20 Exciting Things to Enjoy Winter in Lake Placid
To be honest, winter in Lake Placid is absolutely spectacular. From the several times, we visited this charming town in different seasons, we liked the winter the best. The fourth season transforms this cute Adirondack town into your own snowy outdoor activities playground.
No wonder Lake Placid in winter has been a top winter destination for tourists and locals alike since the 1800s. Its rich history of being 1 of 3 Olympic sites that have held 2 Olympic Games, and the first winter resort in the USA, offers many winter activities which will keep you easily busy for a week.
In the heart of the town, frozen Mirror Lake, you can choose from some classic adventures, like ice skating, to more unusual fun winter activities, like sledding down in a Toboggan. Find your favorite winter activity in Lake Placid right here!
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Our Top 20 Things to Do in Lake Placid in the Winter
Winter in Lake Placid: Outdoor Activities
If you love the snow, don’t mind a little chill, and can’t get enough of the outdoors, then visiting Lake Placid in the winter is for you. Check out these outdoor Lake Placid winter activities for your visit.
1. Hit the Slopes at Whiteface Mountain
Grab your skis or snowboard and hit the slopes at Whiteface Mountain, one of the top mountains in the country. Whiteface Mountain is even home to the best vertical slopes on this side of the Rockies. You will find a variety of 90 different trails over 3 peaks consisting of 25 miles for your riding enjoyment.
This is a great mountain for all levels from beginners to advanced. Find the trail that is right for you and enjoy your ride. If you are looking for a challenge, try the double black diamond with the highest vertical drop at 3,430 feet.
Top Tip: Even when you are not a skier or snowboarder, you can still enjoy the beauty of Whiteface Mountain. Head to #12 to find out how to reach one of the summits at Whiteface.
2. Enjoy the Views while Cross Country Skiing
Don’t enjoy the thrill of drastic vertical drops? Then hop on one of the many groomed cross-country skiing trails in the area. Popular places to go cross country skiing are the Olympic Center at Mt. Van Hoevenberg and the Cascade X-C Ski Center.
The Olympic Center at Mount Van Hoevenberg has roughly 35 miles of fantastic cross-country skiing trails that will leave you in awe of the beauty of the Adirondacks. These trails may even bring out your inner Olympian as you coast on the same trails as former Olympic athletes.
Cascade X-C Ski Center is another great option for cross-country skiing. Here you will find about 12 miles of groomed trails that connect to the nearby trail system at Mt Van Hoevenberg, as well as the Jack Rabbit Trail to Saranac Lake.
Don’t own your own skis? You can rent cross-country skis for your Lake Placid in winter vacation.
3. Enjoy Winter Hiking
With an abundance of Adirondack hiking trails, it is no wonder that people still enjoy hiking during the winter months. Experience the trails with trees covered in glistening snow for perfect solitude.
One of the most popular trails in Lake Placid is in the High Falls Gorge. Unfortunately, the privately owned park was closed due to Covid-19 when we visited Lake Placid in the winter but we’ve heard amazing things about it. On a quick 30 minutes walk, you can tour some of the oldest rocks in the world, natural potholes, and gorgeous ice formations along the rocks. To visit, you have to pay a $13 entry fee (for adults).
Top Tip: The beauty does come at a price with subzero temperatures and possibly strong winds. If you plan on tackling winter hiking in the Adirondacks, make sure you are dressed appropriately.
4. Strap on Your Snowshoes
Snowshoeing in the winter in Lake Placid is a fun-filled activity that does not require much skill and just a little equipment. Lake Placid and the surrounding Adirondack area are filled with numerous groomed and ungroomed snowshoeing trails ranging from easy to strenuous.
Top Tip: One of our all-time favorite places to go snowshoeing is Cascade Mountain. To see the white powdered trees from a bird’s-eye view is purely magical.
Snowshoeing is one of the best ways to enjoy the charming Adirondack winter scenery. This activity really allows you to take in the views, and feel the atmosphere of the winter in Lake Placid.
Don’t have your own snowshoes? Rent a pair for your Lake Placid vacation.
5. Go Snow Tubing
Lake Placid in the winter means it is time to head for the hills to go snow tubing. Stay close to town at the family-friendly Kiwanis Teddy Bear Park or venture out to Mt. Pisgah Recreation Center Tubing Hill at Saranac lake. Here you don’t have to worry about getting tired climbing up the hills, again and again, a rope will tow you right to the top to race down against your friends or family members.
This is a perfect winter activity for the whole family to enjoy.
6. Ride on a Toboggan Sled
One of the locals and tourists’ favorite activities in Lake Placid in the winter is riding the Toboggan Chute, located on Mirror Lake. Make sure not to miss this thrilling adventure when you race down on a 30-foot icy chute onto the frozen lake.
The admission for the Toboggan Chute is $15 per adult and $10 for students. Once you paid, you get a toboggan sled and can enjoy as many rides as you want. Be sure to bring cash and plenty of time, since you should expect long lines. We would also highly recommend wearing durable and warm pants if you plan on partaking in this activity.
Like other Lake Placid winter activities, the Toboggan Chute opening season is forever changing depending on the weather conditions for the year. Be sure to check beforehand.
7. Find a Hill and Go Sledding
We’ve already mentioned that Lake Placid is filled with perfect hills for thrilling adventures. If you want to save some bucks while enjoying sliding down a hill, then sledding will be your best bet. Grab your sled from home or purchase one on Main Street, head to a hill, and have fun.
You can find the best sledding hills at the various parks in the area (for example Kiwanis Teddy Bear Park).
8. Grab a Pair of Skates and Go Ice Skating
Enjoy good old fashion ice skating around Lake Placid in the winter. For an all-natural experience, try ice skating on the frozen, ungroomed Mirror Lake in the heart of Lake Placid. There are specific sections of Mirror Lake that are cleared for ice skating but the layer of ice might be a little rough, which can cause some tricky challenges when you are not comfortable on skates.
Do keep in mind ice skating at the Olympic Oval costs money, while skating at Mirror Lake is free. You will need your own skates to ice skate on Mirror Lake though.
9. Join in on a Hockey Game
You can almost bet that there is a hockey game going on on Mirror Lake when you visit Lake Placid in winter. Whether you are an experienced ice hockey player or a newbie, you will have the chance to join in on a pickup hockey game on the lake.
Not interested in playing? Grab a treat or hot drink from a shop on Main Street and sit on the sidelines to watch the game.
10. Throw in a Line and Go Ice Fishing
You are a huge fishing enthusiast? Then don’t let the ice stop you. Grab your fishing pole and head to Copperas Pond which is the closest place to Lake Placid to go ice fishing. As you wait for a fish to grab hold of your line, take in the sheer beauty of the Adirondacks around you.
Never ice fished before? Book a guided ice fishing trip for the whole family to enjoy.
11. Tour Olympic Complexes
Did you know that Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics not just once but twice in 1932 and 1980? Learn more about the various winter Olympic sports, visit the original facilities, and maybe even get the chance to watch some athletes in training.
When you purchase the Olympic Sites Passport for a one-time admission fee ($40) you get to explore 4 distinct locations.
The pass includes entry to the following attractions:
- Olympic Center with the legendary 1980 and 1932 rinks
- Scenic Cloudsplitter Gondola Ride up Whiteface Mountain
- Olympic Jumping Complex where you can take an elevator to the sky deck of the 120-meter ski jumping tower and feel like a ski jumper yourself
- Mt Van Hoevenberg where you find a skeleton & bobsled track and North America’s longest mountain coaster
12. Take the Cloudsplitter Gondola Ride up Whiteface
Even when you are not interested in visiting the Olympic sites, you have to grab your ticket to check out the Cloudsplitter Gondola ($25 for adults) which brings you up to the summit of Little Whiteface.
Riders get to see 360-degree aerial views of the Adirondacks while watching skiers and snowboarders race down the mountain. You will enjoy every second of the 15 minutes the ride lasts. Once at the summit, riders can walk around, snap photos of Big Whiteface, Lake Placid, and the magical winter scenery.
13. Ride on an Olympic Bobsled
Looking to get your adrenaline pumping? Purchase a ticket for the Lake Placid Bobsledding experience at Mt. Van Hoevenberg. The track is 1,500 meters long but tourists only get to ride about half of the Olympic track, 800 meters.
Are you brave enough to rush down in your own bobsled with an experienced driver in the front, reaching up to 55 mph on the covered icy track?
This experience does not come cheap with a price of $95 for adults and the adventure just lasts 40 action-packed seconds but it is one you will remember.
14. Learn How to Go Ice Climbing
Instead of racing down the snowy icy mountains, take your time climbing up and down the ice vertically. This activity might be slower but no less thrilling.
The Adirondacks are one of the best places to go ice climbing in the country due to the reliable and consistent conditions and easy accessibility. No matter if you are a beginner taking a guided adventure with an instructor or an expert, ready for climbing up the 1,000 ft ice wall, you will find your perfect route.
15. Experience a Dog Sled Ride
Dog sledding is a classic winter tradition in the Adirondacks. Head down to Mirror Lake where you will find not one but two different mushers companies along Main Street ready to take people on a ¾-mile dog sledding ride across Mirror Lake. Dog sledding does cost a fee (expect $10 per person) which you can pay directly to the driver located on Mirror Lake.
Top Tip: We had our doubts if this dog sledding is an ethical animal encounter. Since we couldn’t see the dog kennels and didn’t know how the animals were treated, and how often they get switched, we decided not to participate in this activity.
16. Go for a Sleigh Ride
Enjoy a traditional sleigh ride in a horse-drawn sleigh through the majestic Lake Placid winter scenery. Snuggle up under warm blankets as you get thrown back in time while taking in the charm of a winter forest, over gentle hills, and sparkling streams.
Look for even more romance? Then book a lantern lit ride from a local farm through the Adirondack winter wonderland.
17. Winter Carnival at Saranac Lake
The Winter Carnival at Saranac Lake is one of the biggest events in the region and the longest-running event of its kind in the eastern US. Curious about what to expect? Over 10 days, the winter carnival holds sporting events, performances, two parades, and spectacular fireworks under different themes.
Also visit the centerpiece of the event, the gracious ice palace, and meet the royal occupants, locals who get honored for their generous community work.
Winter in Lake Placid: Indoor Activities
Even the nicest winter can bring some bad weather conditions which may shy you away from the cold outdoors. Or maybe you are just looking for a short winter warm-up? Then check out these indoor Lake Placid winter activities to get shelter from the cold.
18. Visit the Olympic Center and Museum
Dive deeper into the history and heritage of the Winter Olympics held in Lake Placid in the Olympic Center and Museum. It offers a variety of exhibitions, photographs, and other displays regarding the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games.
One of the greatest pieces of memorabilia to see is the famous “Miracle on Ice” skating rink, where the underdog US hockey team beat the four-time defending gold-medal winning Soviet team in a dramatic game.
Top Tip: This activity is included in the Olympic Sites Passport. Get more details in #11 of the best things to do in Lake Placid in winter.
19. Shop along Main Street
Need to take a break from all the thrilling Lake Placid winter activities? Stroll around Main Street. The street is lined with tons of quaint little shops, eateries, and stays. Many of the shops have locally sourced goods and artisan treasures to buy. Here, you can also rent or purchase winter gear like sleds, and snowshoes.
Main Street is right in the middle of the winter action in Lake Placid and provides easy access to Mirror Lake activities and the Olympic Museum. The bad part of its location is the parking situation. Parking is extremely limited and can be very difficult to find especially if you are looking for one right on Main Street.
To take the stress away from finding the ideal parking spot, look for one just a little ways away from Main Street and walk from there. We found it to be much more enjoyable than fighting for a spot along the main drag.
20. Relax at a Spa
Give your body and muscles a break from the cold winter in Lake Placid by relaxing at a spa. Treat yourself to a full body massage, scrub, facial, soak, and more.
Winter in Lake Placid does not always have to consist of adventures and games. Turn your Lake Placid vacation into a romantic, relaxing, rejuvenating, calming, and peaceful getaway.
Lake Placid Winter Activities on a Map
To assist you in planning your Lake Placid in the winter vacation, we have created a Google Map for you to pinpoint the location of everything listed above. The blue markers indicate the winter activities, the green markers show the accommodations, and the red markers represent the location of places to eat.
Now that you are already planning a winter in Lake Placid vacation, where are you going to stay? Staying in the heart of downtown Lake Placid does come with a price. If you prefer more budget-friendly accommodation, you will have to look outside of the downtown Lake Placid area. Keep in mind that accommodations fill up quickly in the winter months, especially at the weekends. Top Places to Stay in Downtown Lake Placid Budget Friendly Accommodations Outside of Downtown Well, when we started being outdoors more often in the winter, we realized quickly that we needed better gear otherwise we couldn’t fully enjoy our time in the snow. Winter in Lake Placid means temperatures are likely to be below freezing, which means you will want to bundle up to stay warm. The basic winter clothing for all activities includes a good base layer, mid-layer, waterproof (hiking) pants, an insulated jacket, hat, scarf, gloves, merino wool socks, and warm boots. Depending on the outdoor activity, gaiters might also be a great idea. Here are some places you won’t want to miss on your future winter in Lake Placid vacation: Emma’s Lake Placid Creamery – Even though it is winter in Lake Placid, it is always a good idea to get something frozen at this Lake Placid favorite. After leaving Emma’s Creamery with some of their specialty treats, we continued our walk down Main Street. We could not make it more than a few steps before someone asked where we got our treats. Lake Placid Pub & Brewery – After a fun-filled day of outdoor winter activities, head on over to the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery for some good grub and delicious brews. You are sure to find the right beer to satisfy your taste buds after tearing it up on the slopes. The Dancing Bears – Located right in the heart of downtown Lake Placid, The Dancing Bears restaurant is loved by tourists and locals alike for their American pub food with a modern twist. Whether you are looking for something to snack on, a delicious dinner, fancy drink, or pretty views, you are surely able to find it here. The Breakfast Club – Fuel up for your action-packed day of Lake Placid winter activities at The Breakfast Club. Enjoy the most important meal of the day with a beautiful view of Mirror Lake and make sure to try the best Bloody Mary in town. The snowy winter in Lake Placid is what brings this town to life throughout the cold winter months. According to weather averages, Lake Placid can see over 100 inches of snow each year. Snow can start falling in the Adirondack region from late November until some time in April. The snow season will vary greatly depending on the temperature. With such a large snowfall, you are pretty much guaranteed to experience a snow-covered winter in Lake Placid anytime during the season. More snow in Lake Placid means more winter activities to enjoy. Most people mistake Mirror Lake for Lake Placid. Mirror Lake is the lake that is located right in Lake Placid along Main Street. The actual lake which is named Lake Placid is on the northern side of the town. But yes, both lakes do freeze over which allows for various Lake Placid winter activities to take place such as dog sledding, taking a ride on the toboggan chute, ice skating, and more. You bet Lake Placid is busy in the winter. It draws many visitors every year to take in the dazzling winter scenery of the Adirondacks and to enjoy the thrill of winter activities in the area. Once the town’s main feature Mirror Lake is frozen over, the quiet town of Lake Placid comes alive. To escape the crowds around Lake Placid center, head out to the surrounding wilderness and enjoy winter hiking trails, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, or other various winter activities.
Let us know in the comments below! Did you like this post? Subscribe to our newsletter and we’ll send you more unique travel tips, updates, and even FREE content!Where To Stay When Visiting Lake Placid in Winter
High Peaks Resort, Lake Placid Lodge, and Mirror Lake Inn
Hike & Ski Hideaway @ Lake Placid, Rodeway Inn What Should I Wear to Lake Placid in Winter?
Places to Eat in Downtown Lake Placid
FAQ – Lake Placid Winter Activities
How Much Snow Does Lake Placid Get?
Does Lake Placid Freeze Over?
Is Lake Placid Busy in the Winter?
What is Your Favorite Activity During the Winter in Lake Placid? How Many Did You Cross Off the List?
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