High Peaks Resort

What’s hiding Lake Placid long before the snow falls? A welcome, warmer world of peak off-season adventure.

Can any other season really compare with winter at a top ski resort? In New York’s gorgeous Adirondacks—home to famed Lake Placid and its premier hill, Whiteface Mountain—the answer is an eye-opening, money-saving, crowd-escaping, wildly-adventurous yes. Just don’t tell all those folks waiting in lift lines and shelling out peak-season hotel rates in a few months.

Shoulder seasons like late summer or fall are the perfect other time to discover the alter-ego of any big-name ski destination, whether it’s situated in the Rockies, the Sierras or in New York’s vast wilderness playground—the Adirondacks. Weighing in at about six million acres of mountains, lakes, rivers, and trails (that’s about the size of Vermont, folks) with numerous outfitters offering a wide array of adventures, the Adirondacks fits the bill for off-season exploration in every direction.

Here’s how to appreciate this area before the ski crowds arrive and the whole place is buried in powder.

Re-Introducing Lake Placid

The site of two Winter Olympics, you’ve heard of Lake Placid even if you’re somehow not a fan of epic hockey victories. About a five-hour drive from New York City, the village is situated right on Mirror Lake and just south of the namesake lake. Lake Placid’s main street—lined with bars, restaurants and shops—is also stocked with outfitters to gear visitors up for everything from trail running to SUPing. There’s no better home base for your summer or fall adventure in the Adirondacks.

Where to Stay

High Peaks Resort

Come winter, this popular Lake Placid resort right on Mirror Lake will be hosting skiers bound for nearby Whiteface Mountain—New York’s fifth-highest peak boasting one of the top verticals in the Northeast. Right now, the property’s three buildings—all with lake views—are another sort of oasis. Guests have access to swimming, kayaking, and SUPing on Mirror Lake with hotel-supplied gear. It’s the perfect spot for families or rookie SUPers, as motorboats are verboten on a lake which is usually as smooth as glass.

Inside the main resort, you’ll find clean rooms, a mountain lodge motif, lovely views of the lake and mountains, two pools, plus solid restaurants and bars. Tip: snagging a room on the fourth floor gives you direct access to your parked car without having to haul gear through the lobby.

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