Known as “Adirondack Base Camp,” Old Forge offers family-friendly activities year-round, but fall is one of the best times to visit.
Museums and Arts Centers
Goodsell Museum
Start with a stop at the Goodsell Museum. The Victorian house dates back to the 19th Century and includes six rooms of exhibits about local history – plus a carriage barn and a restored ice house.
📍 2993 Main St., Old Forge, NY
View Arts Center
If you like art, you won’t want to miss View. Several exhibits will be on display this fall, including SAQA presents byCONTRAST and Who, What, Wear – Conceptual Garments. The admission fee also gives you access to the Wetland Walkway, a 460-foot nature trail.
📍 3273 State Route 28, Old Forge, NY
Sports and Recreation
Bald Mountain
This popular hiking spot is great for families; the trail is just under two miles long. The summit features a fire tower (you can climb up it) and scenic views of the Fulton Chain of Lakes.
📍 Rondaxe Road (off Route 28), Old Forge, NY
McCauley Mountain
Another place you can take in the fall foliage is McCauley Mountain. A short drive from Main Street, it offers chairlift rides through Columbus Day. Then come back during the winter months to ski, or snowboard, one of the mountain’s 21 trails.
📍 300 McCauley Mountain Road.
Entertainment
Adirondack Railroad
Explore the six million-acre park during a ride on the Adirondack Railroad. Families can book roundtrip rides from Thendara, a town near Old Forge, to Otter Lake, Big Moose, or Tupper Lake (some were suspended for track repairs when this article was written) – or take the train up from Utica. If you prefer something a little more hands-on, RailBikes are also available.
📍 2568 State Route 28, Thendara, NY (Thendara Station); 321 Main St., Utica, NY (Utica Station).
Enchanted Forest Water Safari Autumn Adventure
🗓️ Saturdays, through October 25, 2025 | 11:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 Enchanted Forest Water Safari, Old Forge, NY
Step into a festive Halloween wonderland at Enchanted Forest Water Safari! Families can enjoy autumn-themed rides, games, crafts, trick-or-treating, and a costume contest, plus brave the Haunted Train if they dare. With fall eats, seasonal drinks, and plenty of photo ops, it’s a day packed with thrills, fun, and magical memories. (*Some activities require an additional fee.)
Strand Theatre
You don’t have to watch a movie to visit the Strand Theatre (though it does screen new titles if you are interested). Built in 1923, it still contains some of its original furnishings, along with vintage cameras and movie memorabilia.
📍 3093 State Route 28, Old Forge, NY
For more must-do activities between September and November to help your family make the most of autumn in CNY, read our 2025 CNY Fall Bucket List.
Note: These are some of the activities that are available in the fall. During the summer months, families can also visit Enchanted Forest Water Safari and Calypso’s Cove Family Fun Park.
