Whitewater Rafting

High in the Adirondacks, beneath Mount Marcy, the Hudson River gurgles forth serenely from Lake Tear of the Clouds. By the time the river gets to Indian Lake, though, it squeezes through a narrow valley and become one of the best whitewater destinations in the country each spring. That’s when the snow melts, the water runs highest and it’s rated a Class IV or V – or expert – run; for 17 miles, you’ll dodge rocks, avoid “holes” and just hope you don’t get thrown in. (Though guides will give you instructions what to do in case it happens.) The Gorge, which cuts through some of the most remote forest in the Adirondacks and is surrounded by towering cliffs at points, is a spectacular trip.