Whiteface Mountain

The East’s biggest vertical, next to Olympic Lake Placid.

The 1980 Olympic alpine venue, with 3,430 feet of vertical, long top-to-bottom cruisers and the steep Slides when they open. Lake Placid’s Olympic sites, skating, dog sledding and the toboggan chute on Mirror Lake turn a ski trip into a full winter holiday. It suits strong skiers and families who want a town to go with the mountain; dress for wind and firm snow.

The mountain

Vertical drop

3,430 ft

Summit

4,650 ft

Skiable terrain

299 acres

Trails

94

Lifts

12

Average snowfall

190″ a year

Longest run

2.1 mi

Snowmaking

99% of terrain

Terrain mix

• Beginner 24%
• Intermediate 46%
• Advanced 30%

What’s here besides skiing

• Terrain park
• Kids programs
• Ice skating
• Dog sledding
• Mountain coaster
• Cross-country
• Snowshoeing
• Spa
• Nightlife

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• ChristmasDec 11–13

  Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll

  Holiday weekend in town: a skating party at the Olympic Center, photos with Santa, a scavenger hunt, a free movie and a Jingle Bell Run.

• ChristmasSunday of the Village Stroll (Dec 14 last year)Usually

  Santa Sunday at Whiteface

  Ski in a Santa suit and your lift ticket is free, with a group photo and a Santa run down from Little Whiteface at 11 am.

• ChristmasDec 26–31, 4–5:30 pm (annual)Usually

  Campfire & Cocoa in Mid’s Park

  Free s’mores and hot cocoa around a campfire on Main Street during the holiday week.

• New Year’sDec 31, all day

  North Country New Year

  Saranac Lake’s family New Year’s Eve: live music, kids’ shows, skating, carousel rides and fireworks. One sticker gets you into everything; under 18 free.

• RaceFeb 4–7

  Empire State Winter Games

  New York’s Olympic-style winter games, with events at Whiteface and the Lake Placid venues.

• FestivalFeb 5–14

  Saranac Lake Winter Carnival

  One of the oldest winter carnivals in the country, with its famous ice palace, parade and fireworks.

• Pond skimMid-April (Apr 11 last season)Usually

  Pond Skimming at Whiteface

  Costumed skiers and riders try to cross a slush pond at high noon, then a party on the Cloudspin Deck.

Where to stay

• lodgeHungry Trout Resort

  Riverside lodge on the Ausable in Wilmington with a restaurant and pub, a couple of miles from the lifts.

  5 min drive
• lodgeCadence Lodge

  Casual, outdoorsy lodge about two miles from Whiteface, popular with skiers and cyclists.

  5 min drive
• hotelMirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa

  Lake Placid’s classic AAA Four-Diamond resort on Mirror Lake, with a spa and indoor pool.

  20 min drive
• hotelHigh Peaks Resort

  Big hotel on Main Street and Mirror Lake, steps from Lake Placid’s shops, bars and the Olympic Oval.

  20 min drive

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• Cliffside Coaster at Mt Van Hoevenberg · 25 min drive

  Billed as North America’s longest mountain coaster, built like a bobsled run beside the Olympic sliding track; you control your speed. Check winter hours.

• Bobsled & skeleton experiences · 25 min drive

  Rides down the Olympic track at Mt Van Hoevenberg with a pro driver. The bobsled ride was paused for track work, so check the 2026-27 schedule before you plan on it.

• Mt Van Hoevenberg cross-country · 25 min drive

  Olympic Nordic and biathlon trails, more than 44 km, with about 5 km of snowmaking for early-season skiing.

• Skating at the Olympic Oval · 20 min drive

  Public skating on the outdoor 1980 speed-skating oval on Main Street, with rentals. Mirror Lake also has free skating tracks when it freezes.

• Lake Placid Toboggan Chute · 20 min drive

  A 30-foot chute that launches toboggans onto frozen Mirror Lake. Runs only when the ice is 12 inches thick; tickets on site, card only.

• Dog sled rides on Mirror Lake · 20 min drive

  Two mushers give short rides across the frozen lake from Main Street, usually Thursday to Sunday from the day after Christmas, daily in holiday weeks.

• Lake Placid Olympic Museum · 20 min drive

  Exhibits on the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games, next to the Miracle on Ice rink in the Olympic Center.

• Village of Lights at Santa’s Workshop · 5 min drive

  The North Pole theme park’s December evenings: lights, carols, fire pits and Santa’s reindeer.

Après and nightlife

• Cloudspin Deck

  Whiteface’s base-area deck, where spring events like the pond skim end in a party.

• Big Slide Brewery & Public House

  Lake Placid brewpub with house beers and a full menu.

• Lake Placid Pub & Brewery

  Long-running Lake Placid brewpub, home of Ubu Ale.

Getting there

• Plattsburgh International (PBG) · about 55 min drive
• Montreal · about 2 hr
• New York City · about 5 hr
• Boston · about 5 hr

Directions in Google Maps