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Adventuring With Friends

Must See Attractions For Epic Lake Placid Adventure

/ New York, North America, United States of America / By

Nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, Lake Placid not only has played host to two separate Winter Olympics, but also boasts some of the finest outdoor adventure in the Northeast! Most visitors access Lake Placid by private car. The main regional airports for out of towners include LaGuardia and JFK in New York City (about 5 hours), Albany International Airport (about 2 hours 10 mins), and Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (about 2 hours 20 mins). With two accessible and beautiful lakes, a chic yet rustic lakeside village, world renowned skiing at Whiteface Mountain, and endless hiking trails through the famed Adirondack High Peaks region, Lake Placid is truly an all-season destination. After numerous travels to the area with both family and friends, these are my must see attractions in Lake Placid to include on your next adventure

Indian Head and Rainbow Falls Trail

The Indian Head and Rainbow Falls Trail is my favorite hike in New York State! The nordic fjord style Indian Head lookout is the pinnacle of the hike and a photographer’s dream. All Trails considers the hike hard, however many find the distance and not the slope the greater challenge. The 10.8 mile loop typically takes about 5-6 hours to complete. You may however choose to stay at the summit longer when you see the view. I’d recommend bringing some food or your favorite beverage to enjoy at the lookout, as a reward for your efforts. A PARKING RESERVATION through the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR) is now required during peak season from May 1-October 31. The permit is FREE. You cannot park at OR hike this trail without a permit during peak season. Take route 73 out of Lake Placid and enter “St. Huberts parking area” or “Indian Head Trailhead” into google maps to locate the parking lot. The hike

begins with a dirt trail before becoming a paved road along the Ausable Club golf course. You will next come to an ornate wooden AMR gate and register with the forest ranger. Next, you will continue along a stream before starting a gradual beautifully wooded ascent to the summit. After summiting, I recommend hiking to Rainbow Falls as well before returning back to the parking area. You won’t regret this hike, especially if you go in autumn and catch the most amazing fall foliage! More detailed info here.

Village of Lake Placid

The historic village of Lake Placid serves as an ideal year round destination and is obviously a top Lake Placid attraction. During all seasons, the Main Street shopping district forms the focal point of the village. Patrons often spend hours perusing countless shops housing outdoor adventure gear, handmade crafts and furniture, fine art and jewelry, adirondack and olympic themed clothing, and much more! Assorted restaurants and lively bars also line Main Street and the surrounding vicinity. Personal favorites include Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, Smoke Signals, and Big Slide Brewery and Public House (located 5 minutes outside the village). Regarding lodging, Lake Placid boasts idyllic lakeside resorts, charming and cozy mountainside 

chalets, and innumerable Airbnbs to fit any style and budget. As the home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, unique attractions such as the Olympic Center/Museum, the Olympic Jumping Center, and the state of the art US Olympic Training Center are available for public access as well! During warmer months, visitors can enjoy the refreshing waters at Mirror Lake public beach or try their hand at the well maintained public tennis courts. For those looking to explore the waterways (which is a MUST DO), different rental options for both Mirror Lake and Lake Placid are available. Visitors can also feel free to bring their own watercraft or my personal favorite, stand up paddle board!

Olympic Center in Village of Lake Placid: Lake Placid Attraction
Mirror Lake: Lake Placid Attraction

Drive to the Top of Whiteface Mountain

Rising greater than 2,300ft over the course of 5 miles, the drive to the top of Whiteface Mountain along Whiteface Memorial Highway is the most accessible way to enjoy the grandeur of the high peaks. As the 5th highest mountain in NYS at 4,867ft, the summit of Whiteface offers unparalleled views of Lake Placid, the Adirondack landscape, and even distant Vermont and Canada! The ascent contains many scenic parking areas and even spots to pull off and hike. We even saw some insane humans riding their bikes as well! The summit is awesome and boasts a stone castle, restaurant/shop with elevator, and spectacular 360° views. Although the drive down will certainly test your braking system, this is a must do experience, particularly if you’re not planning on hiking the peaks themselves. Note that this drive is not free and you should check the seasonal rate prior to your journey 

Ausable Chasm

Coined “The Grand Canyon of the Adironacks,” Ausable Chasm is an elite adventure destination located 50 minutes from Lake Placid. This Lake Placid attraction centers around a gorge carved out of sandstone by the powerful Ausable River. Open to the public since 1870, Ausable Chasm is one of the oldest natural tourist attractions in the US. Activities include river rafting tours, rappelling, rock climbing, hiking, and a Via Ferrata ropes course! They now offer night lantern tours of the gorge as well. Camping and cabin accommodations are available with “stay and play” discounts. I also have a pro tip for thirsty travelers. Located in a renovated 19th century barn, Ausable Brewing Company is only 5 minutes away and is an excellent option for post adventure brews!

Cascade Mountain: Lake Placid Attraction

Hike Cascade Mountain

Bias alert! I got engaged on Cascade Mountain and thus my fiance and I have Cascade Mountain art and photos scattered throughout our home. Regardless, this hike is widely touted as a great introduction to high peak Adirondack hiking. Located just a scenic 10 minute drive east of Lake Placid Village, the Cascade Mountain trail is a very popular 4.4 mile out and back relatively steep hike with a rewarding view from the 4,098 foot summit. The hike is considered to be relatively short compared to other high peaks and takes approximately 3 hours. For this reason, many people choose to add on an extra 1.2 total miles via a fork in the trail near the summit to also include the adjacent Porter Mountain summit (4,059 feet). Near the shared Cascade Mountain and Porter 

Mountain trailhead, sit the scenic Upper and Lower Cascade Lakes. The Cascade Lakes day use parking area provides an excellent backdrop for some food or brews after your hike and also offers access via a 0.3 mile hike to Cascade Falls.

Port Kent Ferry to Burlington VT

Lake Placid and the surrounding region offer innumerable outdoor activities and attractions. For those interested in a more urban adventure experience, taking the ferry from Port Kent to Burlington is a must do! Located approximately 1 hour east of Lake Placid, Port Kent offers a scenic 1 hour and 10 min ferry service across Lake Champlain to the bustling city of Burlington. The ferry transports both pedestrians ($8) and vehicles ($30) for reasonable rates. Burlington attracts visitors with a diverse offering of attractions including art galleries and museums, nearby ski resorts (Stowe Mountain) and the pedestrian only red brick Church Street Marketplace. Unfortunately at the time of posting, this ferry is currently closed secondary to covid. Hopefully ferry traffic across Lake Champlain will resume again soon. And who knows, you may even see the fabled Lake Champlain monster, “Champ.”

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