Free
Mirror Lake walk
A loop of about 2.7 miles around Mirror Lake, right behind Main Street, with a small public beach.
Adirondacks, New York
Lake Placid
An Adirondack village that hosted the Winter Olympics twice, ringed by High Peaks, lakes and some of the best short hikes in New York.
Photo: Mirror Lake and the village of Lake Placid, Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Main Street wraps around Mirror Lake, with Lake Placid itself just behind. The 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics left a ski jump, a bobsled track and the arena where the 'Miracle on Ice' was played.
The Adirondack High Peaks surround the village, but you don't have to climb a big one to feel on top of the world. Mount Jo and Cobble Lookout give huge views from short trails.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Cobble Lookout
A short, mostly flat trail to a rocky ledge with big views of Whiteface Mountain. Good for families.
Cheap
Mount Jo
A steep but short climb from Adirondak Loj to a summit view of the High Peaks and Heart Lake. The Loj charges for parking.
Paid
Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway
A toll road climbing to near the summit of Whiteface Mountain, with a castle and a short final climb or elevator.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Paid
High Falls Gorge
Walkways and bridges over a series of waterfalls on the Ausable River, near Whiteface.
Paid
Lake Placid boat tour
A narrated cruise on Lake Placid, past old Adirondack great camps.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
John Brown Farm State Historic Site
The farm and grave of the abolitionist John Brown, south of the village. The grounds are open to walk.
Paid
Olympic Center and Museum
The arena of the 1980 'Miracle on Ice', with the Lake Placid Olympic Museum inside.
Paid
Olympic Jumping Complex
The ski jump towers just outside the village, with an elevator to the top for the view.
Paid
Mt Van Hoevenberg
The Olympic bobsled, luge and skeleton track, plus cross-country trails. Bobsled rides are offered in season.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Bobsled ride at Mt Van Hoevenberg
Ride the Olympic track with a professional driver.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway Tickets
- High Falls Gorge Tickets
- Lake Placid boat tour Cruise
Part of our Adirondacks guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- A sunrise hike and the Whiteface summit drive are two different days.
- The Olympic sites, the lake and the gorge are too much for one visit.
- Saranac Lake and the High Peaks trailheads are close, so it makes an easy base for two or three nights.
Nearby and worth the drive
Saranac Lakeabout 15 min
A lakeside village, winter carnival and the Saranac Lake 6er hikes.
Ausable Chasmabout 40 min
A sandstone gorge with trails and rafting.
Ready-made trips with Lake Placid
Good to know
- Tourism: lakeplacid.com.
- Olympic venues: Lake Placid Legacy Sites.
- Border: About 2 hours from the Quebec crossing at Champlain. Bring a passport.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Mirror Lake and the village of Lake Placid, Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Whiteface Mountain, Adirondacks, Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: High Falls Gorge on the Ausable River, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
Photo: The John Brown Farm, Lake Placid, Adjoajo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: The Olympic ski jumps at Lake Placid, Mwanner, CC BY-SA 3.0