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Lake Placid is a small village in New York's Adirondack Mountains that has twice hosted the Winter Olympics, in 1932 and 1980. Despite that global profile, it remains a compact mountain town, set around Mirror Lake and close to the larger lake that shares its name. The surrounding High Peaks region is wild, forested country laced with trails, rivers and ponds.
Main Street curves along Mirror Lake, lined with shops and restaurants, and the Olympic Center houses the arena of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" hockey game along with the Lake Placid Olympic Museum. The ski jumps of the Olympic Jumping Complex rise at the edge of town, and the Mount Van Hoevenberg complex has bobsled and luge tracks plus cross-country trails. Whiteface Mountain offers skiing in winter and a scenic road in summer, while High Falls Gorge and Ausable Chasm show off the region's rushing water. History fans visit the John Brown Farm State Historic Site, and hikers climb Mount Jo for a short outing or Cascade Mountain for a classic High Peaks summit. Boat tours circle Lake Placid itself.
The village works for active travelers in every season, from skiing to summer hiking and paddling. Fall color peaks early here, and mud season in spring can close trails.
WiserMap travel guideLake Placid New York Olympic Venues and WhitefacePlan your Lake Placid trip: Olympic venues, Mirror Lake, Whiteface Mountain, High Peaks hikes, John Brown Farm, winter sports and the best times to visit.Read the guide
The arena complex on Main Street that hosted the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, including Herb Brooks Arena, home of the Miracle on Ice hockey game. The museum shows Olympic gear, medals and stories. Tip: public skating sessions are held on the rinks, and the oval outside too.
Two tall ski jumps built for the 1980 Olympics that still host training and international competitions. A chairlift and an elevator carry visitors to the top of the tower for views of the High Peaks. Tip: in summer, watch athletes jumping onto plastic-covered slopes and into a pool.
The home of the bobsled, luge and skeleton track and miles of cross-country ski trails. Visitors can ride a bobsled with a professional driver, and in summer there is a mountain coaster and hiking. Tip: bobsled rides depend on conditions, so check the schedule before you go.
Main Street runs along small Mirror Lake in the center of the village, with shops, restaurants and an Olympic feel. In summer you can rent kayaks or swim at the public beach, and in winter the lake freezes for skating. Tip: a walking path circles the lake, about 2.7 miles long.
The larger lake that gives the village its name, with islands and forested shores dotted with historic camps. Boat tours from the marina tell the story of the great camps and their owners, with Whiteface Mountain as a backdrop. Tip: the water is clear and cold, ideal for paddling.
The Tri-Lakes area links Lake Placid with the village of Saranac Lake, known for its Winter Carnival and ice palace, and Tupper Lake, home of the Wild Center nature museum. The lakes and rivers are popular for canoeing. Tip: the carnival is held each February.
The fifth-highest peak in New York, reached in summer by the Veterans Memorial Highway near its summit, with an elevator inside the mountain to the top. In winter it is a major ski resort that hosted the 1980 Olympic alpine events. Tip: the summit can be cold and windy, so bring a jacket.
Cascade is one of the easiest Adirondack High Peaks, with a busy trail of about 4.8 miles round trip to a bare summit with wide views. Mount Jo is a short hike near Heart Lake with a great view of the High Peaks. Tip: parking along the road is limited, so start early.
A private nature park on the road to Whiteface, where walkways and bridges follow the Ausable River as it pours over waterfalls through a granite gorge. In winter, the trails are open with ice cleats. Tip: it takes about an hour, and the trail is easier than many Adirondack hikes.
A deep sandstone gorge carved by the Ausable River, often called the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks. Trails and bridges follow the rim and the floor, and visitors can float through on tubes or rafts in summer. Tip: it is about an hour east of Lake Placid, a good stop on the way to Lake Champlain.
The farm and grave of abolitionist John Brown, who led the raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859. The small farmhouse is furnished as in his time, and trails cross the fields with views of the mountains. Tip: it lies just south of the village near the ski jumps, so combine the two.
A tall wooden toboggan chute next to Mirror Lake that sends riders down an icy run and out onto the frozen lake. It is a classic winter tradition in the village, operating when the lake ice is thick enough. Tip: it runs mainly on winter weekends and holidays, so check before going.
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