Guided Tours, Hikes & Paddles
Stay a few hours:
History Tour:
The Great Camp
History Tour:
Young Historians Discovery Tour
New in 2026!
History Hike:
Engineering the Wilderness
History Tours & Hikes are made possible through a generous donation from David and Janet Griffith.
Subscribe to the Visitor’s Guide to receive notifications as to when the 2026 Tours, Hikes & Paddles are available to book.
Paddle Tour:
Reflections of a Great Camp
Guided History Tour: The Great Camp
Daily at at 10:00 AM & 1:30 PM | June 14 - October 17
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” lives. 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 in a style that is now imitated nationwide. This family-friendly walking tour of the buildings & grounds takes about two hours and includes about a 1/2 mile of walking on gravel paths.
History Tours start and end at Sagamore’s charming Gift Shop, open daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Upgrade your tour…Add on a buffet Lunch in our historic dining hall overlooking Sagamore Lake! When registering, look for the option to buy a ticket “with Meal.”See more details regarding Dining @ Sagamore below.
Advance registration is required to add lunch, as space is subject to availability.
Questions, or interested in booking a large group?
Contact: tours@greatcampsagamore.org
NEW for 2026!
Guided History Tour:
Young Historians Discovery Tour
Tuesdays and Sundays at 10:30 AM | June 21 - September 6
Step into a Sagamore experience designed especially for kids ages 5-13. Through hands-on activities and interactive exploration, young visitors will discover every corner of camp in a fun and engaging way. Games and challenges help children learn how mechanical advantage made construction possible, explore the rapid growth of the railroad industry at the turn of the 20th century, plan their own Gilded Age dinner party, and more.
Our guides tailor the experience to multiple learning styles, ensuring the program is meaningful, educational, and fun for everyone, including adults. This 90-minute program is perfect for young historians and their guardians who want to explore Sagamore together.
Young Historians Discover Tours start and end at Sagamore’s charming Gift Shop, open daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Junior historians must be accompanied by at least one adult.
Upgrade your tour…Add on a buffet Lunch in our historic dining hall overlooking Sagamore Lake! When registering, look for the option to buy a ticket “with Meal.”See more details regarding Dining @ Sagamore below.
Advance registration is required to add lunch, as space is subject to availability.
Guided History Hike: Engineering the Wilderness
Wednesdays & Saturdays at 10:00 AM | July 2nd - September 24th
Explore Sagamore’s natural history and its ingenious engineering innovations.
When William West Durant built Sagamore in 1897 and Alfred Vanderbilt enlarged it in 1902 and 1914, they committed to providing cutting edge luxuries of the day—central heating, hot and cold running water, flush toilets, on-demand gas lamps fed by self-sustaining systems and, eventually, full-fledged electricity. Miles from the nearest railroad and anything like a municipal works or utility department, they engineered those luxuries from nature itself.
During this 5.5 hour experience, guests walk around Sagamore and on trails through the surrounding woods to see the sites and discuss the scientific principles that made it all possible. From a series of spring houses, cisterns, and waterways; to a hydro-electric power plant; to a self-regulating machine that turned gasoline into naphtha lighting; to massive cast iron wood burning boilers, Sagamore had all the engineering and technological triumphs available at the turn of the 20th Century.
This tour highlights the extraordinary vision and labor required to create, operate, and maintain these engineering feats, and how they both altered and maintained the experience of “being in nature.”
History Hikes start and end at Sagamore’s charming Gift Shop, open daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
History Hikes are from 10 AM to 3:30 PM,
and include lunch in the historic dining hall.
Please Note: The day includes approximately 4.5 miles of guided hikes through state forests. This experience is for individuals who have no mobility concerns, and who have experience walking through the woods. The pace is leisurely and measured. If you do not often walk in the woods, this may not be the best “first” experience doing so. Feel free to consult with Sagamore staff on questions—we’re happy to discuss more and find the right balance between caution and adventure!
Guided Paddle Tour: Reflections of a Great Camp
Daily at 10:00AM | June 28 - October 15
Launch from Sagamore’s original boathouse and explore the camp’s storied shoreline on this 90-minute guided paddling excursion. Glide quietly past the Main Lodge, Dining Hall, and former guest quarters as your guide shares the fascinating history of Great Camp Sagamore and the natural beauty that surrounds it. Along the way, learn how William West Durant designed the camp to blend seamlessly into the Adirondack landscape, using local stone, timber, and natural contours to make the buildings feel like part of the forest itself. As you paddle the calm waters of Sagamore Lake, you’ll also discover the deeper natural story of the Adirondacks, how ancient glaciers carved these mountains and lakes, shaping the rugged terrain and waterways that define the region today. Keep an eye along the shoreline for signs of wildlife that call this place home!
This relaxed paddle includes canoes, kayaks, and all necessary safety gear, making it easy to enjoy the water without extra preparation. Our historic boathouse features a convenient kayak launch, ensuring safe and easy entry and exit. Join us for a memorable journey where history, ecology, and the gentle rhythm of paddling come together on the waters that helped define Sagamore.
Guided Paddle Tours start and end at Sagamore’s charming Gift Shop, open daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Upgrade your tour…Add on a buffet Lunch in our historic dining hall overlooking Sagamore Lake! When registering, look for the option to buy a ticket “with Meal.”See more details regarding Dining @ Sagamore below.
Advance registration is required to add lunch, as space is subject to availability.
Better yet, consider adding lunch AND the Great Camp Sagamore History Tour and make a day of it!
Upgrade your experience with lunch in Sagamore’s Historic Dining Hall Overlooking Sagamore Lake!
Meals at Great Camp Sagamore are hosted in the majestic Dining Hall, with glorious views of Sagamore Lake and the surrounding mountains. Our exceptional meals are enjoyed in a shared setting where you’ll meet new people and make new friends. Three times a day the “dinner bell” calls our guests to our buffets to enjoy the array of delicious options prepared by our talented chef and kitchen staff. Our mission as a non-profit organization is centered around building a sense of community and a passion for new experiences, and eating meals together provides the perfect environment to do just that.
Advance registration is required to add lunch, as space is subject to availability. When registering, look for the option to buy a ticket “with Meal.”
Join Us for A Multi-Day Program
Great Camp Sagamore offers a variety of immersive experiences that encompass a wide range of interests and pursuits, including programs that focus on topics and activities such as traditional Adirondack arts, music, outdoor recreation, history, wellness, family options and more. Multi-Day Programs include lodging, delicious meals in the Dining Hall overlooking Sagamore Lake, and access to property amenities. Multi-Day Programs run between 2 and 5 nights.