Lake Placid is a charming, picturesque and immensely popular year round resort village nestled within the heart of the stunning Adirondack Mountains. It’s located in the far northeast corner of New York State, just 40 miles from Vermont and 65 miles from the Canadian border.
In this guide we show you our top 10 favorite things to do in Lake Placid and why we think it’s worth adding to your New England road trip. This tiny village is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, surrounded by spectacular mountain wilderness, pure glacial lakes and endless forested land.
Our Experience
We’ve visited Lake Placid twice. The first time we planned a trip in October 2020 for the sole purpose of hiking Mount Marcy. Unfortunately, the weather was very overcast for most of our visit, but the fall colors were spectacular and we got lucky with a clear Mount Marcy summit despite the heavy clouds. We were pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the town and planned to come back in the future.
In September 2023, we returned to Lake Placid to explore many of the popular activities in town such as the newly opened Olympic Museum, driving up Whiteface Mountain and checking out a few of the shorter hikes in the area. We also made it a point to eat at some of the popular restaurants in town because they were closed during our first trip. Read more about us.
SHOP: Our New England Guidebook features highlights from Lake Placid in addition to many other popular spots in the region.
Now, let’s explore gorgeous Lake Placid! Here’s what you should should prioritize:
1. Walk Around Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is the centerpiece water feature around the village of Lake Placid. When the water is calm and still, you can see a near perfect reflection, hence the name. But it’s not to be confused with Lake Placid. Mirror Lake is the small body of water next to the village, whereas the much larger Lake Placid is located a few miles north.
The main shopping and dining scene in Lake Placid village is found around the western shores of Mirror Lake. So as you walk through the village, you’ll naturally gravitate to the banks of the photogenic lake. Better yet, if you stay in a hotel on Mirror Lake, you can easily walk to the restaurants, shops and bars in the village. However, most attractions are spread across the region so you’ll need a car to visit the rest of the Lake Placid area.
We think one of the best free things to do in Lake Placid is walk the entire way around Mirror Lake. It’s a 2.6 mile easy trail suitable for anyone including dog walkers, runners and ice cream eaters. During our walk we enjoyed seeing the luxurious wooden houses and gorgeous tree lined paths.
Photography Tip: Mirror Lake is calmest in the morning so head to the lake around sunrise for an amazing photo spot. If you’re lucky, you’ll also see the fog roll in across the lake. This was a highlight from our visit.
2. Lake Placid Olympic Museum
One of the newest activities in Lake Placid is the Olympic Museum. It was recently renovated and reopened in December 2022. This museum was one of our bucket list items because Lake Placid is the only place in North America to have hosted two separate Winter Olympic Games in 1932 and 1980. So this tiny mountain village has a healthy heritage and authenticity when it comes to cold weather sports.
If you watched the 1980 Olympics, it was right here where “the miracle on ice” gave the USA ice hockey team a symbolic cold war victory over the USSR. Team USA were huge underdogs and the victory is considered one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history. You can learn all about the legendary ice hockey team and get a chance to see the famous rink.
We loved visiting the Olympic Museum because it’s filled with interactive exhibits so we spent a good few hours here. Inside you’ll also find the second largest collection of Winter Olympics artifacts in North America and we think it’s one place you can’t miss in Lake Placid. Tickets for the museum cost $15 for adults and $12 for children 7 to 19 years of age. It’s open everyday from 10:00am to 5:00pm.
3. Olympic Ski Jump Complex
Continuing on with the Olympic theme, we think the Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Complex is another must-see in town. The ski jumps measure in at 90m and 120m tall respectively and both can be accessed by gondola ride directly from the parking lot.
After the gondola, there is a lift up to the top of the ski jumps and you’ll be rewarded with 360° views over Lake Placid, Whiteface Mountain and the entire Adirondacks region. You can also look straight down the 120m ski jump and see it as though you were about to crouch into a run yourself.
This is without a doubt one of the most unique things you can do on a visit to Lake Placid. The jumps look so much bigger in person and we think it’s amazing athletes fly off them. Tickets for the Skyride experience cost $20 for adults ages 13 to 64 years old and $15 for children 7 to 12 years old. It’s open 9:00am to 5:00pm daily with specific elevator only days during the fall season.
Travel Tip: If you visit the Olympic Museum and stand outside on the second floor balcony, you can see the ski jumps poking out of the trees in the distance.
4. John Brown Farm State Historic Site
John Brown was a famous abolitionist who fought for the liberation of slaves in the south on the eve of the American Civil War. He later gave his own life to the cause. During a daring raid of the US arsenal at nearby Harper’s Ferry, Brown was captured in October 1859, hung and brought back to this house where he was buried.
Today, the historic site is run by New York State Parks and visiting is completely free. We enjoyed walking around the beautiful grounds learning about John Brown’s role in history. As you can see in our photo above, there is also a fabulous reflection of Brown’s barns and trees.
The historic site is open every day May through October from 10:00am to 5:00pm, but it’s closed on Tuesdays. However, the grounds are open all year. Guided tours are also offered on the hour with the last one at 4:00pm. If you plan a trip during the fall season, you can expect the vibrant foliage to light up the small estate.
Not long after visiting the farm, we saw a massive and incredibly impressive painting of John Brown inside The Met in New York City. It was a cool full circle moment showing the importance of this small farm in Lake Placid.
Need help planning your New England road trip?
Our popular New England fall travel guidebook helps you with planning every aspect of your road trip, including the best places to stop, where to see fall colors, where to eat and stay, itinerary ideas and map!
View Guidebook
5. Go Hiking
Many visitors to Lake Placid, NY are in town to hike or ski. The Adirondack Mountains are a wonderful place to enjoy nature, find hidden waterfalls and engage in outdoor adventure activities. During the warmer months, hiking is by far the most popular thing to do near Lake Placid.
You can choose between several challenging hikes in and around the Adirondack High Peaks consisting of 46 mountains over 4,000 ft in elevation. Complete them all and you can become a member of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers club.
But the good news is you can find a mix of both easy and difficult trails. Here are some of the best hiking trails around Lake Placid:
- Mount Marcy – The highest point in the state of New York and the most popular hike on this list. We hiked to Mt Marcy summit via the 15 miles roundtrip Van Hoevenberg Trail, which was long and gradual. You can also check out New York’s highest point in photos to see if this is something you want to do.
- Whiteface Mountain – You can drive or hike to Whiteface Mountain summit and we’ll cover the drive later in our guide. The hiking trail is 11.4 miles roundtrip and best hiked in the warmer summer months.
- Mount Jo Loop Trail – Much shorter and easier hike starting at Adirondack Loj parking lot (the same as Mt Marcy), perfect for the kids and for views over Heart Lake.
- Algonquin or Mount Colden – More amazing trails you can hike from the same Adirondack Loj parking area. These two are long hard hikes with steep ascents requiring proper gear.
- Cobble Lookout – A very easy 2.4 mile round trip hike with only 280 ft of elevation gain to stunning views.
- Indian Head – Hike now popular from social media, but requires reservations and a walk down a long road
READ: 50 best hikes in the USA
6. Hunt For Waterfalls
We think High Falls Gorge is one of the most picturesque waterfall hikes near Lake Placid. The half mile wooden boardwalk trail is suitable for the whole family and it’s incredibly photogenic. It’s a lot of bang for you buck because you’ll pass by 4 attractive waterfalls cascading through the very narrow gorge. Don’t expect the sheer beauty of Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen but High Falls Gorge is still definitely one of the best waterfalls to visit in New York.
This easy mile long hike is loaded with great photo spots and there is a nature trail if you’re visiting with small children. But unlike many of the other hikes in the area, High Falls Gorge is located on a 22-acre privately owned nature park so you have to pay to visit. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $14 for children ages 4 to 12 years old. Visit the official website for more information.
If you want to hike to other waterfalls, you have a few more options:
- Flume Trail System – About 10 miles of trails open to mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing. The main trailhead is along Route 86, but watch out for traffic when crossing the road.
- Roaring Brook Falls – A short easy hike to a large waterfall. It’s mostly flat until you reach the waterfall.
Hiking Tip: Visit in the spring season to see the waterfalls at their fullest.
READ: What to pack for a day of hiking
7. Cloud-Splitter Cable Car To Little Whiteface
Little Whiteface is a lower peak between the village of Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain. It’s primarily used in winter during the ski season when Cloud Splitter becomes the main ski lift. However, the gondola also has a “summer season” which we used during our visit in October.
The Cloud Splitter is a gondola ride from the base of Whiteface Mountain to Little Whiteface summit. It’s a popular alternative to hiking or driving Whiteface Mountain. For very little effort, you’re rewarded with beautiful views over Lake Placid and rolling hills filled with emerald green trees. If you time it right in fall, those greens will be enhanced with reds, oranges and yellows.
During our first visit, we planned to drive up Whiteface Mountain and sadly it was covered in clouds during our entire trip. But Little Whiteface is low enough to avoid being engulfed, which means you can soak up stunning views without risk of being caught in the clouds. So this is a great option if the weather has ruined your chances for clear views on Whiteface.
Tickets for the gondola cost $25 for adults and $20 for children ages 7 to 12. It’s open daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm starting from the end of June to beginning of September and then Friday to Sunday until mid-October. For more information, visit the official website.
8. Drive To White Face Mountain Summit
Whiteface Mountain is the fifth highest peak in New York and is one of the most popular attractions near Lake Placid thanks to its ease of access for all visitors to the area. You can either hike or drive the Whiteface Memorial Highway to the summit of Whiteface Mountain. We recommend only hiking this trail if you have come prepared to hike and you have plenty of time on your itinerary.
Views from the top of Whiteface Mountain overlook the entire Adirondack region, Montreal, Vermont and even Hew Hampshire on a clear day. We think it’s one of the best vistas in the US northeast and unlike other mountain roads in the region, it’s actually paved the entire way.
If you chose to drive it, you’ll gain 2,300 feet of elevation in just 5 miles from the toll house. From the summit parking lot you take an elevator inside the mountain to the true summit. It costs $20 per vehicle which includes the driver and $20 for the second passenger. Each additional passenger after that is $10 with children 6 and under free. The Whiteface Memorial Highway is open mid-May to mid-October everyday from 8:45am to 5:30pm.
We highly recommend you plan enough time to hike the 0.2 mile Summit Nature trail at the top. It climbs 257 ft in elevation and offers 360° views. There are steel railings for support on both sides of the trail and we saw hikers of all ages making their way across Whiteface. If you only have time for one thing in Lake Placid and the skies are clear, we’d say this is our top recommendation for the area.
Hiking Tip: If you want to hike at the summit of Whiteface, make sure you wear hiking boots or shoes. The trail is very rocky and you’ll need something with a good grip.
9. Explore Lake Placid Village
With so many fun things to do around Lake Placid, it can be easy to forget about taking a step back and enjoying the Alpine village style experience. This was a mistake we made the first time so we made a point to enjoy the village on our second trip.
In the downtown area, you’ll find a collection of independent stores, restaurants, cafes, bars and outdoor gear shops just by walking along Main Street.
Here are popular stores in Lake Placid:
- Adirondack Chocolates – Sweets and gifts all in one place
- Adirondack Decorative Arts & Crafts – Rustic home furnishings
- Adirondack Popcorn Co – Unique flavors and speciality gifts
- Critrers – Baby and children’s clothing store
- The Bookstore Plus – Great selection of books and craft items
- The Fallen Arch – Local sporting goods store specializing in shoes
- Zack Nation – Comic book store
In addition to the stores we list above, there are also a few bigger chains such as Life is Good and Eastern Mountain Sports. We like the smaller local stores, but you can find just about any type of sports equipment in town.
10. Indulge At The Popular Restaurants
Lake Placid is certainly more of a daytime adventure resort than a lively nighttime party place. So there’s really not very much to do once the sun goes down. That being said, there are many delicious restaurants and popular breweries you can enjoy for a few hours after dinner.
Here are the top places to eat in Lake Placid:
- Big Mountain Deli – Servings 46 unique sandwich options
- Emma’s Lake Placid Creamery – All the ice cream you could want
- Lisa G’s – American fare with global twists
- Smoke Signals – BBQ classics with a large beer selection
- Soulshine Bagel – Offering homemade bagels made from scratch
- The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn – Offering some of the best lake views
- The breakfast club, etc – Serving breakfast and lunch all day
- The Greeks ADK – Great place for a quick healthy lunch
Our favorite spot in town is Smoke Signals. They have a beautiful lakeside patio and serve amazing BBQ meals. The patio is first come first serve so grab a spot if you can. We highly recommend you make a reservation in peak season because they fill up very quickly. If you can’t get a reservation, you could try arriving right when they open.
Or if you want to grab a beer, here are the popular spots:
- Lake Placid Pub – Extensive beer menu with dog friendly beer garden
- Raquette River Brewing – Offering flights and full pours
- The Boat Tasting Room – Wine, beer and spirits
- Top Of The Park – Drinks, views and small plates
If you absolutely need to party, Roomer’s nightclub is open Thursday to Saturday from 8:00pm to 3:00am.
Where To Stay In Lake Placid NY
Lake Placid is a fantastic year round resort village in a stunning location, but hotels are almost as expensive as hotels in New York City. If you visit in peak times like summer, fall foliage season and winter, expect to pay over the odds for your hotel.
As a general rule to follow, the closer you stay to Mirror Lake, the more expensive your hotel will be. However, there are cheaper hotels in the region if you can live with not being right on the lake. We paid more per night in a low budget hotel in Lake Placid than we did in all other mid range budget hotels for the rest of our New England road trip.
You can read our complete guide to the best hotels in Lake Placid NY on our sister site or take a look at any of the top rated options below.
- Town House Lodge – Best for those visiting on a budget
- Golden Arrow Resort – Best luxury hotel on Mirror Lake
- The Haus – Best luxury apartment on Mirror Lake
- Cobble Mountain Lodge – Best for larger groups
We’ve stayed at the Town House Lodge both times and thought it was great. We could easily walk into town and the rooms were clean.
READ: How to book cheap hotels
Lake Placid Interactive Map
Use our interactive map for Lake Placid to familiarize yourself with the area. Click to activate the map. We’ve included the best things to see and do that we already mentioned in this guide.
Map key:
- Red – Top attractions
- Yellow – Hikes near Lake Placid
- Purple – Local stores
- Green – Popular restaurants and breweries
- Blue – Hotel Recommendations
You can also open the full map here for a better and larger view.
Our Lake Placid Photos
Lake Placid is a beautiful place to visit and the fall colors took our breathe away. Here are a few of our favorite photos:
The Morgan Conclusion
What we like: Lake Placid is a beautiful four-season resort town and there’s no bad time to visit. We loved visiting in fall and the trees lining Mirror Lake all turn an array of autumnal colors so you don’t actually have to leave the village to see the vibrant foliage. It’s an extremely picturesque place and we also really enjoyed the Olympic Museum as well as ski jumps. Quick access to amazing hikes in the Adirondacks are another perk too.
What we don’t like: One of the downsides to visiting Lake Placid is the price. Hotels and restaurants can be very expensive, especially in peak season. The downtown area is also very small so it can become quite crowded making it difficult to get into restaurants for meals. And due to the nearby Adirondack Mountains, the weather is very unpredictable which can hinder your travel plans.
Is Lake Placid worth visiting? Yes, Lake Placid is definitely worth visiting. It’s an adventure lovers paradise, but it also offers unique activities for travelers of any age. The downtown area showcases incredible views of Mirror Lake and it’s extremely walkable. But you’ll need a car to see other attractions nearby. Hiking is one of our favorite things about visiting Lake Placid and we highly recommend you add a hike or two to your itinerary.
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Want more New York content? Head over to our New York Travel Guides to explore the Finger Lakes, Adirondacks and the best of NYC.
We hope our guide featuring the best things to do in Lake Placid helps with planning your visit!
Please let us know if you have any questions about visiting Lake Placid or planning a trip to New England in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.
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