St. Lawrence students in the Adirondacks

Discover the North Country

Some colleges have Adirondack chairs. We have the Adirondacks. St. Lawrence students are serious about their academic adventures, but when they need a break, the North Country’s outdoor playground awaits.

Welcome to our world.

Between the St. Lawrence River to the west and Lake Champlain to the east, you’ll find New York State’s North Country. As the U.S. liberal arts university closest to an international capital, we’re the gateway to the United States for our northern neighbors, and home to the largest protected natural area in the lower 48 states: The Adirondacks.

Throughout this rural frontier you’ll find lakes, mountains, valleys, and more than 100 welcoming communities, including Canton, the seat of St. Lawrence County and our home.

Your College Town

You’ll become a part of the North Country community as you engage in local traditions, work alongside experts in Community-based Learning courses, intern and volunteer with local organizations, and explore the unique spaces that make Canton home. 

Just footsteps from campus, you’ll find beloved pizza parlors, farm-to-table restaurants, grocery stores, and local accommodations. You’ll have opportunities to view artwork by local artists, stay active on nearby walking trails, practice wellness at the yoga studio, catch a movie at the theater, or pick out a new game at the video game store. 

Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or prefer the comfort of indoor spaces, there’s something for everyone all year round.

Fall

Two Saint Lawrence University students lay in hammocks on a sunny fall day.

Fall in the North Country is known for its beauty thanks to the brilliant autumn colors. The scenery is perfect, especially with stunning lakes and high peaks as backdrops. Go for a drive or take a brisk hike to take in the fall foliage. 

St. Lawrence students walking in the snow near a stream

Winter

Lace up your snowshoes for a winter hike, hit the cross country trail, or grab your goggles for some downhill skiing. (Up for a challenge? Whiteface Mountain is home to the greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies!)

Students drinking sap from maple tree taps

Spring

Spring is sometimes referred to as mud season around here. Since the trails are a bit messy, it’s a great time of year to explore museums, follow the craft beverage trail, or take a scenic drive. Whitewater rafting and backpacking are popular in the late spring.

People canoeing

Summer

There’s nothing quite like a North Country summer. Hit the links on St. Lawrence’s golf course, fish the St. Lawrence river, grab ice cream from a nearby shop, swim at Lampson Falls, rent a green bike, or have a cookout with friends. 

Visit the North Country

Our unique locations provide you with plenty of opportunities to explore local towns, villages, hamlets, main streets, and country roads as you uncover hidden gems, support small businesses, and savor the natural beauty of St. Lawrence County. 

Explore St. Lawrence County

Plan Your Stay

Check out our local and regional accommodations and dining, including charming bed-and-breakfast options, hotels close to campus, beloved pizza parlors, and elegant farm-to-table restaurants.

Visit Canton

Visit the Adirondacks

This visitors guide offers details on lodging, activities, restaurants, excursions, and a ton of blog posts about possible experiences.

Learn More

Adirondack Park Agency

The official website for the six-million-acre natural wonderland offers historical and geological information, plus links to resources and lodging.

Learn More

30 Minutes from an International Adventures

St. Lawrence is just 20 minutes from the Canadian border. While you’re here, visit this Canadian city for urban exploring and outdoor recreation in the nearby countryside. 

Here are a few highlights: 

  • Parliament Hill
  • Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site - includes the largest ice-skating rink in North America
  • Tons of guided tours - by bus, train, boat, helicopter, and more 
  • National museums covering art, nature, history, and technology
  • Celebrations and music festivals

Visit Ottawa Tourism

Take a Road Trip

At St. Lawrence, every student can bring a vehicle to campus or take advantage of a number of our local transportation opportunities. Check out some of these North Country locations that make a great day trip.

New York 

  • Potsdam, N.Y.

  • Massena, N.Y.
  • Malone, N.Y.
  • Clayton, N.Y.
  • Watertown, N.Y.
  • Syracuse, N.Y.
  • Lake Placid, N.Y.
  • Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Explore New York 

Vermont

  • Lake Champlain, Vt.
  • Burlington, Vt.

Explore Vermont

Local Learning

Start your career journey right here in the North Country as you put your education into action and work alongside experts in the local community. 

Two Saint Lawrence Universit students talk about careers in media with a North Country Public Radio employee.

SLU Public Interest Corps (SLU PIC)

We’ll link you with North Country organizations during this 10-week paid summer internship that also provides on-campus housing for participants. 

A Saint Lawrence University class meets outside in The Adirondack Park on a sunny day.

Adirondack Semester

Live and learn in our off-the-grid yurt village in the heart of the Adirondacks.

St. Lawrence student working with young people

Internships

As the seat of St. Lawrence County, you’ll experience the inner-workings of local politics. The best part? The local internship opportunities don’t end there. 

 

A professor guides a small group of students as they examine vegetables grown on our farm.

Sustainability Program

Think globally and act locally in our low-impact, renovated farmhouse, located five miles off-campus. 

Laurentian holding basket of vegetables

Community-Based Learning

From first-year seminars to courses across all disciplines, you’ll experience in-class topics in real life under the guidance of North Country businesses and organizations. 

A professor and student stand in a tall green grass field and examine a specimen they have just captured using a large butterfly net.

Center for the Environment

Our brand-new Center for the Environment is a hub of environmental leadership, scholarship, and action. 

Learn More About CFE

Your North Country Bucket List

With thousands of possibilities within reach (some more than 4,000 feet!), we put together a list of some of our favorite North Country activities.  The best part about this bucket list? You'll have four years to check everything off—though you might find yourself discovering more things to add as you go along. 

A Saint Lawrence University student, wearing white rubber gloves, delicately handles historic papers under the guidance of a mentor.

Explore a Local Museum

Cascading waterfalls on a bright fall day. Two students sit at the top of the falls. There are pine trees and fall foliage along the falls.

Picnic at Lampson Falls

Band performing

Take Part in a Local Tradition or Event

Viking funeral

Attend a Viking Funeral

A person, wearing a grey Saint Lawrence sweatshirt, holds a large wooden basket full of red apples.

Pick apples at a nearby orchard

Jill Breit converses with five Saint Lawrence University students at the Traditional Arts in Upstate New York Center in Canton, New York.

Make North Country Connections

Work alongside local organizers, advocates, artists, and educators as you gain hands-on experience during a local internship, volunteer opportunity, or community-based learning class. 

A group of students stand at a ledge overlooking Adirondack mountains and lakes.

Hike one of the Adirondack Peaks

A student skis down a rail on a snowy mountain.

Ski down Whiteface or Titus Mountain

In an art gallery, people hold their hands out in front of their faces while they discuss three pieces of artwork painted in yellow, coral, and blue.

Attend a Gallery Exhibit

A sweeping view overlooking the bow of a canoe and a river lined with trees on either side.

Kayak along the Grasse River

A tray of coffee ice cream in cones with small Saint Lawrence flags on top.

Taste your new favorite ice cream flavor at Stewart's Shops (led by a Laurentian!)

Four friends gather for a photo on a cloudy winter day in Lake Placid. Lake Placid is partially frozen in the background.

Take a North Country Road Trip

In a few short hours, you and your closest friends can take a day trip and explore all that the North Country and surrounding areas have to offer.

Student dancing on stage

Watch a Theatrical Performance

A member of TAUNY and a Saint Lawrence University student admire a wooden quilt created by a local artisan.

Art, Culture, and History

If you’re a history buff, music aficionado, and appreciate the arts, there are plenty of opportunities for you to attend a craft show, visit an art gallery, listen to live music, and tour historical monuments and spaces throughout the North Country.

Explore Local Art, Culture, and History

Four students and a professor walk on a main street, lined with shops, on a sunny day in Canton, New York.

Food and Dining

From farm-to-table restaurants to the famous Sergi’s pizza roll, late-night meals, and rise-and-shine breakfasts, the North Country offers plenty of dining options to satisfy all of your cravings and dietary needs. 

North Country Dining
People ice skating on a canal

Our Neighbor to the North

With Canada located just a hop, skip, and a bridge away from campus, you can wake up in Canton and be touring Canada’s capital and enjoying its cuisine in just 90 minutes. Explore national museums, attend celebrations and music festivals, or go on guided tours by bus, train, boat, helicopter, and more. 

Visit Ottawa Tourism