History Tours & Hikes
History Tours & Hikes are made possible through a generous donation from David and Janet Griffith.
Great Camp Sagamore History Tour
June 1 to June 9 - Weekend tours at 1:30 PM
June 15 to October 19 - Daily tours at 10:00am and 1:30pm
Upgrade your Tour…Add on a buffet Lunch in our Historic Dining Hall overlooking Sagamore Lake! Advanced reservations for lunch are required by booking online or calling (315) 354-5311.
Come experience a masterpiece of Adirondack architecture, a place where America’s most influential people came to take a break from the clamor of their “modern” life. The 27-building Great Camp stands alone on a remote lakeside. Sagamore’s builders gathered the colors, scents, and textures of the wild forest and reassembled them indoors in a style that is now imitated nationwide. This family-friendly historic tour of the buildings & grounds takes about two hours.
History Tours start and end at Sagamore’s charming Gift Shop.
Gift Shop open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Questions, or interested in booking a large group?
Contact tours@greatcampsagamore.org
Great Camp Sagamore History Hike
When we say that Sagamore is surrounded by history, we literally mean it! Join us for a day of energizing and informative hikes exploring our historic infrastructure. These hidden buildings yielded the “unexpected amenities” that added comfort to Sagamore’s spectacular Great Camp architecture, and gave this historic space a modern finish from day one.
The day starts with the…
“Let It Flow” Hike - Bringing Water to Sagamore
Not far from the Sagamore boundary are the remains of the series of spring houses, pipes, channels, and a 100,000-gallon cistern that historically provided Sagamore with its naturally filtered and always fresh water supply. We will walk up the hill, tour the infrastructure, and talk about the social history of finding and securing clean drinking water more generally. By the finish, you will have a whole new respect for turning on the tap!
This is a guided hike to a nearby hillside that involves several short but steep inclines on rustic trails and uneven terrain. The tour takes approximately 2 hours.
Next… Lunch
A delicious and re-energizing Buffet Lunch in our Historic Dining Hall. Converse with other history hikers, or simply enjoy the setting and views!
The afternoon will be spent on the…
“Lighting Up” Sagamore Hike
A walk down the road, through the woods, and along a stream takes you to the c.1914 hydroelectric powerhouse that provided electricity and electric lighting to Great Camp Sagamore more than two decades before the neighboring regions had either. We will walk to the powerhouse, tracing the footsteps and routine of Sagamore's former electrician and speaking about the broader history of electricity and hydropower along the way. We will tour the valve houses, weir, water race, and generator house that made the camp's power possible.
This is a guided hike along the South Inlet creek. Guests on this hike should plan on walking a total of approximately 2.5 miles through the woods, on trails that sometimes feature uneven ground. The tour takes approximately 2 hours.
Please Note: Because these sites are only accessible by walking through state forests, this experience is for individuals who have no mobility concerns, and who have experience walking in the woods. Our pace will be leisurely and measured, and you do not need to be an advanced mountaineer. Still, if you do not frequently walk in the woods, this is probably not the best “first” experience. Please email cwilliams@greatcampsagamore with questions—we’re happy to discuss more, and help find the right balance between caution and adventure!
Available Dates Coming Soon!
Advanced reservations are required by booking online or calling (315) 354-5311.
