You’ll Never Guess What’s Hiding Off Route 8 in the Adirondacks

Roadside Oddities in Upstate New York

If you take a road trip through Upstate New York, you never know what you'll see. Especially up in the Adirondacks, where, at any time, you might spot a black bear, bald eagle, or perhaps even a moose. But no one who lives or travels in the Adirondacks would ever claim that they've seen an elephant unless you're traveling on NYS Route 8 near Brant Lake.

The "Elephant Rock" images were posted on the Adirondack Aerial & Ground Imagery Showcase Page, and I found them pretty interesting. So I did a little digging, and here's what I learned.

Elephant Rock, ADKS New York Photo: Adirondack Aerial & Ground Imagery Showcase Page

Origin of Elephant Rock

Elephant Rock is a natural rock formation that resembles an elephant. According to local folklore, "sometime around 1980, Hague-ite Michael Coffin playfully painted eyes, tusks, and a trunk on a large rock beside Route 8. The result was a cartoon elephant head that has been a friendly landmark ever since."

Photo: Adirondack Aerial & Ground Imagery Showcase Page

Where is it located?

The photographer shared exact coordinates for anyone who wants to check it out, it's roughly an hour and a half north of Albany. He explained that he was driving up NYS Route 8 on Graphite Mountain from Ticonderoga toward Brant Lake when he decided to stop and capture the roadside oddity again, since it was right along his route.

Photo: Google Maps

Photo: Adirondack Aerial & Ground Imagery Showcase Page

Odd Noises, Humanlike Footprints - A Bigfoot Sighting in Upstate NY?

A man in NY claims that he'd been hearing weird noises and seeing suspicious things in the woods for months, so he investigated. Bigfoot believers are intrigued after seeing his photos.

Gallery Credit: Brian Cody TSM Albany

30 Interesting Facts About the ADKs You Probably Didn't Know!

From its awe-inspiring high peaks and crystal clear lake, ponds, and streams to its stunning wildlife, our mountains are second to none. And as you'll find, there's no shortage of interesting facts about figures about the mighty ADKs - here are 30 fascinating ones you may not have known!

Gallery Credit: Brian Cody TSM Albany

Latest Viral TikTok Trend Takes Funny Look at Life in the Adirondacks

We recently came across a viral video that took a lighthearted and fun approach to "Life in the ADKS." It's been circulating for weeks and we think it's worth sharing!

Is life in the Adirondacks all that different from life in say, Albany, Schenectady, or Saratoga Springs? We say, "Yes!"

Even though most cities in the Capital Region are less than an hour away, anyone who's spent a decent amount of time in the North Country knows that certain conveniences that many might take for granted, don't exist throughout the 5,000 square miles of dense forest and high peaks that comprise the mighty ADKS.

So whether you're from Halfmoon or Hague; from Troy or Ticonderoga, you should be able to relate to a viral video that takes a humorous and poignant approach to "Life in the Adirondacks."

Here are a few of our favorites - and you can check out the full video below.

Gallery Credit: Brian Cody TSM Albany

Source: Roadside Weirdness: The Story Behind Upstate NY’s Elephant Rock