At NOLS Northeast, you’ll explore the heart of upstate New York’s Adirondack Park, one of the oldest and largest designated wilderness areas in the U.S. Here, only a few hours from several major cities, you’ll find access to world-class paddling, hiking, and rock-climbing opportunities. Whether you’ve slept in a tent before or not, you’ll probably camp on your first night at our campus, a great opportunity to test out your gear before heading into the backcountry. In the field, you might summit peaks like Dix Mountain, hiking up steep, rocky mountain trails till you reach the panoramic views and cool breezes at the top. Or you might canoe along ancient waterways that were once trade routes for the Iroquois, Algonquin, and other indigenous peoples. On some courses, you’ll participate in a service project, spending a day performing trail maintenance with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). For many students and instructors, the Adirondacks are the first place they explored and experienced the wilderness: a place they’ll always remember and return to.