Location: Lake Placid
Top Things to do in Lake Placid
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The 10 Best Things to do in Lake Placid, New York (NY)
Maybe you're not an Olympian, but if you're looking for a top-notch winter sports destination, Lake Placid is the place for you. Try bobsledding, downhill skiing, ice climbing, speed skating or even ski jumping, or just enjoy shopping in the town's boutiques and warming up in one of the many restaurants. But Lake Placid isn't just a winter wonderland. Beautiful Adirondack State Park, which is larger than Yosemite or Yellowstone National Parks, offers year-round outdoor activities.
Restaurants in Lake Placid
1. Mirror Lake
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,026 reviews
Reviewed By luvtotravel6768 - Simcoe, Canada
Mirror Lake has it all - wonderful views; calm lake water; a 2.7 mile interlocking brick pathway all the way around, including part of the downtown street; a small sandy beach; a toboggan run in winter right onto the frozen lake!; kayaks to rent; flowers and flowering shrubs in May/June; and I must have forgotten something! We walked the loop 3 times during our week's stay, and saw walkers, joggers, families, mom's with strollers! Mirror Lake is well worth the stay in Lake Placid!
2. Uihlein Sugar Maple Research & Extension Field Station
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By Mel_D_Loves2Travel
Stumbled across this place 4 years ago and had to go back this trip to Lake Placid to pick up their delicious maple syrup. It's truly the best.
3. Algonquin Mountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By Kirk0
Did the peak climb with our family, including our teenage children who have done ADK peaks before. This is a tough climb ... lots and lots of rocks and several steep sections. Make sure you wear good hiking shoes and bring lots of water. We arrived later in the morning so also had to park away from the LOJ which added about 1 hour total to the hike. The views at the peak are amazing and worthwhile, but just be ready for a long hike up and going down will be just a challenging and no quicker given all the rocks.
4. St Agnes Roman Catholic Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By USTraveler22180
Highly recommend if you are visiting Lake Placid ... The church was toward the end of a beautiful street in Lake Placid, only a few blocks away from the downtown area ... beautiful old church where one can feel the presence of God.
5. Copperas pond
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By EJW3
We hiked to Copperas Pond from the trailhead on Rt 86. It starts off a little steep and the snow made it slippery, but it is a fun and scenic hike. Copperas Pond was frozen and the wintery scene was beautiful. Although only a short distance from the road, it was very quiet and it felt like we were deep in the Adirondacks. Next, we followed the trail to Owens Pond which was equally picturesque, and then out to Rt 86 at the Owens Pond Trailhead. The walk along the highway back to our starting point was about 1 mile, and overall, the loop was less than 3 miles. This is a very scenic and relatively easy hike, and I imagine that it is very busy in the summer. If you start at the Owens Pond Trailhead and do the hike in reverse, the climb in elevation is more gradual, and then during the steepest part, you will be descending the mountain.
6. Olympic Ski Jump Complex
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,147 reviews
Visitors to this year-round training and competition site can watch daring ski-divers, or take an elevator to a platform to see how high Olympic skiers jump.
Reviewed By jimkC1474NO - Howell, United States
We spent a little over an hour at the Olympic Ski Jump Complex. We took the gondola ride to the top of the mountain, which takes only a few minutes. From there you transition to a glass elevator ride to the top of the largest ski jump which provides scenic views of the surrounding mountains. The ski jumps are so much higher than they appear on television and show just how daring (or crazy) ski jumpers are. New respect for ski jumpers! The venue is clean, masks are required and there is a little shop for souvenirs.
7. Mount Van Hoevenberg
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 79 reviews
Mount Van Hoevenberg is the starting point for 31 miles of beautiful cross-country trails that have seen both Olympic and World Cup competition.
Reviewed By brnardo - Saratoga Springs, United States
I am a season ticket holder at Mt.Van Hoevenberg and enjoy skiing there very much. There is a lot of variety and the trails are mostly wide and well groomed. I have done classic x country for years and wanted to learn skate skiing. I had a lesson with a young man named Lockey (sp). He was a great instructor and I was immediately able to put his instruction to use and enjoy skate skiing. I have been many times since. Mt Van Hoevenburg is a US olympic training center for Nordic skiing and sled sports so there is a lot going on. Additionally the trails connect to the Cascade Mt. trail system, a more classic type of area. You really can't go wrong at Mt Van Ho. There is even snow making on the competition courses.
8. Bobsled and Luge Complex
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 837 reviews
Mt. Van Hoevenberg combines outdoor recreations with Lake Placid’s Olympic Legacy. On the sliding center side, we have a state-of-the-art combined skeleton & bobsled track and we have created North America’s longest mountain coaster, The Cliffside Coaster. On the Nordic center side, we have added 4km of World Championship rate trails, joining our existing 50km of cross country skiing trails. Our new lodge, The Mountain Pass Lodge, is the Hub of Mt. Van Hoevenberg, and is the place to go for a drink, hang out with friends, or just spending a full day enjoying all the activities Mt. Van Hoevenberg has to offer.
Reviewed By Anitafuel - Water Mill, United States
Drove 7hrs after work with my 2 girls just to ride this coaster!!!! Purchased our tickets online 2 weeks in advance and prayed the weather would cooperate. Tickets are pricey! ($55pp) BUT....here are the bonus points.... 1. Longest mountain coaster in the country! 2. Speakers in sleds give you the history of the bobsled run next to it! 3. You CANNOT crash into the sled in front of you due to high tech sensors! 4. Once you descend, you ARE an olympic bobsled driver! 5. The views are absolutely breathtaking! We went for lunch afterward and back to motel for a power nap before driving 7hrs back home. What a fun Day of the Dead treat! Great for any age!
9. John Brown Farm State Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 261 reviews
This National Historic Landmark and New York State Historic Site contains the home and final resting place of the Underground Railroad conductor and insurrectionist, who moved here in an attempt to establish a community of freed slaves and abolitionists.
Reviewed By 123Nishi - New York City, United States
Located in North Elba, just behind the Olympic ski jump in Lake Placid, this farm was home of John Brown. An American abolitionist whose raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia in 1859 made him a martyr to the antislavery cause and was unintentionally instrumental in heightening sectional animosities that led to the American Civil War. This history of urban African American failed settlements in the area is touching. There are some wonderful walks behind the farm. A must to visit.
10. High Peaks Information Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43 reviews
For your next trip to the Adirondacks, stop in here for maps, guides, hiking equipment and camping supplies.
Reviewed By 714chuckm - Orchard Park, United States
I have fond memories of this place form childhood. Updated in 2018 it now includes a small fast-food restaurant at the top. granted it was $62 for 2 burgers and a taco, but at least it was tasty! Great place to start any hike. Showers not currently open due to COVID.
