bridges of the AuSable River is an...
History
ee155083-2066-4c54-ac33-b643e2dd8d44
Au Sable Chasm
2144 Route 9, Au Sable Chasm | (518) 834-7454
Embark on a thrilling journey as you hike through maintained trails, traverse the chasm's breathtaking river and rock scapes via ferrata, or indulge your adventurous side with rock climbing and rappelling. If you are looking for a more relaxing...
196b0bdb-d3e6-4f7f-aba4-7715738a1f6a
Au Sable Chasm
2144 Route 9, Au Sable Chasm | (518) 834-7454
Embark on a thrilling journey as you hike through maintained trails, traverse the chasm's breathtaking river and rock scapes via ferrata, or indulge your adventurous side with rock climbing and rappelling. If you are looking for a more relaxing...
196b0bdb-d3e6-4f7f-aba4-7715738a1f6a
Crown Point
NYS DEC Campground Bridge Road, Crown Point | (518) 597-3603
The site of the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse has a rich historic past. It was originally occupied by a windmill, built by the French in 1737. The Champlain Memorial Lighthouse rises from a small point of land just south of the Champlain Bridge. The...
History
9cc49f4b-8558-4156-9eb6-b2cb2a1e77a3
Crown Point
703 Creek Road, Crown Point | (518) 597-3804
Museum of local history. Birthplace of the Electric Age. 1826 homestead, carriage barn, church, threshing barn, cow barn. Take our historic walking tour along the edge of Putnam's Creek. Fishing on Penfield Pond by permit. Inquire about using our...
History
052a814c-22a9-427f-9a4e-3611b254b46d
Crown Point
703 Creek Road, Crown Point | (518) 597-3804
Museum of local history. Birthplace of the Electric Age. 1826 homestead, carriage barn, church, threshing barn, cow barn. Take our historic walking tour along the edge of Putnam's Creek. Fishing on Penfield Pond by permit. Inquire about using our...
History
052a814c-22a9-427f-9a4e-3611b254b46d
Au Sable Chasm
2144 Route 9, Au Sable Chasm | (518) 834-7454
Embark on a thrilling journey as you hike through maintained trails, traverse the chasm's breathtaking river and rock scapes via ferrata, or indulge your adventurous side with rock climbing and rappelling. If you are looking for a more relaxing...
196b0bdb-d3e6-4f7f-aba4-7715738a1f6a
Westport
1 Main Street, Westport | (518) 597-4649
This tour will guide you through the evolution of Westport from its early industrial and agricultural beginnings to a summer resort that has responded to dramatic changes in expectations for rest and recreation over the course of a century and a half. 
f952b357-042e-4fd2-9066-634aad5cf5cd
Keeseville
1 Mill Street, Keeseville | (518) 834-9328
Much of Keeseville's rich history is still alive and well today. Experience it for yourself on a walking tour.
History
90037697-b871-4df1-b547-b6598321bbd9
Ticonderoga
Bicentennial Park, Ticonderoga
Take a lovely loop around Bicentennial Park in Ticonderoga with many interpretive signboards to learn about history and nature.
Snowshoeing
c40f50ba-e0a9-4243-8815-29dc25f86100
Westport
1 Main Street, Westport | (518) 597-4649
This tour will guide you through the evolution of Westport from its early industrial and agricultural beginnings to a summer resort that has responded to dramatic changes in expectations for rest and recreation over the course of a century and a half. 
History
f952b357-042e-4fd2-9066-634aad5cf5cd
Westport
6459 Main Street, Westport
Enjoy a Walkable Westport tour of larger-than-life Westport Chairs painted by local artists and community members! These vibrantly colored early 1900s-inspired chairs are a place to slow down, take a seat, and stay awhile! The 2.3-mile Westport Chair...
History
54fba156-e8d3-41dc-a8a4-8cc64a085666
Ticonderoga
6 Moses Circle, Ticonderoga
Step back in time with the Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest, a journey through the historic sites of the Lake Champlain Region in the Adirondacks, where key moments of the American Revolution unfolded. This self-guided trail, created in partnership...
Hiking
745f0d56-9acc-42a8-a1db-cf51aa6115bb
Ticonderoga
Ticonderoga | (518) 962-2287
Ticonderoga began with the fort and was soon a center of paper production. It has more than three dozen buildings listed on the National Register.
6e1d6a37-f4d7-4e55-bc22-8a06ccaac7f9
Westport
6459 Main Street, Westport
Enjoy a Walkable Westport tour of larger-than-life Westport Chairs painted by local artists and community members! These vibrantly colored early 1900s-inspired chairs are a place to slow down, take a seat, and stay awhile! The 2.3-mile Westport Chair...
Arts and Culture
54fba156-e8d3-41dc-a8a4-8cc64a085666
Essex
Route 22, Boquet Road POB 250, Essex | (518) 963-7088
The entire hamlet of Essex is on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a walking tour of one of the most intact collection of pre-Civil War architecture in America.
History
df727a5f-aec7-46fb-ab2a-98cfb05cdd5e
Willsboro
Willsboro | (518) 834-9328
Learn the fascinating history of Willsboro on this fun walk.
082a1668-032c-4b30-b5cd-9ab0a80a1b85
Westport
6459 Main Street, Westport
Enjoy a Walkable Westport tour of larger-than-life Westport Chairs painted by local artists and community members! These vibrantly colored early 1900s-inspired chairs are a place to slow down, take a seat, and stay awhile! The 2.3-mile Westport Chair...
54fba156-e8d3-41dc-a8a4-8cc64a085666
Ticonderoga
6 Moses Circle, Ticonderoga
Step back in time with the Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest, a journey through the historic sites of the Lake Champlain Region in the Adirondacks, where key moments of the American Revolution unfolded. This self-guided trail, created in partnership...
History
745f0d56-9acc-42a8-a1db-cf51aa6115bb
Keeseville
1 Mill Street, Keeseville | (518) 834-9328
Much of Keeseville's rich history is still alive and well today. Experience it for yourself on a walking tour.
90037697-b871-4df1-b547-b6598321bbd9
Ticonderoga
Bicentennial Park, Ticonderoga
Take a lovely loop around Bicentennial Park in Ticonderoga with many interpretive signboards to learn about history and nature.
c40f50ba-e0a9-4243-8815-29dc25f86100
Ticonderoga
Bicentennial Park, Ticonderoga
Take a lovely loop around Bicentennial Park in Ticonderoga with many interpretive signboards to learn about history and nature.
History
c40f50ba-e0a9-4243-8815-29dc25f86100
Ticonderoga
6 Moses Circle, Ticonderoga
Step back in time with the Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest, a journey through the historic sites of the Lake Champlain Region in the Adirondacks, where key moments of the American Revolution unfolded. This self-guided trail, created in partnership...
745f0d56-9acc-42a8-a1db-cf51aa6115bb
Willsboro
Willsboro | (518) 834-9328
Learn the fascinating history of Willsboro on this fun walk.
History
082a1668-032c-4b30-b5cd-9ab0a80a1b85
Ticonderoga
6 Moses Circle, Ticonderoga
Step back in time with the Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest, a journey through the historic sites of the Lake Champlain Region in the Adirondacks, where key moments of the American Revolution unfolded. This self-guided trail, created in partnership...
Attractions
745f0d56-9acc-42a8-a1db-cf51aa6115bb
Ticonderoga
6 Moses Circle, Ticonderoga
Step back in time with the Lake Champlain Revolutionary Quest, a journey through the historic sites of the Lake Champlain Region in the Adirondacks, where key moments of the American Revolution unfolded. This self-guided trail, created in partnership...
History
745f0d56-9acc-42a8-a1db-cf51aa6115bb
Westport
6459 Main Street, Westport
Enjoy a Walkable Westport tour of larger-than-life Westport Chairs painted by local artists and community members! These vibrantly colored early 1900s-inspired chairs are a place to slow down, take a seat, and stay awhile! The 2.3-mile Westport Chair...
54fba156-e8d3-41dc-a8a4-8cc64a085666
Ticonderoga
Bicentennial Park, Ticonderoga
Take a lovely loop around Bicentennial Park in Ticonderoga with many interpretive signboards to learn about history and nature.
c40f50ba-e0a9-4243-8815-29dc25f86100
Ticonderoga
Ticonderoga | (518) 962-2287
Ticonderoga began with the fort and was soon a center of paper production. It has more than three dozen buildings listed on the National Register.
History
6e1d6a37-f4d7-4e55-bc22-8a06ccaac7f9
Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown | (518) 873-6466
Explore the community and its history!
History
85c9bc62-0ef8-4c69-8543-57c019919635
Ticonderoga
Ticonderoga | (518) 962-2287
Ticonderoga began with the fort and was soon a center of paper production. It has more than three dozen buildings listed on the National Register.
History
6e1d6a37-f4d7-4e55-bc22-8a06ccaac7f9
Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown | (518) 873-6466
Explore the community and its history!
85c9bc62-0ef8-4c69-8543-57c019919635
Essex
Route 22, Boquet Road POB 250, Essex | (518) 963-7088
The entire hamlet of Essex is on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a walking tour of one of the most intact collection of pre-Civil War architecture in America.
df727a5f-aec7-46fb-ab2a-98cfb05cdd5e
Port Henry
Park Place, Port Henry | (518) 546-9855
A historic collection of a wide array of architectural styles throughout the village.
History
fa5901e4-a3af-409f-905d-d7b73f320516

Success!

You have successfully entered this contest. Be sure to check your inbox for your customized travel inspiration.

Success! Message Sent.

Thanks for being awesome. We have received your message and look forward to talking with you soon.

Thank you!

Thanks for being awesome. You can now download the guide.