Schenectady Wintersports Club

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Adirondack Serenity:

SWC at Rock & River August 2025

By Donald Streed

A handful of members took advantage of what could be the inaugural opportunity for a high peaks adventure at the historic Rock & River lodge in Keene NY.  Rock & River is a noted Adirondack climbing school with two classic guest lodges with very comfortable, modern accommodations in a secluded, majestic mountain valley.  “Open fields and mountain views surround each building with the gardens and apple trees of the original 1800’s homestead.”

While located at the end of a dead end road and “surrounded by thousands of acres of state-owned wilderness”, it is conveniently located only 15 minutes from Lake Placid, giving visitors a choice of a wide array of outdoor adventures.

Options: hike the Jack Rabbit Trail or other trail or a hike peak mountain, paddle a lake, visit/swim at Split Rock Falls, bike the Adirondack Rail Trail, explore the treasures of shops at Keene, Keene Valley, Lake Placid or Saranac Lake, perhaps catch a craft fair, or good book in an Adirondack chair down by the babbling book

For our intrepid group, we arrived late on a sunny Friday afternoon and settled in at the Climbers Lodge with a bit of wine and cheese and light get-to-know-you conversation as we explored the Rock & River property.  The outdoor deck, a brookside lean-to with fire-ring seating, Adirondack chairs in another setting down by the brook, open meadow with apple trees ripening, the head of the historic Jack Rabbit Trail, and a trail to a second Rock & River lean-to with overlook of the Keene Valley all invited future exploration.

In the galley style kitchen with full amenities (two refrigerators, gas range and oven, dishwasher, microwave and two coffee makers) members prepared a group dinner with salads, baked fish, rice and homemade cookies for dessert.  Conversation was easy at the long dining room table with seating for 12 and led to our plans for tomorrow.  After cleanup, made easy by the presence of the installed dishwasher, as dusk settled in, a good walk in the evening air made delightful by spotting a half-dozen deer feeding on the homestead grasses and fallen apples, which seem unphased by our presence.

Being summer temperatures, there was no desire to build a fire in the large living room fireplace, so folks settled into the comfy, well cushioned stick-built living room furniture before a game of “Bananagrams” helped to keep tired minds and eyes stay alert before we trundled off to our bedrooms.

But as one member settled into her bed, turned off her bedside lamp, and looked straight up through the skylight over her head, a vista of bright stars dazzled.  She came out to share the discovery and this author went outside to lay flat on a bench and drink in the vision that is unattainable in the light pollution back home.

Saturday dawned crisp and bright.  After weeks of hot and humid weather, it was very refreshing to awaken to clean air, morning temperatures in the mid-50’s and a forecast  high in the low 70’s.

An early riser had the hot coffee already brewed and the author filled his mug and found a chair in the morning sun on the back deck.  The sun shown bright on the mountain to the south and west, with clear blue sky silhouetting the ridge.  The familiar call of Bluejay amongst the softer chorus of others provided a most relaxing wakeup.

Soon all members were awake and all shared breakfast prep – bacon, pancakes, scrambled eggs, sweet treats.  Plans for the day were finalized.  One to visit a family member and paddle, back by mid-afternoon.  Three to pedal a portion of the new Adirondack Rail Trail from Saranac Lake to Lake Clear and a bit beyond.  And the fifth to just relax at the lodge.

The new Adirondack Rail Trail has been very popular.  It is reported that there were “nearly 92,000 users over the hard packed cinder trail during the first six months of operation, even while segments were still under construction.”  We found the Saturday usage to be much like the Zim Smith Trail in Saratoga County or the Albany-Helderberg trail thru Albany County.  It was interesting to note the addition of bike racks, very much in use, in front of the historic Charlie’s Inn, built in 1891 to support the Utica-Malone Railroad Junction at Lake Clear. The 18 mile round-trip segment we pedaled took us through woods, past three ponds and two lakes and the DEC fish hatchery.  The railroad limitations of a 1% grade made for very comfortable ride.

Dinner was planned for 6:30 pm out on the deck.  Shared prep of chicken on the grill, fresh homemade salads, corn on the cob, and homemade chocolate cake for dessert.  Your favorite beverages welcome.  Conversation lingered in the warm summer evening sharing our day’s excursions and pictures..  

Just after cleanup completed, a fawn appeared from the woods.  No sight of momma.  The fawn, which was well towards loosing its spots, made a path to the lush green grass over the septic leech fields, grazing a bit here and there as it moved along on a path to the woods along the brook.  A route probably taught by its now separated mother. A pleasant visage for many minutes before heading inside to see what the others were doing inside.  Another round of Bananagrams awaited before bed.  Cloudy tonight, no stars overhead.

Sunday dawned with a bit of clouds but the air clean and crisp as an overnight shower had washed the air clean.  Again it was coffee on the deck and this time we all brought our breakfast plates out on the deck too. Decisions to be made about today’s activities.

Four of us chose a leisurely paddle from the Saranac village dock thru Lake Flower out into quiet Oseetah Lake.  We paddled into the light current as water flowed from the Saranac Lakes on its way to the Saranac River, eventually flowing into Lake Champlain.  The winds were favorable in that they were mild, with a light gust here or there in our face.  The current and the wind directions would make for an easy homeward paddle.

On Flower Lake we took in the sights and sounds of the lakeside camps and watercraft going and coming.  A tall old growth red pine was of particular note as it stood tall and proud at water’s edge in front of a classic natural wood sided story-and one-half camp.  Two loons were spotted far apart as they dove and swam underwater for their sustenance.  Loons never cease to amaze at the underwater time and distance they travel.

Through a long and twisted channel we lost the sounds of Saranac Village and Route 86, and quietly glided past woods and many camps which seemed surprisingly unoccupied on this weekend day.  The water was cool, clear, and dark from that classic iron brown tint of Adirondack sediments.

Arriving at Oseetah, we were greeted by a small white and red trim cottage with boat garage perched on its own small well-manicured island.  One of the few camps on this shallow lake where after more than a century of man-made flooding, stumps still protrude from the lake surface, like small glacial eratics left behind in a farmer’s field.  Each stump had its own mini garden of tiny wild flowers and grasses growing from its moist, jagged top. It was nice to just float, rest and take in the solitude of this easily accessible remote Adirondack Lake with shore line unbroken by forest.

As promised, the return paddle was easy as we proceeded with the current, and with the wind at our backs.  An easy disembarking at the town dock, boats back on top of the cars, and an easy 35 minute drive back to the lodge.

A mid afternoon “snack” for hungry paddlers followed by a bit of exploration up to the Upper Rock & River Lean-to.  A good half mile hike, with a bit of steepness here and there on the walking trail.  But the view well worth it when you arrived.

6:30 pm dinner again.  A simple prep of grilled hamburgers and sausages, leftover salads and fresh tossed salad, and Noonmark Berry Crumble pie for desert.  And sure enough, after the conversation and the cleanup, out of the woods cautiously the fawn reappeared for the same dinnertime route through Rock & River.  Alert, but unhindered by our presence.

Our last night at Rock & River.  We topped it off with a little wine in comfy Adirondack Chairs at a campfire down by the stream.  S’mores anyone?

Monday morning dawned as Saturday, bright and crisp. It was coffee and breakfast on the deck. No one in a hurry to leave.  We helped each other pack up leftovers from the fridge, move luggage to the cars, put boats on car tops, and share contact info as we ready for check out by 11.  All that was left was a group photo.  We chose the setting of a small, rustic storage shed remaining from the original 1800’s farmstead.

For three of us it was on the road to back home.  For two, it was one last chance to walk in the footsteps of history along the Old Military Road now known as the Jack Rabbit Trail.  For all of us, we departed with hopes that we could do it all again next summer, this time sharing the serenity with more friendly members of SWC.

"Schenectady Wintersports Club Inc." is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization. P.O. Box 2072, Wilton New York 12831