Adirondack Regional Art Trail
Throughout the Adirondacks, there are many well-known hiking trails, biking trails, and more. However, did you know there is also an art trail that travels through the entire Adirondack Park? Unlike other trails, this one has neither a beginning nor an end, and it can only be seen using an online map. Known as the Adirondack Regional Art Trail, this virtual network connects artists, galleries, theaters, and arts organizations located in and around the Adirondacks.
Hundreds of artists are connected to the Adirondack Regional Art Trail via an online map separated over nine different regions. A description, location, and contact information is provided for each artist and arts organization listed.
Where To Begin
Here are some tips to help you plan your trip along the Adirondack Regional Art Trail:
- Take a look at the map on the North Guide website. All of the participating artists and organizations are included.
- Select the region you plan to explore from the column.
- Browse through the listings, pick the ones that interest you, and get going. It's that simple!
If you have a suggestion for a new addition to the Art Trail, there is a form you can fill out and submit to NorthGuide.org.
Below, we've broken down each region included in the Adirondack Regional Art Trail and some local hotspots:
1. Glens Falls/Lake George
The Glens Falls/Lake George Regions feature a large number of arts organizations as far north as Schroon Lake down to Saratoga Springs.
Hotspots: The Shirt Factory, The Hyde Collection Art Museum, Beekman Street Art District
2. Long Lake/Blue Mountain Lake
This section of the Art Trail extends from the central region of the Adirondacks to the western region. From Eagle Bay to Long Lake, the arts are alive and well within these small communities.
Hotspots: The Adirondack Experience, Indian Lake Theater, Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts
3. Saranac Lake/Lake Placid/Tupper Lake
The art world has a large presence in the northern region of the Adirondacks. The combination of the High Peaks and the variety of lakes continues to inspire musicians and visual artists. You can expect a wide range of experiences on this part of the Art Trail.
Hotspots: BluSeed Studios, Saranac Lake ArtWorks, Lake Placid Center for the Arts, Pendragon Theatre
4. Old Forge
Located in and around Old Forge in the western Adirondacks, there is a fair number of diverse craftspeople and arts organizations.
Hotspots: View, Strand Theatre, The Starving Artist Gallery
5. Champlain Valley/Plattsburgh
All along the shores of Lake Champlain in the Adirondacks, there are local artists, museums, and even music organizations. In particular, the small communities of Essex and Westport have strong connections to the art world.
Hotspots: Plattsburgh State Art Museum, Depot Theatre, Tahawus Center
6. Canton/Potsdam/St. Lawrence County
Centered around the northwestern border of the Adirondack Park, this area mainly consists of educational centers and small towns. From Ogdensburg to Canton, there's a lot of history and culture to discover around the outer reaches of the Art Trail.
Hotspots: Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY), Colton Barn Quilt Tour, Frederic Remington Art Museum
7. Watertown & the Thousand Islands
From Watertown to the Thousand Islands along the western border of northern New York, you can find local artisans, studios, and larger arts organizations.
Hotspots: Antique Boat Museum, North Country Arts Council, 1000 Islands Arts Center
8. Malone
Situated between the Adirondacks and Canada, there are a few art communities spread out in and around the small town of Malone.
Hotspots: Akwesasne Cultural Center/Akwesasne Museum, North of Adirondack Artists Gallery (NOAAG), Foothills Art Society
9. Utica/Mohawk Valley
Just beyond the southwestern border of the Adirondack Park lies the Mohawk Valley and multiple arts organizations.
Hotspots: Capitol Theatre, Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts, Stanley Theatre
How the Art Trail Was Formed
In early 2016, the Adirondack Regional Art Trail officially launched and was viewable on the North Guide website. The online map separates the art trail network by region, and each artist and arts organization listing includes a description, location, and contact information. Hundreds of artists are connected to the Adirondack Regional Art Trail over nine different regions.
The Adirondack Regional Art Trail was imagined by Sandra Hildreth. Her original idea for an art trail was smaller in scope, only encompassing the Lake Placid Region. She decided this trail would be too limited and would leave out many other talented artists throughout the Adirondack Park. Hildreth then came up with the idea for an online art trail network, which would allow people to form their own trails.
She worked alongside the Adirondack North Country Association, BluSeed Studios, Saranac Lake ArtWorks, and Traditional Arts in Upstate New York. The collaboration received a $59,200 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts in 2013 to begin work on the project. The four organizations started to connect with artists and arts organizations throughout the Adirondacks and set up the website and online trail.
Source: https://www.northguide.org/site/content/adirondack-regional-art-trail