Old Forge

With kids

Water Safari plus Calypso's Cove can eat a whole day by themselves. For a calmer family day: Bald Mountain, a lake cruise, and ice cream.

With teenagers

Calypso's Cove (go-karts, ropes course), paddling rentals on the Moose River, and the Fulton Chain Trifecta hikes.

As a couple

Skip the water park: hike Bald Mountain, browse Old Forge Hardware, catch a View Arts concert or a movie at the Strand.

Main reasons to visit

• Enchanted Forest Water Safari — New York's largest water park, in its 70th season with a new family coaster (Paul Bunyan's Log Haul) and twice-daily circus performances. Opened June 10 for 2026; daily hours vary by date. (June 10 – early September 2026) · Admission covers all rides; buy online
• Bald Mountain fire tower — The classic first Adirondack hike: about 2 miles round trip along an open ridge to a restored fire tower with the full Fulton Chain laid out below. Trailhead on Rondaxe Rd, 4.5 miles north of the village — the lot fills on peak days. · Free
• Old Forge Lake Cruises — Narrated cruises along the old steamboat mail route through the first four lakes of the Fulton Chain, from Old Forge Pond. Runs late May–mid October, rain or shine. (Late May – mid-October) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Adirondack Railroad at Thendara — Heritage trains from Thendara Station, 2 miles south of the village: 1-hour Otter Lake runs from $13, longer trips to Tupper Lake, and a new-for-2026 Ales on Rails beer train. (Spring–fall, plus holiday trains) · From $13
• View Arts Center — Regional arts center marking its 75th year, with galleries, concerts, and the Adirondacks National watercolor exhibition opening Aug 8. Gallery admission $10, under-18 free. · $10; under 18 free

With kids

• Enchanted Forest Water Safari — New York's largest water park, in its 70th season with a new family coaster (Paul Bunyan's Log Haul) and twice-daily circus performances. Opened June 10 for 2026; daily hours vary by date. (June 10 – early September 2026) · Admission covers all rides; buy online
• Calypso's Cove — Pay-per-activity fun park next to Water Safari: go-karts, mini golf, ropes course with zipline, batting cages, arcade. Daily 1:30–9 through Aug 30. (Daily through Aug 30, 2026)
• Bald Mountain fire tower — The classic first Adirondack hike: about 2 miles round trip along an open ridge to a restored fire tower with the full Fulton Chain laid out below. Trailhead on Rondaxe Rd, 4.5 miles north of the village — the lot fills on peak days. · Free
• Old Forge Lake Cruises — Narrated cruises along the old steamboat mail route through the first four lakes of the Fulton Chain, from Old Forge Pond. Runs late May–mid October, rain or shine. (Late May – mid-October) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Adirondack Railroad at Thendara — Heritage trains from Thendara Station, 2 miles south of the village: 1-hour Otter Lake runs from $13, longer trips to Tupper Lake, and a new-for-2026 Ales on Rails beer train. (Spring–fall, plus holiday trains) · From $13
• McCauley Mountain scenic chairlift — The town ski hill's double chair runs in summer to a summit view over the lakes. Summer lift starts late June; 2026 days, hours, and prices aren't posted — call (315) 369-3225 first. (Late June – Columbus Day (summer); ski season roughly Dec–Mar) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Strand Theatre — The Main Street movie house, open seven days year-round with first-run films. Cash only (ATM in the lobby); tickets sold day-of. · $7 matinees, $8 evenings
• Goodsell Museum — Free local-history museum in an 1899 Victorian on Main Street — guideboats, a jail cell, and the story of the Town of Webb. Tue–Sat 10–3. · Free

Outdoors

• Bald Mountain fire tower — The classic first Adirondack hike: about 2 miles round trip along an open ridge to a restored fire tower with the full Fulton Chain laid out below. Trailhead on Rondaxe Rd, 4.5 miles north of the village — the lot fills on peak days. · Free
• Old Forge Lake Cruises — Narrated cruises along the old steamboat mail route through the first four lakes of the Fulton Chain, from Old Forge Pond. Runs late May–mid October, rain or shine. (Late May – mid-October) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• McCauley Mountain scenic chairlift — The town ski hill's double chair runs in summer to a summit view over the lakes. Summer lift starts late June; 2026 days, hours, and prices aren't posted — call (315) 369-3225 first. (Late June – Columbus Day (summer); ski season roughly Dec–Mar) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Mountainman Outdoor Supply / Moose River rentals — Big paddlesports outfitter on NY-28 renting canoes, kayaks, and SUPs for Moose River and Fulton Chain trips, seven days a week in summer. (Summer paddling season)
• Snowmobile trail network — The 'Snowmobile Capital of the East' since 1965 — 500+ miles of groomed, connected trails with two daily grooming shifts. Town of Webb trail permit required. (Roughly December–March, snow-dependent) · Trail permit required

Shopping

• Old Forge Hardware — 'The Adirondacks' Most General Store' since about 1900 — hardware, books, camp gear, cookware, and an hour you didn't plan to spend. · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Mountainman Outdoor Supply / Moose River rentals — Big paddlesports outfitter on NY-28 renting canoes, kayaks, and SUPs for Moose River and Fulton Chain trips, seven days a week in summer. (Summer paddling season)

Evenings

• Calypso's Cove — Pay-per-activity fun park next to Water Safari: go-karts, mini golf, ropes course with zipline, batting cages, arcade. Daily 1:30–9 through Aug 30. (Daily through Aug 30, 2026)
• Old Forge Lake Cruises — Narrated cruises along the old steamboat mail route through the first four lakes of the Fulton Chain, from Old Forge Pond. Runs late May–mid October, rain or shine. (Late May – mid-October) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Strand Theatre — The Main Street movie house, open seven days year-round with first-run films. Cash only (ATM in the lobby); tickets sold day-of. · $7 matinees, $8 evenings
• View Arts Center — Regional arts center marking its 75th year, with galleries, concerts, and the Adirondacks National watercolor exhibition opening Aug 8. Gallery admission $10, under-18 free. · $10; under 18 free

Free or low-cost

• Bald Mountain fire tower — The classic first Adirondack hike: about 2 miles round trip along an open ridge to a restored fire tower with the full Fulton Chain laid out below. Trailhead on Rondaxe Rd, 4.5 miles north of the village — the lot fills on peak days. · Free
• Goodsell Museum — Free local-history museum in an 1899 Victorian on Main Street — guideboats, a jail cell, and the story of the Town of Webb. Tue–Sat 10–3. · Free

If it rains

• Adirondack Railroad at Thendara — Heritage trains from Thendara Station, 2 miles south of the village: 1-hour Otter Lake runs from $13, longer trips to Tupper Lake, and a new-for-2026 Ales on Rails beer train. (Spring–fall, plus holiday trains) · From $13
• Strand Theatre — The Main Street movie house, open seven days year-round with first-run films. Cash only (ATM in the lobby); tickets sold day-of. · $7 matinees, $8 evenings
• View Arts Center — Regional arts center marking its 75th year, with galleries, concerts, and the Adirondacks National watercolor exhibition opening Aug 8. Gallery admission $10, under-18 free. · $10; under 18 free
• Old Forge Hardware — 'The Adirondacks' Most General Store' since about 1900 — hardware, books, camp gear, cookware, and an hour you didn't plan to spend. · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Goodsell Museum — Free local-history museum in an 1899 Victorian on Main Street — guideboats, a jail cell, and the story of the Town of Webb. Tue–Sat 10–3. · Free

In winter

• McCauley Mountain scenic chairlift — The town ski hill's double chair runs in summer to a summit view over the lakes. Summer lift starts late June; 2026 days, hours, and prices aren't posted — call (315) 369-3225 first. (Late June – Columbus Day (summer); ski season roughly Dec–Mar) · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Strand Theatre — The Main Street movie house, open seven days year-round with first-run films. Cash only (ATM in the lobby); tickets sold day-of. · $7 matinees, $8 evenings
• Old Forge Hardware — 'The Adirondacks' Most General Store' since about 1900 — hardware, books, camp gear, cookware, and an hour you didn't plan to spend. · not fully confirmed — check before going
• Snowmobile trail network — The 'Snowmobile Capital of the East' since 1965 — 500+ miles of groomed, connected trails with two daily grooming shifts. Town of Webb trail permit required. (Roughly December–March, snow-dependent) · Trail permit required

• Tony Harper's Pizza & Clam Shack — Open year-round in a heavily seasonal town (Pizza, American) · Verified Jul 17, 2026

Getting there

Roughly 1 hour 15 minutes from Utica · 1 hour 25 minutes from Rome · 1 hour 15 minutes from Herkimer (NY-12 north from Utica, then NY-28 north — about 51 miles, no Thruway)

Parking

Free street and lot parking in the village; attractions have their own free lots. The village and the Bald Mountain trailhead lot fill on July–August weekends — another reason to leave early.

Reservations

Buy Water Safari tickets online ahead; book Adirondack Railroad specialty trains (including the new Ales on Rails beer train) at adirondackrr.com; View concerts sell in advance.

Cost

The free column is strong: Bald Mountain, the Goodsell Museum, window-shopping Main Street. Strand movies are $7–8.

Weather

Rainy-day fallbacks: the Strand, View's galleries, the Goodsell Museum, and Old Forge Hardware can absorb an afternoon.

Seasonal notes

Many seasonal attractions go dark between Columbus Day and snowmobile season
McCauley's summer chairlift days/hours aren't published — call (315) 369-3225 before building a trip around it

Official links

Official site ↗ · Events calendar ↗