Jay: Mountain Wilderness, Village Green and Ausable River

Jay offers several things to enjoy on a trip: Douglas Memorial Park, with water activities; the historic Jay Village Green; trails in the Jay Mountain Wilderness; and Route 9N along the Ausable River. When planning your stay, you can first decide whether nature trails, a spot in the hamlet or water activities should be the deciding factor. Cycling and hiking offer different focuses; in the hamlet, there is also a summer concert series and a shop featuring handicrafts.

Park, Mountain Trails and Views

Douglas Memorial Park has a pavilion and picnic area, as well as access to fishing. The park also has a swimming area called “the holes,” upstream of the Covered Bridge. The park therefore offers a different focus from the Jay Mountain Wilderness: here, you can choose park amenities and water activities, while there, the focus is on trails and a viewpoint.

The Jay Mountain Wilderness is the smallest wilderness area in the Adirondack Forest Preserve, covering 7,951 acres; it is located in the towns of Jay and Lewis. A 2.5-mile trail in the wilderness leads to the western end of the Jay Mountain Ridge. A short spur to the north leads to a viewpoint with a spectacular 360-degree panorama. When choosing your nature outing, you can distinguish between the trail with its named Ridge destination and the short spur with its panoramic view.

Cycling Along the Ausable River

Cyclists often use Route 9N, which follows the Ausable River from Upper Jay to Jay. This offers a clear alternative when choosing a route to the hiking options in the Jay Mountain Wilderness: Route 9N is shaped by the river and the places named, while the mountain trails are characterized by a Ridge destination and a viewpoint. This gives you different outdoor activity options, without treating cycling and hiking as the same kind of outing.

Village Green, Concerts and Handicrafts

Jay Village Green is a historic area in the hamlet of Jay. It includes a bandstand, a fountain, benches and a picnic area. The space combines its historic character with practical features for spending time outdoors. The Amos & Julia Ward Theater is next to the Green. JEMS hosts a free concert series on the Green every Saturday in summer. If you are considering attending a concert during your trip, check the specific dates for your travel period.

Another part of the cultural offering is the Jay Craft Center shop in Jay. In addition to its own pottery, it carries work by Adirondack artists and other American makers, including hand-turned wooden bowls and cutting boards, jewelry, paintings, greeting cards and children's toys. The selection may change; if a particular item is important to you, ask about current availability. The Village Green and its concert series and the shop offer different experiences: a historic space with a music program on the one hand, and handicrafts as a shopping theme on the other.

Explore more destinations: Lake Placid, Ticonderoga, Schroon Lake, Willsboro

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