If you love winter, Lake Placid is the place to be. With its frozen lakes and snow-capped mountains, Lake Placid is a majestic winter wonderland with no shortage of things to see and do all season long. Every year, visitors come for the scenery, and stay for the winter fun and mountain town charm.
Winter Things to Do in Lake Placid
From traditional outdoor recreation and unique winter excursions to Olympic history and an annual carnival, Lake Placid is the winter place to be.
Outdoor Recreation
America’s original winter vacation destination, Lake Placid features world-class alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, ice fishing, snowmobiling and more. Enjoy downhill skiing and snowboarding at Whiteface Mountain, snowshoeing on the Heaven Hills Trails, and Nordic skiing at the Cascade Welcome Center, which offers cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals.
Hiking the High Peaks in winter is best reserved for the experienced winter hiker, but Mt. Jo, Mt. Van Hoevenberg and Cobble Hill are known for their safer, less challenging trails. For ice fishing, head over to Connery Pond, just 4.5 miles outside the village of Lake Placid, or download the Adirondacks USA Snowmobile App (App Store or Google Play) for all the information you need to navigate the snowy trails.
Dog Sled Rides & Toboggan Chute
For a truly unique winter experience, visitors can glide across the frozen tundra on a dog sled. Depending on ice conditions, two dog sled teams can be found on Mirror Lake behind the Golden Arrow Resort and the Players Sports Bar, or at the Lake Placid Horse Showgrounds. Dog sleds rides cost $20 per person, and start the day after Christmas.
There’s also a 30-foot-high converted ski jump trestle at the south end of Mirror Lake, which makes for some epic sledding. The toboggan chute costs $15 for adults and $10 for students, and includes a toboggan rental and multiple runs down the ice-covered chute. Opening day is dependent on the thickness of the ice.
Ice Skating at the Olympic Oval
Skate on the same oval where Olympian Eric Heiden won 5 gold medals for team USA in the 1980 Winter Olympics. The Lake Placid Speed Skating Oval is one of only a few outdoor Olympic rinks still in operation, and its open to the public. Skate rentals are available for $10, and skate sessions cost $12 during the week and $20 on weekends. Kids age 6 and under skate for free.
Ice skating is also available inside the Olympic Center during designated public skating hours. Sign up for a Stick N’ Puck session to enhance your ice hockey skills, join a figure skating session, or book a lesson with an approved Lake Placid figure skating coach. Brought your own skates? Enjoy free ice skating on Mirror Lake.
Saranac Lake Winter Carnival
Who throws a parade in the middle of winter? Saranac Lake does! Located less than 10 miles from Lake Placid, the town of Saranac Lake hosts a Winter Carnival every February. This year’s Halloween-based theme is “Creepy Carnival” and features a full schedule of events the week of February 2-11, 2024.
The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival encompasses a variety of events and traditions, including an Ice Palace that the public can tour 24 hours a day, sporting competitions, performances, torchlight skiing, three fireworks displays and a Gala Parade down Main Street on the last Saturday.
Winter Lodging in Lake Placid
Whether you’re looking for family fun or a romantic weekend for two, Lake Placid is an idyllic winter getaway, and Moreno’s is the perfect place to stay. We have two year-round vacation rentals in the Lake Placid area. Studio 7 is a cozy apartment ideal for couples, while our Lake Colby House vacation rental can sleep up to 13. Give us a call at 518-265-5370 to check availability and reserve your stay.