Adirondack village near the lake of the same name is known as a Winter Olympics venue and a hub for snow sports and other outdoor pursuits.
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
If you’re up for a wintertime adventure, Lake Placid (www.lakeplacid.com) is ready for you.
Ride a mountain coaster, ski, snowboard, skate, dogsled and otherwise explore New York’s Olympic winter playground — all while enjoying spectacular mountain scenery.
Mt. Van Hoevenberg maintains trails hiking, an indoor climbing wall with a 30-foot rope and Olympic activities such as biathlon at the Cross Country and Biathlon Center.
Roar along the track of the Cliffside Coaster (https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/todo/cliffside-coaster), the continent’s longest coaster. The coaster feels like a bobsled track where you’re in the driver’s seat, controlling the speed through the corners and banks as the track whizzes through forests and down the mountain.
Try skeleton, the Olympic winter sport that soars headfirst on a sled at up to 30 mph — an experience not soon forgotten and not available many other places on earth.
More things to do
• Mountain Pass Lodge at Mount Van Hoevenberg (https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/todo/mountain-pass-mercantile) welcomes guests with dining options, a gear shop and more before they begin a hike or snowshoe trek.
• The Olympic Sports complex offers the same bobsled run as Olympic athletes with speeds up to 50 mph. Of course, a professional driver and brakeman pilot the ride, but the thrills are all for you.
• At Mirror Lake, experience the Lake Placid Toboggan Chute. A 30-foot-high chute hurtles toboggans down onto Mirror Lake. Or ride along on Mike Arnold Dog Sled Rides (518-323-7622) on Mirror Lake for an adventure like no other.
• Skate at the Olympic Oval in the heart of Lake Placid, the same venue where Eric Heiden won five Olympic gold medals in 1980.
• Get a bird’s eye view of Lake Placid thanks to Adirondack Flying Service. Custom tours are available beyond the typical 20-minute and 45-minute tours.
• Farmhouse Snowmobiling (https://lakeplacidsnowmobilingandgokarts.com/snowmobiles) rents sleds for touring the area. (Must be 18-plus to drive.) Explore many types of terrain on your ride.
• Whiteface Mountain is ideal for skiing and snowboarding. However, if you’re all about the views, plan to enjoy the vistas provided by Cloudsplitter Gondola Rides at Whiteface (https://whiteface.com/todo/cloudsplitter-gondola-ride-winter). The rides ascend from the Main Base Lodge to the summit of Little Whiteface Mountain in a mere 15 minutes. The tour overlooks Lake Placid, Lake Champlain and some of the highest elevation peaks in the state.
• If spectating is more your style of winter adventure, consider attending the Empire Winter Games (empirestatewintergames.com), Jan. 30-Feb. 2.
Especially for outside events, stay abreast of weather and check the site’s social media pages. Many venues require online reservations. Pay attention to health, age and weight guidelines, as these help promote safety.