Where to play pickleball in the Lake Champlain Region

Pickleball is currently having a moment across the nation, including this vast slice of the Adirondacks! Although we're known for our rolling hills, adorable cows, and epic views of the lake, the Lake Champlain Region is quickly becoming a hub for pickleball fans. Or is it pickleballers? We'll workshop the name later. 

A more accessible (and relaxing) way to recreate, think tennis but with wooden paddles, trade tennis balls for wiffle balls, and cut the court in half. Voila! You have pickleball. The Lake Champlain Region is populated with pickleball courts, letting you choose how you'd like to play. Here, you can play indoors or out, competing among stunning scenery and farmland, or inside when the weather isn’t behaving. It’s a big region primed for pickleball fans, see where you’ll pick up your next game!

Pickleball at the Essex Inn

An inn with 200 years-worth of local heritage and charm is constantly innovating, with the addition of pickleball to their amenities! The Essex Inn is home to six pickleball courts, one of which is indoors, perfect for a session on rainy days or even in the snowier months. Two miles north of the Inn lies the newly-built, state-of-the art, private indoor pickleball court. While the indoor court requires advance registration at the cost of $75 an hour, the five outdoor courts are free!

The facility also offers lessons and clinics from the Inn’s pickleball director Tom Lambert, offered to beginner and intermediate players. This is a great way to hone your skills and elevate your game, coming back from your vacation a certified pro! As with most courts, tennis or pickleball shoes are required, dark-soled running or hiking shoes are not allowed.

Fitness Loco 

Fitness Loco is Willsboro’s hub for unique fitness and class opportunities. When you’re not taking advantage of the bungee fitness classes (you’ll be delighted to learn what that is), their facility is home to an indoor pickleball court. Featuring a pro-surface, cushioned indoor court, Fitness Loco provides everything you need for your pickleball journey. 

Private lessons and coached-play lessons with in-house tenured coaches are available, with classes focusing on fundamentals, footwork, strategies, and more. Coached-play is the perfect opportunity to get real-time feedback to your play style, and elevate your game quickly. Private lessons are available as requested, focusing on the areas you’re looking to improve. The indoor court offers year-round play and provides the equipment you need, so you’ll never be off your game.

Photo courtesy of Fitness Loco's Facebook page. 

A new addition to local parks

Bicentennial Park Courts

Looking to play surrounded by waterfall views and slices of our nation's history? Head over to the courts in Ticonderoga's Bicentennial Park! This park packs a punch, featuring picnic areas, riverfront trails, ball fields, lighted walking paths, tennis courts, a small boat launch to access the La Chute River, and now two pickleball courts! At the entrance, you’re welcomed by the Ticonderoga Heritage Museum, followed by the La Chute Falls where parking is available. Following the flow of the river will lead you to two pickleball courts, where you’ll play in the heart of the park. When you’re finished, head over to Paper & Pencil, Ticonderoga’s resident wine bar, and dig into their apps and drink menu while you recap your gameplay. 

Elizabethtown Social Center

Note that these courts are currently closed, check Elizabethtown Social Center's website for updates!

The Elizabethtown Social Center is now home to pickleball courts, where players can come together and play among their outdoor facilities. There are teen rec and adult options for playing, as well as a Facebook group specifically for pickleball and tennis players looking for playing partners and meeting times! When you’re not on the court, the Social Center also features a basketball court with adjustable rims, a gaga ball pit, four square, a badminton court, a playground with outdoor exercise equipment, and a futsal (court soccer) field with a rebound board! 

Join their Facebook group "Social Center Pickleball and Tennis" to arrange meeting times or find playing partners. 

Photo Courtesy of Elizabethtown Social Center's Facebook page. 

Willsboro

Florence Hathaway Park in Willsboro has a lovely new addition in the form of five pickleball courts! The grounds are already home to a youth trail, community garden, and tennis courts, making the setting relaxing and convivial for your next game. The park is also anticipating major upgrades in addition to pickleball, with plans to revamp the space with a brand new playground and walking track, an all-season pavilion, and a relocation of the skating rink currently in Foley Park! Needless to say, you’ll be able to bring in the whole family for your next match. 

Moriah

In Moriah, three outdoor pickleball courts are available to play on, just down the road from the center of town. The courts in Moriah are open everyday from 8 a.m. to sundown, sharing a recreational space with the town tennis courts. Great for a quick game or a day’s worth of competition, you’ll be able to practice in peace on a quiet road. When you’re done, take a stroll down to 622 Eatery for pub fare or a hearty burrito to get your strength back. 

Get out and play!

The Lake Champlain Region has enthusiastically adopted pickleball as a popular sport, and its local courts urge you to get in on the fun! From lessons and organized games to simply volleying on a sunny day in the countryside, you’ll find plenty of ways to play across the region.