Top image: Frozen waterfall © Courtesy of St. Lawrence County
New York’s northern border is a winter wonderland for new and experienced adventurers, culture seekers, and those who love to relax.
It’s normal to embrace winter when snow and ice are the ingredients for fun in St. Lawrence County. On New York’s northern border, stretching from the banks of the mighty St. Lawrence River to the foothills of the Adirondack, the region has several indoor and outdoor activities for a unique getaway from December through early March.
A cozy collection of bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, and hotels with full amenities allow you to choose your home base and discover a variety of new experiences. Those new to winter recreation can try out snowshoeing or Nordic skiing at Higley Flow State Park (Colton) or the Nicandri Nature Center (Massena) by renting equipment and enjoying beautiful, easy trails designed for people of all ages. If you have your own equipment, the numerous waterfall and riverside hikes become a crystal paradise accessible by novice outdoors people. Visitors can easily plan with trailhead directions and trail descriptions (including length and difficulty) by browsing an interactive trails site at www.STLCtrails.com.
Community ice rinks scatter the landscape with skating rentals and open hours for trying a spin around the rink or renewing a love of gliding. After your own skating adventure, join the boisterous audience at one of four college hockey arenas nearly every weekend for men’s and women’s competitions. Clarkson and St. Lawrence University are Division 1 hockey teams, playing the major northeast college teams during a season of intense play.
If snowmobiling is more your style, the County boasts over 700 miles of groomed trails with warming huts, trailside restaurants, and organized rides throughout the rolling hills, mountain overlooks, and protected forests of New York State’s largest County. Pair your snowmobiling trip with ice fishing on Black Lake or bays along the St. Lawrence River (or one of the 200+ rivers, lakes, and streams) to catch perch, walleye, or pike.
Indoor entertainment ranges from the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg to the North Country Children’s Museum in Potsdam. Music and theater are on the calendar with shows at Ogdensburg Command Performance, Community Performance Series, and the Crane School of Music, in addition to several historic opera houses and community spaces. Interactive workshops can be found at SLC Arts (Potsdam) and the TAUNY Center (Canton), in addition to several art-based small businesses.
St. Lawrence County is yet to be discovered, making its trails, museums, and lodging properties authentic and unique to visitors. A relaxing, low-stress, no-crowd, no-traffic experience ensures your vacation itinerary can be as full or minimal as you would like during a long weekend or weeklong winter stay. Due to the landscape of the valley, the County is ideal for beginning a love of the outdoors, trying out something new, and not worrying about high-intensity equipment
and training.
Plan your winter escape and request a free visitor, waterfall, or anglers guide at VisitSTLC.com or call toll-free 1-877-228-7810.
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