{"id":137225,"date":"2026-02-18T12:12:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T12:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/137225\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T12:12:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T12:12:14","slug":"adirondacks-keene-valley-named-top-spot-to-visit-in-u-s-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/137225\/","title":{"rendered":"Adirondacks’ Keene Valley named top spot to visit in U.S. in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

A beautifully wild stretch of Upstate New York that rewards determined hikers with breathtaking views is one of the best places in America to visit this year, according to a trusted travel guide. <\/p>\n

The Keene Valley<\/a>, nicknamed the \u201cHome of the High Peaks,\u201d has been dubbed one of the top spots to go in the United States in 2026 by Fodor\u2019s Travel, which has been publishing travel guides since 1936.<\/p>\n

The scenic Adirondacks<\/a> hamlet was one of only six spots included on Fodor\u2019s list<\/a> of the top places to visit in the United States in 2026. The roundup included spots in North Carolina, Washington state, California, Florida and Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

The town of Keene is home to over half of New York\u2019s mountains at or above 4,000 feet, making it a popular spot for aspiring 46ers<\/a> aiming to hike the Adirondacks\u2019 46 highest peaks. The Keene Valley includes some of the most popular High Peaks, including Mount Marcy<\/a>, the highest mountain in the Empire State.<\/p>\n

\"MountThis photo shows a view from a hike up snowy Mount Marcy on November 16, 2015. Mike Lynch for New York UpstateMike Lynch for New York Upstate<\/p>\n

The hamlet is less than an hour\u2019s drive from some of the Adirondacks\u2019 other popular draws. That includes the Ausable Chasm<\/a>, a stunning gorge dubbed the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks, and Lake Placid<\/a>, a winter wonderland famous for twice hosting the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n

In its explanation of what makes the Keene Valley a traveler\u2019s dream, Fodor\u2019s called the hamlet an \u201cenclave for outdoor enthusiasts\u201d steeped in breathtaking hikes, like Cascade Falls and the iconic Indian Head trail, and charming small businesses, such as The Frenchman\u2019s Bakery and The Birch Store.<\/p>\n

\"KeeneLower Ausable Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, as pictured on a sunny fall day. Photo: Getty ImagesGetty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the years, it has become a destination marked by Adirondack-style buildings, like the Keene Valley library,\u201d the travel guide wrote. \u201cBut what truly makes Keene Valley worth visiting is its rugged beauty and loving community of hikers, many of whom have traded life in the city for the calm of the mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fodor\u2019s Travel recommended visiting Keene Valley in the summer, a prime time for hiking and other outdoor activities, or in the early autumn, when fall foliage transforms the area into a leaf-peeping paradise.<\/p>\n

\"KeeneThe Keene Valley Library was created in 1885. The library started with 167 books and now has more than 20,000. Mike Lynch for New York UpstateMike Lynch for New York Upstate\"KeeneRoaring Brook Falls can be seen from a viewpoint on State Route 73 outside of Keene Valley, New York, in the Adirondacks. Mike Lynch for New York UpstateMike Lynch for New York Upstate\"KeeneThe Mountaineer gear store in Keene Valley, New York, is a popular stop among outdoor enthusiasts in the Adirondacks. The nationally recognized store opened in 1975. Mike Lynch for New York UpstateMike Lynch for New York Upstate\"KeeneCorene Black comes down after climbing a 60-foot ice flow during an all-women ice climbing clinic in Keene Valley, New York, on Jan. 13, 2007. Stephen D. Cannerelli, Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard archivesStephen D. Cannerelli, Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard archives<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A beautifully wild stretch of Upstate New York that rewards determined hikers with breathtaking views is one of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":137226,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[13944,58311,58312,9,11,10,58313,817],"class_list":["post-137225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-adirondack-park","tag-ausable-lake","tag-lower-ausable-lake","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-news","tag-st-huberts","tag-upstate-new-york"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137225"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137225\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}