Lake Placid is a small village in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York with an outsized place in sporting history.
AT A GLANCE
Best time
Summer and early fall for hiking and paddling; January to March for snow sports.
How long
Three days for the village and Olympic sites; add days for High Peaks hikes.
Getting there
About five hours by car from New York City and two and a half from Montreal; the nearest regular flights land at Adirondack Regional Airport in Saranac Lake.
Why visit Lake Placid
Few places combine Olympic heritage and wilderness so closely. You can watch athletes train on ski jumps in the morning, stand on the ice where the American team beat the Soviet Union in the 1980 Miracle on Ice, and be on a mountain summit by the afternoon.
Lake Placid also sits at the doorway to the Adirondack High Peaks, a cluster of forty-six summits traditionally counted as rising above four thousand feet.
The village and the Olympic venues
Mirror Lake and Main Street
Despite its name, the village of Lake Placid sits mainly on the shore of Mirror Lake, a small lake where motorboats are not allowed. In summer you can paddle a canoe or kayak, swim from the public beach and walk the path that loops around the shore, about three miles long.
Olympic Center and Lake Placid Olympic Museum
The Olympic Center on Main Street includes the arena where the 1980 Miracle on Ice game was played, the older rink from 1932 and, outside, the speed skating oval where Eric Heiden won five gold medals in 1980.
Olympic Jumping Complex
Just outside the village, two towering ski jumps built for the 1980 Games were modernized in 2021 and are used for World Cup competitions. A glass elevator and chairlift take you up toward the top of the larger jump, where an observation deck overlooks the John Brown Farm and the High Peaks.
Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex
A few miles south of the village, Mount Van Hoevenberg is home to the bobsled, luge and skeleton track first built for the 1932 Olympics, along with an extensive network of cross-country ski and biathlon trails.
Mountains, gorges and history beyond the village
Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface Mountain, near Wilmington, hosted the alpine skiing events of the 1980 Olympics and remains the region's main ski resort, with one of the largest vertical drops in the East.
High Falls Gorge
Along the road toward Wilmington, High Falls Gorge is a privately run attraction where walkways and bridges lead you over a series of waterfalls on the West Branch of the Ausable River. The paths are short and suit families and visitors who want waterfall views without a long hike.
John Brown Farm State Historic Site
Abolitionist John Brown bought land near Lake Placid to support a settlement of free Black farmers, and after his execution following the 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, he was buried at his farm here. The state historic site preserves his farmhouse, his grave and walking trails across the fields, with views of the ski jumps and the mountains.
Cascade Mountain and Mount Jo
Cascade Mountain, on the road between Lake Placid and Keene, is one of the most popular High Peaks hikes because its trail is relatively short, about 2.4 miles each way, yet it ends on a bare rock summit with superb views. Expect a steady, rocky climb and allow four to five hours round trip.
Ausable Chasm
About an hour's drive east toward Lake Champlain, Ausable Chasm is a deep sandstone gorge carved by the Ausable River. Walking trails follow the rim and descend to the river, and in summer you can float through part of the chasm on a raft or tube.
Lakes, paddling and the Tri-Lakes area
Lake Placid, the lake
The larger lake that gives the village its name lies just north of Mirror Lake, with three islands and shores dotted with old camps. Scenic boat tours run from the village in summer, and you can rent canoes, kayaks or paddleboards to explore its quiet bays.
Saranac Lake and the Tri-Lakes
A short drive west, the village of Saranac Lake was once a famous cure town for tuberculosis patients, and today it has a lively downtown, historic cure cottages and access to the Saranac chain of lakes for multi-day paddling trips.
Food and local flavors
Adirondack food is hearty and built for people coming off the trail.
Main Street has the greatest concentration of restaurants and bakeries, many with views over Mirror Lake, and Saranac Avenue on the way out of town has more casual and local options.
Popular dishes to try in Lake Placid
Where to stay
Staying in the village along Main Street or Mirror Lake Drive puts you within walking distance of restaurants, the Olympic Center and the lake, which suits first-time visitors and families.
Hikers often prefer Keene and Keene Valley, small villages closer to many High Peaks trailheads, or the lodge and campground at Heart Lake. Saranac Lake is a good alternative for paddlers and anyone looking for a more local atmosphere.
Where to stay in Lake Placid
Best time to visit
July and August bring warm days, cool nights and the full range of summer activities, along with the busiest trailheads and sometimes biting insects in early summer.
Winter, from December through March, is long and cold, with reliable snow for skiing at Whiteface, cross-country skiing at Mount Van Hoevenberg and ice climbing in the surrounding cliffs.
Getting there and getting around
Most visitors drive. From Interstate 87, the Adirondack Northway, take Route 9N and Route 73 through Keene into the village; the trip is about five hours from New York City and two and a half hours from Montreal.
The village center is walkable, and a seasonal trolley runs along Main Street, but you will need a car to reach trailheads, Whiteface and the surrounding villages.
A suggested itinerary
First day
Start with a walk around Mirror Lake, then visit the Olympic Center and the Lake Placid Olympic Museum.
Second day
Set off early for a hike up Cascade Mountain or Mount Jo, and spend a relaxed afternoon at High Falls Gorge.
Third day
Spend the morning at Mount Van Hoevenberg for the bobsled track or mountain coaster, then drive to Saranac Lake for lunch and a stroll.
Practical tips
- Start popular hikes early in the day, and have a backup trail ready if the trailhead lot is full.
- Carry a map, headlamp, rain gear, warm layers, food and plenty of water; weather on the summits changes quickly.
- Overnight campers in the Eastern High Peaks must store food in bear-resistant canisters during the warmer months.
- Follow Leave No Trace principles and stay on durable surfaces, especially on fragile alpine summits.
- Check the official websites for current hours and fees at Olympic venues, which may close for athlete training or events.
- Cell service is patchy outside the village, so download offline maps before you leave.
Find local businesses in Lake Placid on WiserMap
From outfitters and guide services to bakeries and lakeside restaurants, find local businesses in Lake Placid and the surrounding Adirondack villages before your trip.
