• Adirondack Milky Way Photography

    Just Outside Lake Saranac

    Milky Way over the lake.

MILKY WAY, SARANAC LAKE, ADIRONDACKS, N.Y.

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WHERE CAN YOU DO MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY IN NEW YORK STATE?

The Adirondacks have some of the darkest skies on the East Coast. Internationally acclaimed travel photographer Pamela Goodyer traveled through the Adirondacks searching for the perfect dark Milky Way photography spot. Saranac Lake is a Bortle 2 and 3 area on the dark sky scale. This makes the location ideal for Milky Way photography.

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We found this spot outside of town. It was unbelievably good. It’s truly dark there. We were there very late, and then on the way back into town, not a soul was to be found. We stopped at the lake, right smack in the middle of the town where all the lights are, and we still got a decent shot of the Milky Way. You can see a little light pollution. But that’ll give you some options depending on your scale of dedication.

outside saranac lake in dark sky milky way over a boat dock
saranac lake milky way over the lake in town

We prefer the location shown above: the lake with the dock, which is outside of town. If you’re dedicated and willing to stand in the dark on a busy highway with trucks speeding by, then that spot is for you.

However, if you’re not that dedicated and have a fear of the dark (like many of us do), you might want to stay in town. It’s much easier to set up here, and you won’t have to contend with the eerie darkness. But no matter how scary the situation may be, we’re committed to getting the shot!

We stayed at a Sara Placid Inn & Suites, conveniently located right across the street from our shooting location, making it a great place to stay. All the details are provided below.  See the YouTube video for details.

THIS IS YOUR MILKY WAY SPOT.

Click the full-screen button and let it slowly spin. It’s like I am taking you there.

The 360-degree image invites exploration, but heed this warning: extreme caution is required. This location poses serious risks. Unaccompanied minors must never venture here alone. Only those with proper training and experience should attempt access. You can stand on the bridge, where vehicles speed perilously close. Late-night visits offer fewer passing cars, but earlier hours bring frequent traffic. Proceed at your own risk. The creators assume no liability for any injuries, accidents, or damages that may occur. By viewing this content, you acknowledge the inherent dangers and agree to exercise utmost care.

MILKY WAY ADIRONDACKS – SARANAC LAKE INFO

WHEN SHOULD I GO TO THE ADIRONDACKS FOR MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY? 

Any time of year is suitable for general photography, but to photograph the Milky Way in the Adirondacks, you must go at a specific time to ensure the Milky Way is visible. 

WE ARE GOING BACK IN THE FALL. The fall foliage in this area is spectacular. But be prepared! This is the busy season.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHEN THE MILKY WAY IS VISIBLE?

Read our Milky Way Information Page to see exactly when the Milky Way will be visible.

IS THERE ANY SPECIAL GEAR I NEED?

Well, in a perfect world, you’ll have an Astro-modified camera done by Spencer Camera. But if you’re new to all this, you could put that on your future list. You should have a lens as wide as possible. We shoot with a 16mm. You should also have an open aperture on that lens. Ours is 2.8. The lower the f-stop number, the better, to let more light in to avoid digital noise.

YOU MUST HAVE A TRIPOD— Night photography requires long exposures, so a tripod is essential for keeping your camera still and ensuring sharp images during long exposures.

HOW DO I GET TO SARANAC LAKE?

Speculator is located in the southern Adirondacks in Hamilton County, New York. The village is accessible by car via NY Route 8 and NY Route 30. Albany International Airport is the nearest major airport, about 90 miles away and roughly a 2-hour drive.  It’s a very small town. The lake is in the center of town, so you can’t miss it.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER MILKY WAY SPOTS NEAR HERE?

Yes, we suggest several nights in the Adirondacks’ dark sky locations to cover all the locations.  See our full list of Milky Way Photography Spots. We are adding in several since we are in the middle of Milky Way season.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW?

There are some bugs here in the summer. Bring your organic bug spray. If it’s not organic, it’s toxic. (Just a reminder, we will save our lecture.)

SUNSET PHOTOGRAPHY — We did sunset photography. In the same location where we did our Milky Way. We generally do this. That way we arrive during daylight hours and get to know the surroundings. The shot you see here is on the bridge near the boat dock, just outside of town, about 5 minutes away.

THE DARK SKIES OF THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS

The Adirondack Park is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States and one of the few places in the Northeast where natural darkness still exists on a large scale. Because the region has relatively little development and low levels of artificial light, the night sky remains much closer to what people would have experienced before widespread electrification.

The lack of light pollution makes the Adirondacks an important location for anyone interested in doing Milky Way photography. The Adirondack Park contains some of the darkest skies in the northeastern United States, making it one of the region’s best locations for Milky Way photography. Much of the park falls within Bortle Class 2 to 3, with the most remote areas approaching Class 2 conditions. If you are not familiar, Bortle one is the darkest sky in the world. Check out our Bortle map. The blue areas are Bortle 2 and 3. White, Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Gray, Black. In the white section, you cannot see stars. In the black sections, they scream at you!

Bortle 1: Excellent dark sky — the darkest official category.
Bortle 2: Truly dark rural sky.
Bortle 3: Rural sky with only minor light pollution.
Bortle 4: Rural/suburban transition sky; good for Milky Way photography.
Bortle 5: Still suitable for Milky Way photography with good conditions.

DARK SKY MAP

We like this map best since you can click on any spot and it gives you all the dark sky information. But for Milky Way photography, dark skies are only part of the equation. While Bortle class measures light pollution, factors such as humidity, atmospheric transparency, elevation, air quality, weather patterns, and distance from local light sources also play a major role. The best images come from nights with dry, clear air and excellent visibility, when the stars are sharp, and the faint structures of the Milky Way can be shot with greater detail. But in the Adirondacks bortle 2 and 3, even with some humidity, you can still get great shots.

LAKE SARANAC, NEW YORK INFORMATION:

Saranac Lake, New York: A Milky Way Photography Location and More

Saranac Lake is a small Adirondack village with a population of about 4,900 residents, making it one of the larger communities within the Adirondack Park. The village has a long history tied to the outdoors and wilderness recreation.

Visitors will find a walkable downtown with independent shops, galleries, cafés, breweries, and restaurants. Outdoor activities include paddling, hiking, boating, skiing, and exploring nearby lakes and mountain trails. For photographers spending several nights chasing the Milky Way, Saranac Lake provides lodging and dining while serving as a base for exploring the surrounding dark-sky locations.

You can rent boats, paddleboards and more watercraft from the Sara Placid Inn & Suites.

 SARA PLACID INN & SUITES

SARA PLACID INN & SUITES

Water rooms and water views with a kitchen are available. The view out the window is of the beautiful pond on the grounds. But step outside your door, and you can see the lake.

Each room includes a 55” HDTV with Roku, including Hulu and Disney+, a Keurig coffee maker, air conditioning, a mini-fridge, a microwave and an iron and ironing board.
They offer pet-friendly rooms with no kitchen for an** additional fee.

IF YOU WANT TO GET THE BEST PRICE, BOOK DIRECT.

WHERE TO EAT – RESTAURANTS

Mountain Market — Located on the main road through town near the Cedarhurst Motel, the market is a convenient stop for basic meals and to-go items.  Visitors looking for organic or specialty health-focused foods should plan ahead and bring what they need, as those options are limited in this area.

CAMPGROUNDS FACING THE MILKY WAY

FISH CREEK POND CAMPGROUND & DAY USE 

If we go back, we will go to this campground, which has a southwest view of the lake facing the Milky Way. Site 108 has an open view of the lake. You can go to the website CLICK – RESERVE AMERICA, and after you click the booking date, a larger picture of the campsite will show up.

Dates of Operation: Opening Date: May 8, Closing Date: October 12
Camping Fee: $22 per night (out-of-state residents surcharge: additional $5 per night)
Address: 4523 State Route 30, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 (directions below)
County:Franklin
Campground Phone: (518) 891-4560
Regional Office Phone: (518) 897-1310

FOR NEW YORK STATE CAMPGROUNDS

BOOK YOUR NY CAMPSITE

WEATHER 

Check the weather, of course you need clear skies.

Camera Camera HOW TO SHOOT MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY

This is a dark sky location. Read the How-to section for tips.