Three Winter Weekend events to be held in 2026 at the Historic Adirondack Great Camp Santanoni in the town of Newcomb, Essex County.
Hosted by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Friends of Camp Santanoni, along with partners Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), the Town of Newcomb, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC), Camp Santanoni Winter Weekends provide exclusive winter access to the preserved buildings of the only publicly owned historic Great Camp in New York State’s Adirondack Park.
The 2026 Winter Weekend events will take place Saturdays and Sundays during the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday weekend, January 17–18; Presidents’ Day holiday weekend, February 14–15; and the weekend of March 14–15.
Camp Santanoni is a 9.8-mile round-trip cross-country ski or snowshoe excursion. The trail traverses from the Gate Lodge Complex (map PDF), past the Farm Complex (map PDF), to the remote lakeside Main Camp Complex (map PDF), providing a moderate ski and a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.
Visitors are required to use skis or snowshoes on this trail in winter, and this year the AIC will loan out complimentary snowshoes for any visitors without their own.
Snowshoes will be available at Newcomb Pines (5699 Route 28N), located across the road from the Santanoni Preserve, starting at 9 am on Saturday and Sunday of each Winter Weekend. Skiers and snowshoers are also welcome to recreate on the trail and surrounding lands on any day during the winter.
Santanoni History
During the late 19th century, the region became a mecca for sportsmen and other people seeking recreation and revitalization in the wild places of the region. In response to this, native builders and professional architects developed a rustic style of architecture that is best represented by a series of building complexes known as Great Camps.
These buildings were often built for wealthy urban clients and were constructed with a variety of natural materials so that they were harmonious with the rugged Adirondack landscape.
A number of these camps, including Sagamore, Santanoni, Pine Knot, and Eagle Island are National Historic Landmarks. This rustic style eventually influenced the design of western lodges and hotels built for the National Park Service.
Santanoni was built in 1892 for Robert C. Pruyn, a banker and industrialist from Albany and his wife Anna Pruyn. When Camp Santanoni was completed on the shores of Newcomb Lake, the property included 12,900 acres and nearly four-dozen buildings.
Pruyn descendants sold the camp property in 1953 to the Melvin family of Syracuse, who sold the property in 1972 to the ADK Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, before it was acquired by the State of New York.
The property is currently managed by DEC, Adirondack Architectural Heritage and the Town of Newcomb.
During the Winter Weekend events, cross-country skiers and snowshoers are invited to visit the Main Lodge of Camp Santanoni, view displays about the great camp, and take interpretive tours with AARCH volunteers. The Gate Lodge vestibule will also be open for visitors.
The Artist’s Studio, a stone building near the Main Lodge on the shores of Newcomb Lake, is open as a warming hut during the 2026 Winter Weekend dates.
Visitors can reheat by the woodstove and enjoy a warm beverage before heading back outdoors for their return trip. Camp Santanoni buildings will be open to the public from 10 am to 3 pm.
DEC reminds recreationists to Hike Smart — and ski or snowshoe smart — this winter. The trek out and back to the Historic Great Camp is a 9.8-mile round trip with rolling terrain. Remember to pack your 10 Essentials, including a fully charged headlamp (with extra batteries), warm non-cotton layers, food, and water.
Reservations are not required and there is no cost associated with the events. For more information, visit DEC’s Camp Santanoni Winter Weekends webpage or call AARCH at (518) 834-9328.
Photo courtesy of Nancie Battaglia.
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