Extreme Adventures in the Lake George Area

So you are halfway through your camping trip and everyone is having a great time. But now even the tempting thought of another dip in the pool or another trip to get ice cream is starting to wear thin. The kids are clamoring for more fun, more adventure, and you are starting to wonder what else there is to see and do.

Never fear, there is good news! There are still fun things to do. Here are a few idea that are a bit on the adventurous side, perfect for the entire family. Some you may have heard of, some not, but rest assured, they will all be fun and guaranteed to satisfy even the most extreme sports lover out there.

White Water Rafting

There are a lot of rafting and tubing companies in the area, with Tubby Tubes Company probably being the most well-known, as it is the original one in the area. Tubby Tubes offers guided tubing and rafting adventures down the Hudson River for all skill levels from non-swimmers to pros and from lazy river tubing to more adventurous rides.

Further up the road in Indian Lake you will find Adventure Sports Rafting for the more adventurous thrill-seekers. This company offers white-water rafting at its finest. The trip goes through the Hudson River Gorge, where you will see canyon walls, waterfalls and mountains and may even spot the occasional Bald Eagle.

The goal of the company is to provide a rafting adventure that is great for beginners and experts alike, ranging from exciting to hard core. Class III to class V rapids provide an exhilarating ride and a one-of-a-kind adventure. The company boasts they will ensure your safety around every bend with the latest, safest rafts, licensed guides and the best safety record in the industry.

Extreme Outdoor Adventures

For those looking for even more adventure, Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course in Bolton Landing is just the ticket. It is the largest aerial treetop adventure park in the United States. Open April through November and located just north of Lake George and Diamond Point, Adirondack Extreme boasts over 1.5 miles of thrilling aerial adventures including wobbly bridges, climbing walls, zip lines and swinging surprises at varying levels of height and difficulty. This is not your average ropes course.

Aerial Tree Top Adventure course is an elevated obstacle course set in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains and securely suspended between the trees at 10 to 60 feet off the ground.

Some of the features of course include giant Tyrolean Zip lines, suspended bridges, swinging surprises, Tarzan swings, nets and much, much more.

There are courses for every age and level ability ranging from the kids course to the extreme adult course to even one called the Squirrel’s Den, which is a cedar log playground, designed for beginner climbers aged 3-10. It features fun climbing areas for the beginning Adventurer Seeker.

On the other end, the Adult Extreme course is actually six courses that are color coded and each containing a mixture of approximately 10-17 different obstacles. The obstacles range from zip-lines, Tarzan swings, swinging surprises, hanging nets, wobbly bridges and much more.

The courses are meant to be used progressively and the cost of admission covers one loop or rotation through all SIX Adult courses. At any exit point along the courses, you can descend. Walking paths will take you back to the guest services and welcome center.

The courses also range from minimum elevation and minimum skill to advanced elevation and advanced skill. Each participant is given a safety demonstration by trained instructors before beginning the course.

Parasailing

Parasailing is not a sport for the faint of heart. You are soaring in the air above the water, tethered only to a boat as it races across the water. Enthusiasts say it feels like you are flying, so this might be just the thing you are looking for in extreme sports.

One of the better known companies is Parasailing Adventures in Lake George. They have offered parasail rides in Lake George for over 20 years. They are also a member of WSIA (Water Sports Industry Association) and PAPO (Professional Association of Parasail Operators) and has a 100% safety record.

They offer an improved parasailing method that launches and lands the parasail flyers with a modern winch system right from the back of a special boat. They are equipped to fly two or three people side by side, and their parasail boat can accommodate larger groups.

Kayaking

Kayaking can be a lot like rafting, but you are in control of your kayak, unlike the raft, where the river guide is the one in control. Kayaking can be either a peaceful, tranquil experience or a raging white-water experience.

There are a lot of kayak companies in the area, and one company is right in Lake George. In fact it’s right on the lake. Lake George Kayak Company promises you can paddle the kayak right out of the boathouse right on to the lake. Located on Green Island in Bolton Landing, the boating center offers rentals, lessons and the gear to get you paddling.

Once you are afloat, Lake George is a paddlers paradise. The pure spring fed water, majestic mountain views and private island retreats offer vistas seldom seen from land.

For those thrill seekers looking for a white water kayaking experience, Adirondack Adventures White Water Rafting in North River promises guided adventures for whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and even float fishing. They can plan custom overnight trips that also include lodging if you wish. The friendly staff is experienced and will guide you safely through your trip, whether it’s three hours or three days.

Adirondack paddling offers views of incredible wilderness like no other. Whether you are braving the spring whitewater or sharing a warm summer day with the family, the result is the same: wet fun! The rafting trips include a riverside lunch and all the storytelling you can handle.
Rock Climbing

Finally, for the ultimate adventure, you can climb Rogers Rock, the site of a historical battle in 1758 during the French and Indian War. There are tales that report that after the Battle on Snowshoes that took place in the Lake George area between British Rangers led by Captain Robert Rogers and French and Indian troops, Rogers escaped capture by sliding 400 feet down a rock face to the frozen surface of Lake George. That rock is now known as Rogers Rock or Rogers Slide.

Today you can climb that 700 foot rock that rises right out of Lake George. Located at the upper end of Lake George, this is one of the nicest and most unusual cliffs in the Adirondacks. Most web sites recommend approaching the rock by boat, as the hike in is horrendous.

So there you have it, five ways to enjoy the wilder side of life in the Adirondacks. We hope you get to experience at least one of these adventures during your next stay at Lake George Escape!