Norway offers space and scenery near the Adirondacks
On the edge of the vast Adirondack Park, Norway is a small town in Herkimer County known for its natural scenery. “It’s very rural. It has a lot of recreational opportunities. People just want to get out of the cities and the metro areas,” says Nick Polce, broker and owner of Gateway Properties of Upstate New York, who has over 30 years of experience. “I do business with a lot of people out of the city and Long Island that just don’t have enough room down there for these activities like ATVs.” The rural location and spacious properties allow homeowners to spread out and enjoy the landscape, while nearby public lands make it easy to access all the activities Upstate New York has to offer. With an average annual snowfall of around 76 inches, enjoying the outdoors is a year-round hobby.
Secluded homes in rural Upstate New York
Log cabins and ranch-style homes are the most common housing styles in Norway. Some vintage farmhouses exist in the community as well. Homes are often on large lots that range from 5 to 50 acres. The heavily forested area adds a secluded wilderness feeling to the properties. Most homes have private wells and septic systems. Prices typically range from $200,000 to $480,000. The town’s CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10 is lower than the national average of 4.
Adirondack Park access and ATV-friendly trails near town
Norway is on the edge of the expansive Adirondack Park, a six-million-acre natural area in Upstate New York that combines forest preserves and privately owned lands with conservation easements. Ferris Lake Wild Forest is a nearly 150,000-acre section of the park with year-round activity. The forest offers about 15 miles of hiking and almost 120 miles of snowmobile trails. It also has primitive campsites and multiple lakes for boating and fishing. “Snowmobiling, ATVs and those kinds of things are popular. The town is pretty much open to ATVs, which is a good thing,” Polce says. Upstate ATV is a riders’ club based in the area that develops and maintains trails in Norway and the surrounding towns. The town also has a small park with a baseball field, basketball court and playground.
Nearby cities provide access to major retailers and eateries
Norway has very little commercial activity; the General Store on Newport-Gray Road is one of the few businesses in town. The store sells convenience items and serves fresh food, including sandwiches and pizza. Residents have to drive to nearby cities for more shopping and dining options. “ Herkimer and Utica would be the closest cities for restaurants and stuff. There is some activity in Newport, which is 5, maybe 10 minutes away,” Polce says. Main Street Ristorante and Primitive Gift Shop is a casual café in Newport that also sells home goods and décor. Herkimer has a broad mix of locally owned restaurants, plus stores like Hannaford, Walmart and Lowe’s.
A short drive to West Canada Valley schools
West Canada Valley Elementary School gets a C-minus from Niche, while West Canada Valley Junior/Senior High School receives a C-plus. The schools are all in one building on state Route 28, about 5 miles away. High school students can take dual enrollment courses through the College Now program with Herkimer College. Students can also take career and technical education classes at the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES, including manufacturing, criminal justice and health science.
State highway link Norway to nearby communities
State Route 28 in nearby Newport is the closest highway to Norway. The road leads about 16 miles south to Herkimer, where it also connects to Interstate 90. The larger city of Utica is about 23 miles away via state Route 8. The closest hospital is in Little Falls , about 14 miles south of town.
![Matthew Atkins]()
Written By
Matthew Atkins
