Adirondack Lodge-Based Canoeing – Adult 50+

Spend nine days paddling the ancient waterways of the Adirondacks — lakes, ponds, and rivers that have served as routes of travel for centuries — based out of the historic Canaras Conference Center, a classic Adirondack Great Camp on the shores of Upper Saranac Lake.

This course is designed specifically for adults 50 and over who want a genuine wilderness adventure without compromising comfort. You’ll sleep in bunk rooms and have a full kitchen for cooking group meals, as well as a cozy living room to unwind after full days outdoors.

Your instructors will start with the fundamentals: paddle strokes, portaging techniques, and map reading. From there, the group splits into smaller paddling adventures each day — backcountry ponds, open lakes, sunrise and sunset paddles, fishing, and optional day hikes — so you can choose based on your goals and energy. Evenings bring the group back together at camp to share stories and meals.

Fall in the Adirondacks is the ideal time to be on the water. The bugs are gone, the hardwoods are turning, and the loons are still calling across the lakes in the evening.

This course is open to any experience level. You’ll leave with paddling skills, a deeper familiarity with one of the most beautiful waterway systems in the Northeast, and a new community of like-minded people.