6er Program (2014 LGAA)

Village of Saranac Lake
County: Franklin County
Population: 5,001 to 10,000
Village Hall: (518) 891-1541

The Saranac Lake 6er Program is an economic development / tourism destination enhancement using the community's natural resources. The challenge was created to help grow Saranac Lake as a tourism destination by leveraging one of the community's tremendous assets, namely, proximity to the Adirondack Wilderness. The goal is to get hikers to spend time in the Saranac Lake area and spend time and money at lodging, restaurant and retail businesses in the community.

The program is a hiking challenge created and managed by the Village of Saranac Lake that began in 2013. The challenge attracts hikers to six Adirondack mountain peaks encircling Saranac Lake: McKenzie Mt., Ampersand Mt., Scarface Mt., St. Regis Mt., Haystack Mt., and Mt. Baker. The membership of the Saranac Lake 6ers consists of hikers who have climbed to the summits of these 6 peaks on or after May 25, 2013. Hikers who climb all six peaks receive a patch and certificate and are entitled to ring the "6er bell" located in Berkeley Green in Downtown Saranac Lake. Hikers who complete all six peaks in 24 hours become 'Ultras 6er's' while those who complete all six peaks between December 21st and March 21st are 'Winter' 6er's."

The Saranac Lake 6er Challenge was specifically developed to draw to its downtown. Directions to each of the 6er peaks on the website and map, the 6er bell and trail register and all kickoff events start and end from Berkeley Green ensuring that dozens of hikers spend time in the community instead of just on the trail.

The licensing program where private businesses can produce and sell Saranac Lake 6er-themed products have attracted customers to several business. The program uses these licensing fees, an individual registration fee of $10 and village employee volunteers and volunteers from the community at large to administer the program at no cost to taxpayers.

The challenge requires an active partnership between NYS DEC, North Country Community College and the Village. The Village is also leveraging its existing marketing partnership with the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST). Using saranaclake.com, ROOST is marketing the challenge beyond the reach of the Village's efforts.