Trip Report
When trying to decide on a destination ski trip, there are countless factors to weigh when deciding what trip is right for you. Location, price, activities, accommodations, the ski resort itself, dining—the list goes on and on. For skiers and riders on the East Coast looking for a complete winter escape with great skiing, your options quickly narrow down to a point where most people begin to look out West for that picture-perfect ski holiday. Yet you only have to look as far west as the state of New York to get everything you could be dreaming of.
Enter Lake Placid. Situated in the heart of the 6-million-acre Adirondack State Park (making it larger than Vermont), the town of a mere 2,000 has been bringing tourists from around the world to the region for over 100 years. They’ve hosted two Winter Olympics, and since then, continued to maintain their Olympic facilities to bring people to the region for competition, recreation, entertainment, and relaxation.
This January, I got to explore the region for the first time in the winter, and it was a picture-perfect winter getaway that I thought the East Coast wasn’t capable of delivering.
Skiing & Riding
When it comes to skiing and riding, the Adirondacks offer two heavy-weight Northeast ski resorts to explore – Whiteface Mountain and Gore Mountain. Both owned and operated by the State of New York, these resorts are well-funded, with continued investments being made into lift infrastructure, snowmaking, lodges, and expansions that have kept these resorts wide-appealing. For as great as these resorts are, they avoid the typical pitfalls of overcrowding and overpricing that most ski resorts of this caliber circum to. This is in large part thanks to the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), who are owners and operators of both Whiteface and Gore Mountains, refraining from joining any multi-mountain passes such as the Ikon, Epic, or even Indy Passes.
Whiteface Mountain Quick Facts & History
- Date Opened: 1958
- Multi-Destination Pass: n/a
- Number of Trails: 94
- Skiable Acres: 334
- Vertical Drop: 3,166′ (lift-served), 3,430′ (hiking) – most on the East Coast
- Base Elevation: 1,220′
- Summit Elevation: 4,867′
- Average Annual Snowfall: 181″
- Terrain Breakdown:
- Beginner: 22%
- Intermediate: 32%
- Advanced: 25%
- Expert: 21%
- Number of Lifts: 12
- Night Skiing: no
- Ownership: State of New York
- Other Activities:
- Scenic gondola rides
Gore Mountain Quick Facts & History
- Date Opened: 1964
- Multi-Destination Pass: n/a
- Number of Trails: 115
- Skiable Acres: 453 (biggest in New York)
- Vertical Drop: 2,537′
- Base Elevation: 1,063′
- Summit Elevation: 3,600′
- Average Annual Snowfall: 125″
- Terrain Breakdown:
- Beginner: 11%
- Intermediate: 53%
- Advanced: 36%
- Number of Lifts: 14
- Night Skiing: Twilight Hours (North Creek Ski Bowl Only)
- Other Activities:
- Cross-Country Skiing
I spent three days skiing in the Adirondacks during my visit. One day at Gore Mountain, and two at Whiteface. For both mountains, I was worried about significant crowding during the MLK long weekend, yet never had to wait over 10 minutes for even the most popular lifts on both mountains. That in and of itself would have sold me on the two resorts.
Both mountains may appear somewhat similar on paper, yet the feel of each resort is incredibly distinct. Whiteface is typically the more well-known of the two resorts. There are a variety of reasons that this could be the case, including boasting the biggest vertical drop on the East Coast, hosting many of the most iconic Winter Olympic events, and featuring The Slides, arguably the most extreme in-bounds skiing on the East Coast.
Yet solely focusing on those aspects of the resort takes away from the true appeal for the average skier.
Whiteface has a striking balance between beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain, allowing all ski levels to experience and take in the breathtaking panoramic vistas of 4000′ peaks surrounding them. The recently redeveloped Bear Den base area allows beginner skiers to have a variety of beginner trails to explore. From there, intermediates can enjoy at least one trail off of every lift, including the summit, to experience the true size, scope, and views of Whiteface. Advanced skiers will be challenged by steep groomers off Little Whiteface while experts will be thrilled with The Slides alongside Sugar and Deer Valley Glades after there is enough natural snowfall to fill them in.
Even if you are not a skier, the Cloudsplitter Gondola offers scenic riders that take people up to the top of Little Whiteface, where great views of Lake Placid, East Lake, and the surrounding mountains can be enjoyed.
Gore Mountain is a sleeping giant that is overlooked by the majority of East Coast skiers. While weather conditions and lack of snowfall can often limit Gore’s full potential, when this resort is fully open it is an easier contender for one of the best resorts on the East Coast. It offers a well-designed beginner learning area, tucked to the side from the rest of the resort, giving it an approachable feel for people just learning how to ski. At the same time, like Whiteface, every lift at Gore offers at least one intermediate trail down, allowing most skiers to explore every part of the entire mountain. For experts, Gore really shines, being home to some of the steepest cut trails on the East Coast, most notably The Rumor. In addition, the Burnt Ridge Area offers some of the longest glades in the East that simply feel like they go on forever.
Entertainment & Events
I quickly realized that in Lake Placid, you are really only halfway through that day’s activities when you are done with skiing. The first day I awoke and opened the curtains of my hotel room at High Peaks Resort, I was delightfully surprised to see dog sled rides taking place only a couple hundred feet away on the frozen Mirror Lake.
While I was not expecting to ride on a dog sled for the first time in Lake Placid of all places, seeing it so close was too hard to resist. The huskies pull you around a short loop across the frozen lake, where you are treated to charming views of the town as a whole. Pro-tip: they only take cash (who does that nowadays?).
If you go to Lake Placid, you can’t see the place without walking down Main Street. This bustling street is the heart of the town, dotted with cozy restaurants, boutique hotels, local shops, and lively bars. Popping into stores and eyeing restaurants for future nights was a great way to get a sense of everything.
My personal highlight from walking Main Street was the Adirondack Popcorn store, where I was able to pick up a popcorn kernel variety pack that allowed me to sample and taste 12 different types of popcorn at home. At the same time, seeing all of the Christmas lights at night gave the town a whole other level of charm.
When I checked into my hotel at the start of the trip, the hotel receptionist asked what I was getting up to during my stay. When I responded with ‘I think I’m going to check out the FIS Aerials competition at the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex’ the receptionist gave the response ‘Oh, that’s definitely worth checking out. It gets pretty rowdy down there during events. It’s a really fun time.’
I was intrigued by his response given my initial impression that I was going to be attending a very niche sports competition. When Saturday night rolled around and I drove over to the Ski Jumping Complex, I almost missed the start time of the aerial finals because I had to park so far away. I was utterly blown away by the crowd that turned out for this event. The snow was coming down hard and the atmosphere was definitely rowdy, as the receptionist at the hotel had noted.
With the snow falling and the crowd cheering, watching skiers send triplefulls into the night sky was an experience like nothing I have ever seen. Whether it’s aerials or ski jumping, bobsled or hockey, if there is a big competition going on in town, it is probably an event worth attending, even if you otherwise would have never considered watching that sport, or barely know what it is.
In addition to skiing, there are plenty of other sports in the Lake Placid region to try. From over 50km of Nordic ski trails to ice climbing, bobsledding, curling, and snowshoeing, there are plenty of ways to exercise if skiing or snowboarding is not your thing. During my time in Lake Placid, I elected to skate on the Olympic Speed Skating Oval with its affordable prices and easy access in the center of town.
It must have been the biggest skating rink I have ever been on, and after circling a couple of laps of the oval, I quickly began to appreciate the speed at which Olympians do the same thing.
The Lake Placid Olympic Speed Skating Oval offers public skating and rentals from Thursday through Monday. | Credit: Liam Abbott
After spending some time out in the cold, the Lake Placid Olympic Museum directly across the street from skating was a great place to warm up. This small, thoughtfully put-together museum covers much more than the two Winter Olympics held in the region—it highlights the evolution of the Winter games, the sports it consists of, and where the future direction of the games is headed.
While skating on the Olympic Speed Skating Oval was a blast, a dream of mine was missed when on our return home when we saw skaters on frozen lakes. If only I brought my pair of skates instead of having to rent them I would have no doubt laced up to glide across a frozen lake, but at least I have saved something for next time.
Food & Drink
After walking around Lake Placid and getting a feel for the place, there was one name I overheard in multiple conversations–Lisa G’s. As the highest-rated restaurant in town according to Google, I was wise enough to make a highly-coveted reservation at this restaurant during the weekend. For such a beloved restaurant, the prices were incredibly reasonable and the Fajita Nachos were the best nachos I have ever had in my life. The vibes at Lisa G’s were exactly what we were looking for after settling in on our first night.
On both mornings, Origin Coffee Co. was our go-to pick to get the morning started. While order times on the weekend exceeded 15 minutes, its popularity was not overhyped, with the Sweater Weather Latte being a unique espresso-based drink that brought the feelings of exactly how the drink is named.
Accommodations
With no on-site accommodation at either Gore Mountain or Whiteface, staying in Lake Placid is your best bet for central access to everything you need. The town offers a variety of accommodations in terms of budget, from boutique hotels to budget-friendly picks and Airbnbs.
My previous visit to Lake Placid in the summer saw us fully embracing the outdoors by camping. In the winter, we did things differently and were treated to a warm, cozy room on the edge of the frozen Mirror Lake at High Peaks Resort. Throughout the day, you could see dog sleds being pulled around the lake, cross-country skiers cruising by, and people snowshoeing all around. The hotel had everything you would need including easy parking, multiple pools, a gym, and a restaurant.
What makes Lake Placid so unique is its ability to cater to anyone looking for a winter getaway. That could be a skier, nature lover, or simply someone looking for a new place to experience something new. Lake Placid is a one-stop-shop without the commercialization that is usually associated with that term.
As another 5 inches of snow fell and I left Lake Placid to return home, the thought I was left with most was when can I get back to Lake Placid? While I don’t have that answer yet, I hope it is soon.
For more information on Lake Placid, the region, and all of the activities and events they offer, check out their website here.
