Our Location
Our location is singular — it boasts a small-town feel with big city amenities. Mountains, lakes, history, arts, excitement and serenity — we’ve got something for everyone! You'll love to call Plattsburgh home.
The Great Outdoors
Aim High!
Breathtaking: That’s the word most people use to describe their first drive through the Adirondacks into Plattsburgh. SUNY Plattsburgh sits just outside the Adirondack Park, an outdoor enthusiast’s dreamland. With over 6 million acres to explore — bigger than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Park combined — you’re sure to find a new favorite hobby.
Within the park are 46 major mountain peaks and there’s a special club reserved for those intrepid climbers who conquer them all — Become a Forty-Sixer. Looking for a quick climb? Take a short drive south to a local favorite like Rattlesnake Mountain or Poke-O-Moonshine — the climbs are short but the payoff is anything but!
In the winter, ski Whiteface Mountain, the venue for the 1980 Winter Olympic alpine skiing competitions. While you’re there, it’s only a short trip into the Village of Lake Placid for some ice skating (and some major people-watching!).
Valley Adventures
Mountains not your thing? That’s ok, too! There are plenty of walking trails and cross-country skiing options within minutes — Point Au Roche State Park, Ausable Marsh and High Falls Gorge, just to name a few. There’s even a hiking and biking trail along the Saranac River right on campus — check out the Saranac River Trail.
Plattsburgh is also located on the shore of Lake Champlain and with miles of shoreline and sandy beaches right outside your door, there’s a waterfront activity sure to pique your interest. Take a kayak lesson or learn to stand-up paddle board. Try ice fishing when you come back to campus in February. Or, simply let the sound of the waves relax and inspire you after a full day of classes.
Experience the Region with Friends
Join an outdoor recreation-focused club like our Ski and Snowboard Club, Outing Club, Biketopia or the Environmental Action Committee. See our full list of clubs and organizations.
Arts, Entertainment & Cultural Hubs
Downtown Plattsburgh
Take a ten-minute stroll from campus into downtown Plattsburgh to experience a show at the historic and newly renovated Strand Theatre. The Strand Center for the Arts also offers tons of activities — take a class, view an exhibition and browse artisan markets throughout the year.
While you’re exploring downtown, grab a coffee from one of our local shops and head to MacDonough Monument overlooking Lake Champlain — it’s a great spot to chill and people watch. Ready for something to eat? In our downtown alone you’ll be able to choose from a dozen eateries and food shops (within a 10-mile radius, dozens more). If you’re looking for North Country staples, try a michigan or poutine. Delis are student favorites for off-campus lunch. For dinner, taste the world — choose from Greek, Himalayan, Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Italian and American cuisine.
Want More?
Montreal, the second-largest city in Canada, is about an hour away — and so are Burlington, Vermont and the Olympic Village of Lake Placid. Students shop, eat, explore and see concerts in all three places. History buffs will never get bored here, either. As a key site in the Battle of 1812, Plattsburgh and the surrounding region proudly celebrates our heritage with museums, annual reenactments and festivals.
Regional Activities & Resources
SUNY Plattsburgh is itself a major intellectual and cultural center for upstate New York — but that’s just a start. Explore the Lake Champlain Valley Region and beyond.
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New York State
Use these links to explore upstate New York:
Upstate New York Tourism
- Adirondack.Net – Discover the Adirondacks with things to do, places to stay and an event calendar.
- North Country Chamber of Commerce – Our regional Chamber of Commerce, serving Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton and the northern Warren counties in NYS and southern Quebec.
- Go Adirondack – The Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, A division of the North Country Chamber of Commerce
- I Love NY Adirondacks – Discover New York!
Things to Do, Places to Go
- Fort Ticonderoga – Visit the site of the first American victory in the Revolutionary War.
- Lake Placid – Learn about all of the fun things to do in Lake Placid!
- Plattsburgh Area Historical Sites, Museums and Organizations – Compiled by the SUNY Plattsburgh Department of History
Outdoor Recreation Information
- Gore Mountain – With 14 lifts and 110 trails, Gore is a ski and ride paradise.
- Titus Mountain – Three interconnected mountains with 50 trails, including three terrain parks!
- Whiteface Mountain – 288 skiable areas, including double-black diamond wilderness terrain and glades skiing.
- Hiking the Adirondack region – See all the trails and walking paths our region has to offer.
Transportation
- Clinton County Bus Schedule – The Clinton County Public Transit provides bus transportation around the area.
- Lake Champlain Ferries – Take a ferry across Lake Champlain to explore all that Vermont has to offer.
- Plattsburgh International Airport
Lodging
- Where to Stay in and around the Adirondack Coast Region
- Vermont
- Montreal, Canada
News
Hockey Program Looks to Form Pep Band
College Welcomes Poet Shockley to Campus for Black Poetry Day
Ethics Institute Looks at Aftermath of Trauma in Classroom, Workplace
Career Closet Suits Students in Need of Business Attire
SUNY Plattsburgh’s Center for the Study of Canada Hosts First ‘Conversations’ of Semester
