I have just returned from my first trip to Ausable Chasm. I almost put this in the That Rocks! section but it rocked so much that I thought it deserved to be in the main section.

Ok so the background stuff…..”Ausable Chasm is as breathtaking now as it was 400 years ago when Samuel De Champlain first explored the Champlain Valley.  More than 10 million visitors have enjoyed the natural splendor of this Adirondack wonder which began its formation during the Cambrian age - 500 million years ago!”

Yes you read that correctly, it formed 500 million years ago! Exploring the Chasm is one of those surreal experiences where you spend most of the time trying to comprehend how this gorge actually formed and how long 500 million years ago really was. It really is a humbling experience.

There is a lot to do at the Chasm, including rafting, tubing, kayaking, hiking, etc. We chose to camp right there at the site, but there are many other camping options in the area as well as hotels. The campsites are pretty close together but decent and include firepits but not grillpits.

We took a lantern tour of the Chasm in the evening (something I highly recommend) which was incredible. There was a large group of us accompanied by 2 tour guides who were extremely knowledgeable about the Chasm and also a lot of fun. We chose to hike the Chasm during the day as well, to get the full effect and also to get some good daytime pictures. Seeing the Chasm during the day and then again at night during the lantern tour was pretty spectacular. It is hard to describe how breathtaking the views are, and the pictures simply do not do it justice.

The Chasm is pretty close to Canada (saw more Canadian plates than I did NY), and right down the road from Lake Champlain - another awesome site that is worth the trip. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there is a ferry that takes you to Burlington, VT from a dock at Lake Champlain. It is an hour ride and you can bring your vehicle along with you for an extra fee.

If you are even remotely into hiking/camping check out the Chasm and the surrounding area. It is not only fun but educational and a beautiful piece of history.