A solar eclipse in stages.

Now that the “Great American Eclipse” and all that solar hoopla is over, let’s turn our attention to the April 8, 2024, solar event: The Great Adirondack Eclipse.

On the afternoon of that early spring day, a total solar eclipse will be viewable from almost all of the Adirondacks and northern New York.

Draw a line from Plattsburgh to Watertown and you’ll have the path of totality.

So if you are in Saranac Lake, Lake Placid or hiking in the High Peaks that day, you’ll see it. Of course the path of totality also includes Burlington, Syracuse and a big swath of the central and southern United States as the eclipse track heads through Dallas and into Mexico. But in the interest of marketing, let’s ignore that.

Also in the interest of marketing, maybe we should ignore the fact that the eclipse is coming in April.

Yes, I wish we could reschedule this sun-moon tango August.

April is not the best month for the Adirondacks. Think cold, wet, mud. Early April is known for days in the 40s and nights that flirt with freezing. On the bright side, the black flies shouldn’t be out yet.

But if hundreds of thousands braved traffic jams and overpriced hotel rooms to see this year’s eclipse, maybe they’ll be ready to endure the Adirondacks in April.

So get ready to rent out your house or open that campground early. The eclipsers are coming, and you have less than seven years to get ready. 

The path of the April 8, 2024, eclipse where it passes through New York.