Things to do in Winters in Lake Placid, New York

Winter destinations are most popular when you are living on the east coast of the US. With snow all around it makes a beautiful destination like Lake Placid a true winter wonderland. Lake Placid is one of the most visited towns in the Adirondack region both during the summer and winter months. We visited Lake Placid last weekend to celebrate our 7th anniversary and honestly, we were very happy to choose it. Here are the things do to in winter in Lake Placid. From how to reach, where to stay, and what to do, we will be to covering it all in this travel guide to Lake Placid.

Where is Lake Placid?

Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondacks Mountains in Essex County, New York.

How to reach Lake Placid?

Located at a 5 hours drive from New York City and less than 3 hours from Albany, New York the best way to visit Lake Placid is by driving down here. The route is scenic through the Adirondack mountains providing some superb views of the snow-covered peaks. You can also take a flight to Lake Saranac which is the nearest airport to Lake Placid. 

Things to do in Lake Placid

Lake Placid is known for hosting the Winter Olympics games twice, once in 1932 and the second time in 1980. Also known as one of the most beautiful towns to be explored in the winter season, Lake Placid offers a wide range of activities to go for. Here are the things to do in Lake Placid in winter:

Winter sports on Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake is the main tourist attraction in Lake Placid. Although the town’s name is Lake Placid, the lake in this town is called mirror lake. This lake offers numerous activities in the winter season while it is frozen.

Ice Skating on mirror lake

While the mirror lake remains frozen, you can see people of all ages enjoying skating on the lake. There are no charges for skating on the lake and it is a treat to watch people skate on the frozen lake.

Enjoy the Dog Sled Tours

A well-known tradition in Lake Placid, when the mirror lake freezes up in winter, there are dog sled tours offered on the same. This is a fun ride of half a mile to 1 mile where you are taken around on a trip across the mirror lake by a bunch of dogs on a sled. The ride is very safe, and fun and is always accompanied by a trainer from the touring company. It’s worth it as a one-time experience.

Our recommendation: Thunder Mountain Dog Sled Tours
Address: 2403 Main St, Lake Placid, NY 12946 
Cost of the Tour: $20 per person for half a mile ride which takes approximately 5 mins.

Enjoy the ride on Toboggan Chute:

Experience the thrill when you ride down on the toboggan chute on the mirror lake. This is one enthralling experience and you will get to scream your hearts out as you ride down on this speed wave. The best part is that you don’t need any particular skills to enjoy this thrilling ride. As the toboggan chute ride is only open till 3 pm on Sundays and closed on Mondays, we couldn’t enjoy it this time. However, we definitely look forward to experiencing it the next time we visit Lake Placid.

Visit the Whiteface Mountains

Whiteface Mountains are one of the major attractions when visiting Lake Placid. Located in the town of Wilmington, New York at 15 minutes’ distance from Lake Placid this is one of the most popular destination for winter activities like Skiing and Snowboarding. The Whiteface Mountains are the highest peak on the east coast and offer beautiful views of the entire Adirondack Mountains from the top. 

The Cloudsplitter Gandola ride takes you from the base lodge and reception area of the Whiteface Mountains to the top in less than 10 minutes. The ride to the top of the mountain is scenic as you get to see the ski route, the snow-covered trees, and the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains in the safe gondola. Cost of Cloudsplitter Gandola: The gondola ride to the top and back is $25 per person. 
Although you can book tickets online, it is advised to call them to check if the gondola is operative during their business hours before booking the ticket on snow days. Sometimes the ride may be canceled due to bad weather conditions.

Visit the High Falls Gorge

Located very near to the Whiteface Mountains base camp, the High Falls Gorge is a beautiful park in Wilmington New York which offers a close look at 4 waterfalls within the park accompanied by easy trails. They require no hiking experience and can be easily done in a 30 mins walk with family and kids. 

This park offers scenic views of the whiteface mountains and the gorgeous waterfalls running through the facility. This can be enjoyed while being near the fireplace in their cafe and gift shop. The staff here is courteous and this is a really beautiful park that should not be missed for some amazing Instagram-worthy pictures when visiting Lake Placid.

Cost: Ticketed entry of $14 per person which includes admissions, spikes for the hike, and a choice of a hot beverage when you return from the trail.

Take a stroll on the Lake Placid Main street

The main street in Lake Placid looks like a quaint neighborhood with shops and restaurants on both sides of the street. There is also a theater on the main street which is operational five days in a week. You can definitely enjoy a stroll here next to the mirror lake and watch the sun go down in the evening. Post that you can head out to one of the nearby breweries to enjoy some authentic beer and drinks.

Where to eat in Lake Placid

Jimmy’s 21 located on the main street in Lake Placid is your go-to place if you are looking for a fine dining experience overlooking the mirror lake. Other eateries in Lake Placid include China City which is a Chinese restaurant offering decent food at a low price. There are other eating options like Subway which can be your easy-to-go place. The local breweries in the town of Lake Placid are a good option to spend your evenings. Lake Placid pub and brewery is one of the most visited places in the evening. The draft beer served there is good and their beer samplers are definitely worth trying.

The town of Wilmington near Lake Placid also has some good eating options. We went to the Pourman’s Taphouse which is one of the famous breweries in Wilmington one evening to enjoy the freshly brewed local beer and have some good appetizers. The other places to eat in Lake Placid are, The Breakfast Spot -recommended for breakfast, Bluesberry Bakery, and Liquid and Solids.

Places to stay in Lake Placid

Lake Placid is one of the most popular winter destinations on the east coast and has good stay options. From hotels to motels to Airbnbs, there are a plethora of options within a 20-mile range of Lake Placid. We chose to stay in an A-Frame by Juniper Hill in Wilmington near Lake Placid. 

As this was our anniversary trip, we wanted to make it special and experience something different. We have never stayed in an A-frame-style house before and we totally loved the experience we had at this A-frame by juniper hills.

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