Discover Jay
Accommodation in Jay
Jay offers several ways to shape a vacation: a wilderness area with a trail to Jay Mountain Ridge, activities on the water and historic and cultural sites. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you are most interested in nature and hiking, time by the river or insights into life in the hamlet. You can also choose a vacation rental in Jay to suit the focus you want for your stay.
Jay Mountain Wilderness and Jay Mountain Ridge
At 7,951 acres, Jay Mountain Wilderness is the smallest wilderness area in the Adirondack Forest Preserve. A 2.5-mile trail leads to the western end of Jay Mountain Ridge. The route gives you a specific destination for an outing in the mountain landscape, and you can take its length into account when planning your day. A short spur to the north leads to a viewpoint with a spectacular 360-degree panorama. This makes both the trail to the ridge and the viewpoint distinct destinations within the wilderness area. If you would like to spend time outdoors during your stay, this area is a good starting point for planning your time in Jay.
River and activities at Douglas Memorial Park
Douglas Memorial Park offers several ways to take a break outdoors: it has a pavilion and picnic area, and provides access to fishing. There is also a swimming area upstream from the Covered Bridge, known as “the holes.” Fishing and swimming are distinct reasons to include the park in your trip plans; the pavilion and picnic area offer an additional place to take a break. If you are traveling with people who have different interests, you can weigh whether water activities or the trails in Jay Mountain Wilderness should take priority.
Culture and gathering places in Jay
Jay Village Green is a historic and cultural area in the hamlet of Jay. Its features include a bandstand, a fountain, benches and a picnic area. The Amos & Julia Ward Theater is next to the Green. In summer, JEMS hosts a free concert series there at Jay Village Green every Saturday. You can also consider culture and community events when planning your stay: the Green brings together the features listed above, while the theater is a separate, neighboring venue. The regular Saturday concerts also offer a specific cultural highlight during the summer.
More to discover: cycling and crafts
Cyclists often ride Route 9N, which follows the Ausable River from Upper Jay to Jay. This offers a distinct way to explore Jay and Upper Jay along a river route. The Jay Craft Center shop carries work by Adirondack artists and other American makers, as well as its own ceramics. The selection includes hand-turned wooden bowls and cutting boards, jewelry, paintings, greeting cards and children's toys. For those interested in crafts, this offers a very different way to explore the area than hiking, cycling or water activities.
More places: Ticonderoga, Lake Placid, Schroon Lake, Willsboro.
Return to the main travel overview: Essex.
