New York · the United States

Lake Placid and the Adirondacks

Lake Placid, a village in the Adirondack Mountains that hosted the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, with ski jumps and ramps open to visitors, lakes, trails and skiing on Whiteface.

New York and New Jersey

In the photo: Lake Placid and the Adirondacks seen from McKenzie Mountain

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Adirondack Mountains occupy the northern part of New York State, within Adirondack Park, the largest protected area in the United States outside Alaska, covering about 24,000 km² of forests, lakes, rivers and villages. The park mixes public and private lands, and in the High Peaks region are the 46 mountains traditionally counted as above 1,200 meters.

Lake Placid is the best-known village in the region. It hosted the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980, and is one of the few towns in the world to host them twice. In 1980, the U.S. hockey team, made up of college players, beat the Soviet Union in the game that became known as the Miracle on Ice, in the arena downtown.

The Olympic facilities are still used for training and competitions and are open to visitors: the Olympic Center with its museum, the ski jumping ramps, the bobsled tracks at Mt. Van Hoevenberg and the Whiteface ski area, the mountain with the greatest vertical drop for skiing in the eastern U.S. The village sits on the shore of Mirror Lake, and the larger Lake Placid lies just to the north.

In summer and autumn the region is popular for hiking, canoeing and leaf-peeping; in winter for skiing, skating and sled racing.

This destination brings together 1 city: Lake Placid.

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Where Lake Placid and the Adirondacks is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Lake Placid and the Adirondacks

✈ Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK), in Saranac Lake · 25 km to Lake Placid

✈ Albany International Airport (ALB), in Albany · 215 km to Lake Placid

The Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK), in Saranac Lake, is about 25 km away and has few flights; Albany (ALB) is about 215 km away, and Montreal, in Canada, about 180 km. The New York–Montreal train stops at Westport, about 65 km away.

New York · Lake Placid and the Adirondacks

Lake Placid

A village in the Adirondack Mountains on the shore of Mirror Lake, host of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Main Street has shops, restaurants and the Olympic Center, with the arena of the Miracle on Ice and the Olympic museum. Nearby are the ski jumping ramps, the bobsled tracks at Mt. Van Hoevenberg and Whiteface, with a road nearly to the summit and a ski area. Trails climb into the High Peaks.

The local experience

Things to do in Lake Placid and the Adirondacks

Lake Placid · New York · Sports complex

Lake Placid Olympic Center

The ice arenas from the 1932 and 1980 Olympics on Main Street, site of the Miracle on Ice, with Lake Placid’s Olympic museum and the outdoor speed-skating oval out front.

Lake Placid · New York · Sports complex

Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Complex

The ski jump towers from the 1980 Olympics, with landing hills around 100 and 128 meters, where a gondola and a glass elevator take visitors to the top of the larger tower for views of the High Peaks.

Lake Placid · New York · Mountain

Whiteface Mountain

1,483‑meter mountain, the fifth‑highest in the Adirondacks, with an 8‑km scenic road that ends at a stone castle and an elevator carved into the rock up to the summit. On the other slope is the 1980 Olympic ski area.

Lake Placid · New York · Lake

Mirror Lake

Small lake on the edge of downtown Lake Placid, with no motorboats, a roughly 4‑km path around it, a public beach in summer and, in winter, public skating and an ice toboggan that slides across the frozen lake.

See 1 more place in Lake Placid and the Adirondacks

Lake Placid · New York · Sports complex

Mount Van Hoevenberg

Olympic sliding- and cross-country-ski sports complex, with the 1932 and 1980 bobsled tracks, winter bobsled rides with pilots and an alpine coaster that runs beside the tracks.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Summer, from July to August, has days from 20 °C to 26 °C, good for hikes and lake activities. Peak fall colors are usually from late September to early October, later than in the southern part of the state. From December to March there is snow and skiing, with temperatures often dropping below −15 °C. April and May are thaw months with muddy trails.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days allow time to see the Olympic facilities, climb Whiteface and walk around Mirror Lake. For High Peaks hikes or skiing, four to six days.

Which city to stay in

Lake Placid’s Main Street, on the shore of Mirror Lake, concentrates hotels, inns and restaurants, within walking distance of the Olympic Center. Along Route 86, toward Whiteface, are larger hotels and cabins. Saranac Lake, about 15 km away, has lower prices and is close to the airport. Wilmington lies at the foot of Whiteface.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Lake Placid and the Adirondacks

How many days should you allow for Lake Placid?

Three days for the Olympic facilities, Whiteface and Mirror Lake. If you want to hike the High Peaks or ski, four to six days is good.

Do you need a car in Lake Placid?

Yes, in practice. The village is walkable, but Whiteface, Mt. Van Hoevenberg and the trailheads are several kilometers away, and public transport between them is limited. In winter, bring tires suitable for snow. In the United States, you drive on the right.

How do you get to Lake Placid from New York City?

By car, about five hours. By train, the New York–Montreal line stops at Westport, about 65 km away, and you need a taxi or arranged transport from there. There are also flights to Saranac Lake, with limited schedules.

What is the best time to go to Lake Placid?

It depends on your plans: summer for hiking and lakes, late September and early October for fall colors, and December through March for skiing and snow sports.

What time zone is Lake Placid in?

Eastern Time: UTC−5 in winter and UTC−4 in daylight saving time, from March to November.

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Lake Placid and the Adirondacks

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip