Everyone loves a good sunset, and in the northern part of New York state, there are lots of beautiful places to watch the sun go down. In this post, find ten of the best places to do this!
The North Country of New York is a pretty special place. We have thousands of lakes, ponds, and rivers, as well as stunning mountain views, high peaks, remote wilderness, as well as one of the the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River that serves as a border with Canada for much of New York State.
All of these beautiful natural features allow for some pretty magnificent sunsets, to be honest. Below are ten of the best places to watch the sunset in Northern New York.
All of the places listed below are listed with blue links, and if you click the link it will open the location in Google Maps.
Lake Placid
Lake Placid is a beautiful Adirondack town with an even more beautiful sunset any time of year. There are several great places to watch the sunset:
- Mirror Lake Public Beach
- The Bench (on the shore Lake Placid, accessible from Mirror Lake Drive)
- Mid’s Park
- A quick place for lake access is the NY DEC Lake Placid Boat Launch on Mirror Lake Dr.
Coincidentally, Lake Placid is also a great place to watch the sunrise. If you love a great hike and are an experienced hiker up for a moderately difficult hike, check out the Cascade Mountain hike – great for morning hikes.
Alexandria Bay
This is my favorite place to watch the sunset! From many places in Alexandria Bay, you can actually see Canada, sights such as Boldt Castle, and sometimes large ocean freighters transporting goods on the St. Lawrence River.
Some awesome places to watch the sunset in Alexandria Bay include:
- Scenic View Park
- Upper James Street Boat Dock (no parking, so park on the street a block or two away)
- Keewaydin State Park
Tibbetts Point Lighthouse, Cape Vincent
I might be partial to the St. Lawrence River, but I promise you won’t be disappointed about the sunsets here. Cape Vincent is a town located where Lake Ontario feeds into the St. Lawrence River, and there are lots of cute shops and restaurants right in the downtown area right across the village green from the river.
There is also a lighthouse called Tibbetts Point Lighthouse, now a historical location, located right on the point where the lake and river meet. This is a really unique place to see the sunset in the Thousand Islands Region of northern NY.
Sackets Harbor
Sackets Harbor is a really cool place to visit if you ever find yourself on that side of northern New York. There is Sackets Harbor the town, which is super cute and right on the shores of Lake Ontario and the Black River Bay.
You can watch a great sunset right in the village, walking through the old streets of this historic town, or you can visit the Sackets Harbor Battlefield, which is essentially a beautiful park commemorating the War of 1812. There are historic buildings and more, but best of all are the views of the sun setting over Lake Ontario.
Robert Moses State Park in Massena
Robert Moses State Park is another great place to watch the sun set over the St. Lawrence River, and this place is a pretty awesome park. In other words, you get to watch some beautiful sunsets and you can do other things like go camping, swimming, boating, and more.
It’s a great place to spend a few days to get away from it all.
Poke-O Moonshine Mountain Fire Tower
The Poke-O Moonshine Mountain Fire Tower is one of those bucket list places for serious hikers to visit in the Adirondacks and, if you are up for it, watching the sun set. According to people who have visited recently, the tower is temporarily closed, but the hike and view is still fantastic.
This hike is a challenging trek, but it isn’t very long. It is just over 3 miles out and back, but it is challenging so make sure that you only attempt this hike if you have done this research, and have also read this, and are prepared.
Tupper Lake
Tupper Lake is one of those mountain towns that are tucked away out of sight for most people. However, if you love Adirondack towns, this is going to be a place to visit to watch a great sunset.
You can watch the sun go down over the lake anywhere in Tupper Lake, of course, but the best outdoor spots near the lake are at these locations:
- Tupper Lake Municipal Park
- Bog River Falls
- The Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory (check for hours and schedule here)
Long Lake
Long Lake is a very small Adirondack town located right in the middle of the mountains. It’s pretty remote, but the nature is stunning.
A note about the Owl’s Head Mountain Trailhead hike: This is a pretty difficult hike, but it’s not too long. You can see Long Lake from the parking area to watch the sunset from there. During the day you can try the hike, which promises great views.
Lake George
Lake George is a very popular place to visit in the spring and summer, and there are some really great places to watch the sunset here. This town and village has tons of great eateries and shops in the downtown area, which has great lake views.
You can also watch the sunset from these places:
Cranberry Lake Campgrounds
Cranberry Lake is a very small town in on one of the most pristine Adirondack lakes that is also called Cranberry Lakes because of the cranberries that used to grow in the shallow parts of the lake. Nowadays, people just love to visit this area because it is just so beautiful and you might even see a moose.
The best place to watch the sunset here is at the Cranberry Lake Campgrounds, a state-run campground with a beach, hiking trails, and lovely camping spots.
Conclusion
I hope that you found some great sunset inspiration in these suggestions about places to watch the sunset in Northern New York, also known as North Country. If you get a chance to visit one of these places, please let me know and post a photo!
If you have any questions about something that you read here, or if you want to share your own favorite place to watch the sunset in the Adirondacks, Thousand Islands, or Plattsburgh regions, please join in the discussion below.
Thanks for reading today!