The Iroquois have lived in the Adirondack Mountains and environs for thousands of years. The Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy are made up of the Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, and Tuscarora. These people lived in the area before European colonists arrived. Many of the facets of the Iroquois democratic government inspired some of the colonists who would eventually draft the U.S. Constitution, including Benjamin Franklin. Watertown sits just outside Adirondack Park, and it's home to a little more than 24,000 souls.
The shore of Lake Ontario is just six miles away. The army post of Fort Drum is nearby, as well, and the area has a rich military history. It's the former home of the 10th Mountain Division. The climbing in the area is famous, and Mount Marcy, the tallest mountain in New York State, at 5,344 feet, offers routes for novice and experienced climbers. Plenty of the lower peaks in the area provide more difficult climbs, while many areas have well-marked routes appropriate for intermediate and beginning climbers.
You can find 36 distinct species of trees throughout the downtown of Watertown. The Downtown Arboretum provides a nice afternoon stroll, and you can procure a map to see where each of the species of trees is located. If you have children, then this is an excellent educational opportunity for them. You can also catch minor-league Watertown Rapids baseball games while visiting the area.
Campgrounds Near Watertown, New York
On the other side of Fort Drum, the Watertown Kampground of America provides 73 pull-through RV sites with full hookups. There's a heated pool, hayrides, and many more family-friendly activities. There's even a general store, so you won't have to trek to a supermarket to stock up on provisions or trail snacks for your hikes on lovely hikes in the area. You won't have to pound your clothes with rocks to clean them, either, because there is a clean laundromat on-site.
For a unique RV camping experience, you can travel just 30 miles to reach the 1,000 Islands Kampground of America. It's on a tiny island of just 65 acres, but there are game courts, playgrounds, and bounce pillows to help keep your kids occupied. The fishing is some of the best to be had anywhere, and you can rent boats to cruise the famed waterway between the U.S. and Canada. Despite the island's small size, there are 300 RV sites with full hookups and a general store for shopping so that you don't have to leave the campground.
Willows on the Lake R.V. Park and Resort is just 20 minutes from Watertown. Like other RV parks in the 1,000 islands, it provides exceptional waterfront access and water-based activities. Its 98 RV sites cover 12 acres of quiet land on the shore of the waterway. Each of the sites has full hookups. Should you want to enjoy the water without staying at the campground, this park offers you the chance to store your RV while you're out on the water.
State Parks Near Watertown, New York
Westcott Beach State Park is just 13 miles from Watertown, New York. Hunters will enjoy their time in the park because duck, coot, geese, and deer are all available at different times when they are in season. Swimmers can take a dip in Lake Ontario, and anglers can drop their lines from the town wharf. The area gets a lot of snow in the winter, and snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing are all fun activities to do at the park during the cold months.
Wellesley Island State Park has the largest camping area in the entire 1,000 Islands region. It sits on the edge of Lake Ontario and offers water-based activities for swimmers and boaters alike. The nearby restaurants are famous for the quality of their cuisine, and the quirky gift shops provide the opportunity for a pleasurable afternoon of shopping.
Cedar Point State Park is quiet and serene. Easy hiking trails and plenty of trees for reading under let you while away a relaxing afternoon. The ubiquitous boat launches and beachfront provide water activities. Anglers can go for smallmouth bass, crappie, and bluegill in the nearby streams. For RVers who love history, the Thousand Islands Museum lets you explore the area's past in great detail.
National Sites Near Watertown, New York
During the Seven Years' War, the British constructed Fort Stanwix in 1758 as a barrier against French incursion into the area. The Continental Army captured it in 1776 and defended it successfully in 1777. Today, the Fort Stanwix National Monument stands in the center of Rome, New York, 68 miles from Watertown. The Mohawk River Trail winds 4 miles through town, and the Pitch Pine Bog Conservation Nature Trail runs outside of town so that you can experience what the area looked like before the Erie Canal.
The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park comprises 32 acres and contains the house where she spent her last years. She's buried there, too, and you can see the church that she helped build and where she worshiped. There are two easy hiking trails nearby, one of which goes by a series of charming ponds where you can see wildlife in the early morning or late afternoon.
The Women's Rights National Historical Park sits on the site that was seminal to the movement that gained women the right to vote in 1920. The first buildings were constructed in 1848 when a convention of about 100 men and women gathered to outline their goals. Their document was called the Declaration of Sentiments, and its words are inscribed upon the wall in The Waterwall at Declaration Park, which is 100 feet long and is covered in cascading sheets of water.
National Forests Near Watertown, New York
The Finger Lakes National Forest lies about two-and-a-half hours from Watertown. It's one of the few spots in the country where you can see the Northern Lights at this low of a latitude. It's a small forest, but the waterfalls, streams, and stunning New York foliage make it worth the trip. The morning after seeing the Aurora Borealis from a nearby peak, you can set out on a birdwatching trip to see one of the many species that populate the area.
The Green Mountain National Forest is about three hours from Watertown in Vermont. The wildlife in this forest includes moose, black bears, deer, and bats. Fly fishing for trout in the forest's streams is favored by locals. Remember that anyone 15 years old or older will need a Vermont fishing license. Scenic route 100 travels through much of Green Mountain National Forest, and it is considered one of the most beautiful drives in the Green Mountain state. The Appalachian Trail also cuts through this forest.
Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest is quite a drive at more than four hours away from Watertown, New York but the forest's fishing opportunities make it worthwhile for any angler. You can go for muskie, pike, bass, catfish, and walleye. Hiking through the forest is fun for the whole family, and the area's colors during the autumn rival those of Adirondack Park.
