Last Updated: May 2026
Lake Placid is a beautiful mountain town no matter what the season. Tucked into the Adirondacks of upstate New York, it’s best known for hosting the Winter Olympics twice — in 1932 and 1980 — and the legacy of those games is visible everywhere you look, from the speed skating oval to the bobsled run to the ski jump towers that still dominate the skyline. We happened to be here in early June, and between the lupine blooming along every roadside and the summer training programs in full swing at the Olympic facilities, the timing couldn’t have been better.
Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Complex
The 1980 Winter Olympics put Lake Placid on the world map — the Miracle on Ice, Eric Heiden’s five gold medals, and a global broadcast audience that turned this small Adirondack village into a household name. The Olympic ski jumping complex is still very much in use, with ski jump training happening year-round. In summer, freestyle aerial skiers practice their inverted tricks off specially wetted ramps, launching into a 750,000-gallon pool at the base. We stood at the edge and watched athletes hurl themselves skyward, twist, and plunge into the water — it’s one of the more surreal athletic spectacles you can watch for free on a Tuesday afternoon.
We took the elevator to the top of the 120-meter jump tower — the views over Lake Placid village and the surrounding Adirondack peaks are extraordinary. Standing at the top and looking down the steep ramp at the tiny pool hundreds of feet below gives you immediate appreciation for what the athletes actually do.
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake sits right in the village of Lake Placid — 122 acres, an average depth of just 14 feet, and a glassy calm that justifies the name on a still morning. The 2.7-mile path around the lake is a favorite for walking, running, and cycling, and the village has built itself around the lakeshore in a way that feels genuinely welcoming rather than purely commercial.
Top of the Park
We were looking for drinks and dinner outside with a lake view, and Top of the Park delivered exactly that. The weather was perfect — one of those evenings where everything cooperates. They serve small plates that were the right size and genuinely excellent; we had monkfish and duck. It doesn’t announce itself loudly, but this is the kind of place you remember.
North Pole, New York
A short drive from Lake Placid lies the hamlet of North Pole in the town of Wilmington, New York — and yes, it leans into the name completely. Santa’s Workshop, one of the oldest theme parks in the United States (opened 1949), is the main attraction, built around the novelty of a location with a 96% chance of snow on Christmas Day. On an early June weekday we had the place almost entirely to ourselves. The most memorable thing we saw wasn’t anything Christmas-related — it was a Prius absolutely covered from bumper to bumper in vegan bumper stickers, parked in front of Santa’s Workshop, which felt like exactly the right kind of American surrealism.
North Pole Resorts Campground
We stayed at North Pole Resorts — and it was excellent. Hardly any neighbors on a weekday, which meant a large, wooded site entirely to ourselves. Water pressure, voltage, and cable were all solid; the WiFi was good enough to surf and stream Netflix. Jake had the run of the woods. At night we sat by a fire with a glass of wine and burned a stack of old documents we’d been carrying around in the RV for months — a small but satisfying act of decluttering at 1,800 feet elevation.
Whiteface Mountain — Veterans Memorial Highway
The Veterans Memorial Highway is a toll road that climbs to within a few hundred feet of Whiteface Mountain’s 4,867-foot summit — the fifth highest peak in New York State and the only one in the Adirondacks with a paved road to the top. The highway was championed by Franklin D. Roosevelt when he was governor of New York in 1929, cost $1,250,000 to build, and opened in 1935 as a tribute to World War I veterans. At the end of the road, a short but steep footpath leads to the true summit with 360-degree views. On a clear day you can see Lake Placid far below, Vermont’s Green Mountains to the east, and Montreal to the north. It’s one of the finest drive-up summit experiences in the Northeast.
Castle Cafe
Near the base of Whiteface, the Castle Cafe is one of those finds that makes a road trip worthwhile. It doesn’t look like much on the inside, but the veggie flatbread and local beer were outstanding — the kind of food that clearly comes from a chef-owner who takes real pride in what comes out of the kitchen. Highly recommended if you’re making the Whiteface drive.
Visitor Information
Olympic Jumping Complex
The Olympic Jumping Complex is at 5486 Cascade Rd, Lake Placid, NY. Open year-round; admission fee for the elevator and viewing platforms. Freestyle aerial training sessions run throughout summer — check the schedule at orda.org.
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is accessible from the village center. The 2.7-mile perimeter path is free and open year-round. Top of the Park restaurant is at 2384 Saranac Ave, Lake Placid; reservations recommended for dinner.
Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway
The toll road entrance is off Route 431, Wilmington, NY, about 10 miles from Lake Placid village. Toll charged per vehicle; open late May through mid-October depending on weather. The summit footpath is short but rocky — wear solid shoes. Visit whiteface.com for current hours and conditions.
North Pole Resorts
North Pole Resorts campground is at 6450 Route 86, Wilmington, NY. Full hookup and tent sites available; the wooded sites are particularly good for RVs. Visit northpoleresorts.com for reservations.
Practical Tips
Best time for aerial training: Freestyle aerial training into the water pool runs primarily in summer (June–August). Morning sessions tend to be less crowded for spectators. Check the ORDA website for session times before visiting.
Whiteface with an RV: The Veterans Memorial Highway toll road is open to passenger vehicles, trucks, and towed vehicles — but the road is winding and narrow in places. Most Class C motorhomes and tow vehicles are fine; very large Class A rigs may find turnaround challenging at the top. Leave the rig at the base if you’re uncertain.
North Pole in June: Santa’s Workshop is open late June through Labor Day, so early June visits will find the park closed. But North Pole Resorts campground is open from spring, and the Whiteface area is beautiful in early summer with wildflowers in full bloom.
Lake Placid village parking: The village fills up on summer weekends. The municipal lot on Main Street has the best access; arrive before 10am on Saturdays. Church and Olympic Museum lots overflow by midday.
