Visiting a summer waterpark in New York is always a lot of fun, but during those hot summer days, it doesn't always work to beat the heat! The crowds are out in full force and the sun is beating down on the concrete and plastic. That's why when that summer heat gets to be too much, many adventurous types prefer to instead head off the beaten path and discover a natural adventure. We found exactly that at Lake George Wild Forest, a sprawling destination with over 40 individual rustic trails and some of the region's most beautiful sights. But we were the most surprised to find out that it was home to what might be the only natural waterslide in New York! This is Bear Slide Trail, a simple hike not far off the beaten path that allows you to get your feet wet and take a wet-and-wild adventure down a flowing path, far away from the area's busiest tourist destinations!

Lake George Wild Forest is a choose-your-own-adventure of a park, with almost fifty trails leading to stunning mountaintops...

And peaceful waterfronts. But there's one hidden gem of a trail that most people don't know about.

The Bear Slide Trail is a fairly short, easy-to-access trail that follows a racing brook. Some of the brook is rocky...

But at a certain point, it smoothes out while still flowing downhill. After heavy rain, it'll be a rushing river that you can simply sit down in...and let it sweep you away!

Your final destination is a small waterfall with a shallow pool at the end, the perfect cool finish to this natural waterslide!

You can even camp on the ground, with 63 primitive camping sites available around the forest. It's the perfect rustic adventure for summer.

Have you taken the often-wild ride on the Bear Slide in Lake George Wild Forest? Let us know what you think of this unique natural waterslide in New York in the comments section! To learn more about this massive natural destination, check out the Lake George Wild Forest page on the NY website. There is so much hiking to do in this area, with many of the trails being challenging, so we recommend a subscription to AllTrails + - this is the kind of destination this app was made for, letting you stay connected with downloadable trail guides no matter how remote your hike is. And if you're in the mood for a different kind of local adventure, Six Flags Great Escape just opened a new and thrilling wooden roller coaster!