Overlook Lean-to at Adirondack Adventure Base

If I was able to give it more than 5 stars I would! Bob & Sheila's property is absolutely amazing! Located deep in the northern Adirondacks, far enough away that you are secluded in nature, but close enough that you are just a short drive to attractions such as Lake Placid and Saranac Lake.
As far as the lean-to itself, it is unbelievable. Built by Bob and Sheila, they supply you with anything you may need for your stay. If you find something they don't have, they are more than helpful to point you in the right direction.
The lean-to is actually so special, me and my fiance actually got engaged in the lean to and return every year for our anniversary! I cant say enough about Bob, Sheila and the property they offer!

The Adirondack Adventure Base is one of the most unique places to stay in the Adirondacks! Situated on 50 acres of diverse northern Adirondack land in Paul Smiths, the base is close to all of the great outdoor adventures the Adirondacks has to offer. The property itself is comprised of private campsites and purpose-built structures amongst its varying landscape while boasting a claimed 163.2 things to keep yourself, your friends, and your family occupied. I'd argue the number of things to do on the property is a lot more! A wonderfully illustrated map of the property is provided upon check-in; use it and make sure to take the time to explore - the whole place is a wonder.

My wife and I tent-camped for more than a week, opting to extend our stay longer than intended because we were enjoying our time so much, even though we had to endure frigid September nights. The hosts, Bob and Sheila, are simply the best. They're personable, knowledgable, and innovative. We appreciated every minute of conversation with them. They checked in with us daily, often making excellent suggestions of where to hike, canoe, and track for moose.

We walked away from our stay at the Adirondack Adventure Base rejuvenated and inspired by everything we experienced, while simultaneously planning when we could return next (which will be soon!). This base is truly a special place.

*Additionally, Bob's maple syrup is an absolute must-try. Having grown up around a bountiful amount of maple syrup in rural New England, I have never tasted anything quite as real as what is produced right on the property through traditional methods.

Tried out the Lean-to this year - we loved it! Sheila and Bob thought of everything we could possibly need for cooking, and for staying dry and relatively bug-free! What a treat - can't wait to do it again!

This is a beautiful property. We arrived at the peak of fall and the leaves were gorgeous. Sheila and Bob were very accommodating and provided clear instructions for how best to enjoy our stay. All amenities were provided, and we really just brought our sleeping gear, some food, some ice, and some books. The lean-to was a great way to enjoy the woods, better than a tent... or a cabin in my opinion. Also, there was a surprise touch. They make very special maple syrup on the property, which they don't gather with any plastic tubing, and they provide a free sample for the guests! Way better than a chocolate on the pillow... and it was delicious.

An amazing experience! The lean-to is clean and cozy, with comfortable seating (loved the rocking chair) and hammocks, a kitchen with a stove and dishes, a fire pit with a propane torch provided, and a clean and spacious outhouse. A perfect option for isolating during these times! Sheila and Bob are super friendly and helpful. They gave us great recommendations for activities in the area - Sheila even mapped out for us beautiful canoeing routes through the ponds nearby. And their maple syrup is delicious! The lean-to is located on a wonderful property that was built up entirely by them, and trails through it are well-marked. Would definitely recommend a stay here!

When I found this place from a friend who had stayed here, and saw the pictures, I knew I had to stay. The lean-to was an amazing experience, and much more! It was so relaxing and peaceful -and our spot had this beautiful overlook for our evening camp fires. It was a very private spot.

Nice touch on the shelter cover over the picnic table btw, and I enjoyed the private sun shower they just built for covid safety. The hosts, Bob and Sheila were wonderful hosts and just a stop away at the office for some friendly talk and advice -and internet. I met the resident canine this morning when he greeted me on Sheila’s walk. I needed that doggie fix lol. I miss my two at home.

We climbed Mt Azure on Bob’s suggestion, swam at Lake Clear beach the first day. Kind of rainy the second day, but made the best of it exploring the property in our rain jackets and playing cards, dice and dominoes in the covered shelters at night. The inside of the lean-to and the covered/ screened in picnic table stayed totally dry during the rain. So much to do there, just at camp and on their property! A fully stocked kitchen of camp dishes and a small propane cook stove kept our packing light.

Sheila suggested The Vic on our third day and we had fun exploring the bog trail. We saw some Pitcher plants there! We also went to The Wild Center that day for hiking around and saw some cool exhibits, then ended our night dining out.

We loved the delicious maple syrup sample, and I bought some for later. A complementary bundle of wood supplied us for the first night, and wood is for sale on premises for our remaining time there. Well water is also available for no charge.

We definitely will be back for another slice of this mountain paradise! It was a perfect weekend!

The bros (Steve and Tyler)

P.S we put maple syrup on our steaks and burgers and we regret nothing!

Our stay at Adirondack Adventure Base was restorative, relaxing and fun. We loved having a private campsite without the noise of lots of neighbors typical of most campgrounds in the Adirondacks. The campsite and the entire grounds were so clean and so beautiful. Since the property is also a Sugarbush (yes you can buy some syrup and it's amazing) the fall colors are spectacular. The property is diverse with wetlands, forest and cliffs, and well marked trails all over. Even mountain bike trails! The hosts, Sheila and Bob, are mountain bike enthusiasts (as well as paddlers, hikers and backpackers) and gave us great recommendations for out of the way places to visit, ride, paddle and hike away from the busy High Peaks area. But you could just enjoy their property for a few days easily. They have lots of dry firewood on site.There have also been Moose sightings on their property, though we weren't lucky enough to see one, we definitely heard it! It's truly a magical spot and a was a great base for our Adirondack adventures. Highly recommend!

We spent a week at Adirondack Vacation Base and had an amazing time. We spent our first night in the Lean-To. The attention to detail, craftsmanship and view are something you won’t want to miss! Sheila and Bob gave us advice on places to hike, bike, paddle and fish and each experience was exactly what we were looking for. The environment was peaceful. Great place to unplug! If you are looking for an unforgettable experience, you should stay at one of their offerings!

What a lovely lean-to! My husband and I stayed for two nights and thoroughly enjoyed our experience. The lean-to is very private and stocked with everything you could need for your stay! There are a lot of thoughtful touches to make you feel at home and comfortable in the space. The hosts are also very friendly and supply you with all the info you need about the property and local area. The property on which the lean-to is located has a system of trails and lookout points that were fun to explore. Overall amazing experience, will definitely stay again.

The lean-to site exceeded our every expectation! The view was beautiful, with wildflowers and butterflies abounding. The amenities created by Bob and Sheila, from the outdoor kitchen to the outhouse and network of comfy hammocks, made our stay extra special. Their recommendations for local hikes and swims were invaluable, and we love how the property included a maple syrup operation, network of bike trails, and other sites to explore. Can't wait to come back!

The Overlook Lean-to is my favorite spot I have stayed over the course of a two-week road trip I have been on. The structure is beautiful, homey, and well designed - if a little cold in the late fall. Sheila was there to greet me on site when I arrived at the adventure base and was ready with recommendations and friendly conversation. The whole site is incredible and you can bike or hike on their trails.

The most amazing little getaway from the world with everything you'd ever need. Hosts were just as awesome and beyond welcoming. Spent some time relaxing at the site & building fires at night, hiking, and watching the stars. Even got lucky to get a little rain which was so amazing with the open lean-to. Hosts sent us on a really cool hike to the peak of Azure which was so rewarding, spent a few hours just sitting on the rocks and enjoying the open breeze and view. Can't wait to return someday, hopefully soon!!

Beautiful property with wonderful and knowledgeable hosts!! The lean-to itself was a work of art, and the kitchen on the end functioned perfectly. It rained the first night into the morning and we were able to make breakfast and eat at the screened-in covered table area without getting a drop of rain on us. There were many cool seating areas around and hammocks in the site that the kids loved. Gorgeous view at night with the fire. Bob met us at check-in and was kind and knowledgeable about the area and was great with the kids! We went on the Azure Mt hike that they suggested and it was one of the most stupendous views we had ever seen. There are many charming touches to their adorable slice of heaven and we will be back to check out their other listings...esp the treehouse!! Thanks so much Bob and Sheila!! Love, The Smiths and The Kurniks

Sheila and Bob are by far the best hosts we have ever encountered, whether it be an AirBNB, hotel, resort, or anything like that. They go above and beyond to make sure that their guests feel welcome. They both go out of their way to get to know you, give recommendations, and to make sure that you are taken care of. Their property is incredible. There is a network of trails in the property that we highly recommend exploring. The maple syrup that the make there is delicious. There are so many reasons to visit this place that has become so, so special to us!

Our weekend away at the treehouse was truly magical. The details in the treehouse was outstanding. Shelia and Marie went above and beyond with assistance and guidance. They had everything covered to allow us to have an amazing weekend. Would be a sure miss to ever pass up on staying in the magical treehouse. It was clean and everything worked well. The details from the Lego treehouse to handmade bed frame took the experience to another level. We were so relaxed. We cannot wait to book again!
Almost forgot the handmade maple syrup was out of this world!!!!

Best Regards,
Tammy & James

We really enjoyed our time at the Lean-to! The bug-net around the bed area was a nice comfort and many kitchen necessities were provided. This was a great place to make a fire and view the stars! The hosts were quite helpful in providing information about their place and also provided a lot of helpful information on hiking trails in the area. We'd definitely enjoy staying here again!”

My husband and I and our 3 boys (age 19-23) could not have had a better experience than provided by Bob and Sheila at the lean-to. We were looking for a rustic get-away (glamping) in the Adirondacks and we hit the jackpot. The lean-to itself is a work of incredible craftsmanship and thoughtful design. The bed is great for those of us who now prefer not to sleep on the ground and our kids were able to set up the tent next to the lean-to. The abundant chairs and hammocks are comfy. The cooking counter makes meal prep so easy- indeed everything you need is there (huge cooler, pots, pans, plates, utensils, foil, firewood, water and homemade maple syrup) so just bring the food! We spent meals and game-time around the covered picnic table and then the wonderful firepit. The outhouse is clean and convenient. We enjoyed exploring the whole 50 acre property- the bog, the pond, the enormous "eldest tree", the rock-climbing wall. The location is convenient to so many activities- we went canoeing, hiking, biking and exploring- the VIC, the Wild Center, Lake Placid, Donnelly's ice cream (ok, maybe twice there). Sheila and Bob are such an incredible resource about the area and things to do. AND they are warm, wonderful and brilliant so we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them too (and their friendly lab Denali!). Our kids used every superlative to rave about our perfect vacation at the lean-to. We hadn't been there a day before we were planning when and how we could get back.

Clean, gorgeous, and sincerely more than we expected or even hoped. Deposit returned timely. I hope to go again.

Amazing place! Bob is great host, very well aware of all gems of Adirondacks, always pleasure to chat with him about birds or animals. There are so many things you can do on their property and you just never wanna leave. Will definitely come back!

We had a wonderful weekend here. The lean-to is one of the most beautiful I've seen anywhere (made by hand by Bob and Shelia) and is well set up with many thoughtful touches that made this not only a lovely place to stay but decidedly one of the easier "camping" trips I've had with my young family. Highly recommend.