"I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list." – Susan Sontag
I've wanted to explore the Adirondacks and Lake Placid area since we arrived in the Finger Lakes seven years ago, but something else has always come up. This year we finally made it there for our 43 anniversary.
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains that was incorporated in 1900. It was founded in the early 19th century to develop an iron ore mining operation. As leisure time increased in the late 19th century, it became a popular resort for the rich and famous. The area has been a popular winter sporting area as early as 1889, and by 1921 the area boasted a ski jump, speed skating venue and ski association. Lake Placid hosted the 1932 and the 1980 Winter Olympics.
The Haus is a boutique hotel located in the middle of Main Street in Lake Placid. Located right on the shores of Mirror Lake. Unfortunately our room didn't have a view of the lake. The building was originally built in 1904.
The Adirondack Park is home to the largest trail system in the nation and offers some of the best hiking in the East with over 2,000 miles of marked hiking trails. Most notable among these are the region’s trails leading to the 46 High Peaks. The name "High Peaks" was given to 46 Adirondack mountains that were higher than 4,000 feet. All but four of these High Peaks are located in the Lake Placid, Keene-Keene Valley area. Adirondack State Park is the country’s largest State Park at six million acres. Unfortunately the weather wasn't conducive for hiking the high peaks while we were at Lake Placid...thanks to the remnants of Hurricane Beryle. We couldn't even see the top of the ones around us, so we had to be satisfied with chasing waterfalls. Not a hard thing to find in the Adirondacks.
The weather and the amount of water in the Ausable River also kept us from visiting the Ausable Chasm. We hiked along the river in several places and could see how raging and angry it was. Hopefully we can hike one of the high peaks and visit Ausable Chasm on our next visit. We definitely need to come back since there are so many beautiful places to see.
Our first day in Lake Placid was beautiful. We enjoyed a nice dinner at The Cottage. We sat outside with a pretty view of the lake and the mountains. After dinner we enjoyed a concert in the park next to our condo.
Looking down the hill to Mirror Lake.
Lake Placid is located on Mirror Lake. The lake is beautiful. It isn't very deep so it freezes in the winter and the water is a nice temperature in the summer. It's a wonderful place to canoe, sail, paddleboard and kayak. No gas powered motors are allowed on the lake.
Our dinner view.
The Tuesday night concert in the park. Lots of people came by water.
Our second day was filled with lots of rain. We walked around town popping into the shops when the showers came back. Later in the afternoon we drove up to the Whiteface Mountain Ski Lodge. We hiked the short trail to Stag Brook Falls and then explored the flumes on the Ausable River before it started to pour. We came back the next day to do a bit more exploring and couldn't believe how the river had changed. The rain overnight had turned the peaceful river into a monster.
Stag Brook Falls
This picture was taken at the bridge going into the ski lodge on Wednesday.
Taken at the same spot on Thursday.
The Wilmington Flumes on Wednesday.
The same flumes on Thursday. If you zoom into the picture above you can see people swimming. They would have been washed away the next day.
Since it was still raining on Thursday morning we visited the Lake Placid Olympic Museum. We also got to walk through the 1932 and 1980 hockey arenas. It was interesting to read and see all the information from the Olympics. Hard to imagine that many people in this small town.
The Olympic Museum and the Herb Brooks Arena (1980 Hockey Arena)
1932 Olympics Hockey Arena
Looking out from the 1932 arena to the Olympic speed skating rink, the Lake Placid High School and the 1980 arena. If you zoom in you can just make out the ski jump at the Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Complex. Weather kept us from exploring that too. Maybe next time.
The 1980 hockey arena.
A few of the things we saw at the museum. From top left: Olympic poster, sign in the arena, 1980 Olympic torch, 1932 uniform, 1980 uniform, 1980 gold medal, hockey team equipment, 1980 Olympic cauldron.
Thursday afternoon we had a bit more sun so we went back to the Ausable River to do a little more exploring. It was amazing to see the difference the rain had made. Our first stop was at Wilmington Notch Campground to hike down to the waterfall. The hike was short but steep. What a wonderful place.
There wasn't a true trail but the woods were so open and beautiful you could hike where ever you wanted.
After hiking to the Wilmington Falls we went back and did another hike near the flumes we saw the day before.
This is the area where we saw people swimming the day before.
The clouds finally cleared enough for us to see the top of Little Whiteface Mountain...just barely.
A small glimpse of the raging river.
The weather didn't keep us from enjoying some wonderful meals. All came with a nice view of Mirror Lake. The view on Wednesdaay wasn't quite as nice as the day before, but dinner was wonderful. We ate at Top of the Park. They specialize in small plates and specialty cocktails.
Fun Facts:
- The Adirondack Park was created in 1892 by the state of New York. Containing six-million acres, the Park is the largest park in the contiguous United States.
- It covers one-fifth of New York State.
- 10 Million tourists visit the park each year...that's twice as many as visit the Grand Canyon.
- The Adirondacks are within a day’s drive for roughly one-quarter of our country's population,
- The Adirondacks Mountains are as large as Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier and the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks combined.
- Unlike other mountain ranges in a long strip, the Adirondack mountains form a circular dome of mountains.
- The Park is home to 30,000 miles of rivers and streams and 2,800 lakes and ponds.
- Over 50% of the park is privately owned.
- Its most popular destinations for visitors are Old Forge, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, and beautiful Lake George. (We've been to them all).
- Some of the most iconic animals that live in the Adirondacks include: Moose, Bald Eagle, Common Loon, River Otter, Black Bear, Coyotes, Bobcat, Deer, and Beaver.
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