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Welcome to
RAQUETTE LAKE, NY
Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County
RA(C)QUETTE RIVER CORRIDOR PROJECT
CLICK ON ANY COMMUNITY FOR MORE INFORMATION
Home of the "Great Camps"

Raquette Lake with 99 miles of shoreline is one of the most deceiving lakes in the Adirondacks. To the casual observer, the amount of lake visible from Route 28 is no preparation for the experience they will have on the lake. The Lake is approximately six miles long, has 99 miles of shoreline and reaches depths of almost 100 feet. It is the second largest lake in the Adirondacks and at the same time, is the largest natural lake. There are seven bodies of water which feed the lake with the largest being the scenic Marion River which comes from the headwaters of the Raquette River in Blue Mountain Lake.
The hamlet of Raquette Lake also holds a unique position. It is actually part of the Long Lake Township but is separated from the Long Lake hamlet by 25 miles of highway with Blue Mountain located approximately in the middle. It has a separate school district, fire district, hospital district, post office and even a different electric company.

The casual visitor would also be very surprised to learn that the is a permanent population of about 150 but in the summer the population including summer residents and tourists expands to almost 3,000 people. Many of these summer home are located at various locations along the 99 miles of shoreline and are accessible only by boat.

Raquette Lake has always been a major destination of the visitors to the Adirondacks. During the era known as the Adirondack Gilded Age a visitor to the Hamlet might see as many as 8 private railroad cars on the siding. These cars were used as transportation by the very wealthy to travel from New York City to their summer Camp in the Adirondacks. Among these visitors were the Morgans, Vanderbilts, Durants, Carnegies, Colliers, Huningtons and others of the social and economic equals. While there are a number of the camps which were owned by these individuals still standing, most are in private ownership like Pine Knot which now known as Huntington (after the second owner) and is operated as an education institution by S.U.N.Y Cortland. Raquette Lake is home to the only Great Camp open to the public. A vist to Historic Great Camp Sagamore provides the visitor with a view the opulence of the camps in which these families ìroughed itî in the Adirondacks in the late 1800's.

Raquette Lake also has a second attraction which is linked directly to the Gilded Age. Raquette Lake Navigation has a replica of the steamboat which originally plied the waters of Raquette Lake taking visitors from the railhead in the Hamlet to such destinations as the Marion River for connection to Blue Mtn Lake. There are numerous activities centered around this boat which the visitor may enjoy. There are a 2 hour daily luncheon cruise, the 3 hour dinner cruise in the evening, scenic excursions or special nighttime cruises to enjoy. Should you visit in the Wintertime by snowmobile, you might even enjoy the hospitality of the crew while at winter ìanchor.

Contact the RRCP

 

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04.20.06