WHITEFACE RESORT GUIDE
Some images courtesy of Whiteface Mountain Resort
Whiteface Resort Overview
Whiteface boasts the highest summit (4,867 feet) and the longest vertical drop (3,430 feet) in the Northeast. The mountain is only 30 minutes from the vibrant town of Lake Placid, one of the best ski towns in the East. Whiteface & Lake Placid were the two-time host site of the Winter Olympics. Today, the resort is NYSEF's home base which means you will find competitive ski racers and freestylers training; you’re almost guaranteed to see Olympic level skiers training here.
Between the challenging terrain and extreme cold, many hard core skiers call Whiteface home. Novices and families with your children, however, should not be deterred. The resort has a secluded beginner area, where those just learning can gain comfort without the crowds.
Plan to spend at least 5 days to a week to explore Whiteface along with Lake Placid's restaurants, hotels, ice skating, outdoor activities and pedestrian-friendly Main Street. Whiteface is part of the 3-ski pass of ORDA which includes Belleayre and Gore.
Snow Reliability
Snow-Making & Grooming
Ski School
Travel Convenience
Accommodations
Terrain Variety
On Mountain Dining
Extreme / Off-Piste Terrain
Quick Take
Let's Go
Lake Placid’s Olympic charm is still palpable and Olympic training events are held throughout the winter
When the conditions are right, the terrain is amongst the best in the East
Terrain variety is solid with a mix of wide, medium difficulty terrain, glades, ski-cross, moguls and easy flat areas
Fun for families too. The town has great energy and a sporty vibe
The Slides offer some of the most extreme lift-accessed skiing in the East with 35 acres of steep, narrow chutes in natural conditions
Hesitations
Nicknamed "Ice Face" it can be bone-chilling with summit temps having a real feel of -30 with the wind
Travel to Lake Placid can be difficult from the major northeast cities
There are no on-mountain accommodations, though there are plenty of places to stay in Lake Placid
Much of the extreme terrain, and especially the Slides, requires significant snowfall to open, leaving these areas closed for much of the season
Insider Tips
The early bird wins here; lifts are subject to wind holds or closures, especially the gondola
Accommodations in Lake Placid are plentiful outside of the Center; check out Mirror Lake Inn, Whiteface Lodge or an AirBNB slightly further afield. Hannafords is a convenient natural grocery store
Nearby Mt Van Hoevenberg offers activities like Snowshoeing, Nordic, cross country and bobsledding
Enjoy a lovely 3-mile stroll around Mirror Lake
Trail Map
For an in-depth breakdown of Whiteface's terrain, head to our Mountain Guide. Top trails and mountain stats included.
Getting To & Around
Whiteface is ~5 hours driving from New York City and is best reached by car. Once there, take advantage of the free shuttle to and from the mountain with several stops in town. Parking is limited and the shuttle operates 7 days a week from December through March.
Getting To
Closest Major City: Montreal, Canada
Distance: ~100 miles North East
Travel Time: ~ 2 hours drive
Closest Town: Lake Placid, NY
Distance: ~5.8 miles
Travel Time: ~ 10-15 minutes drive
Albany, NY: ~140 miles, ~2.25 hours drive
Boston, MA: ~260 miles, ~5 hours drive
New York, NY: ~280 miles, ~5.25 hours drive
Neighboring Resorts
Whiteface is part of the Adirondack Mountains and has a few resorts within about an hour's drive
Closest Resorts
Gore, NY (also on the SKI 3 Pass) , ~70 miles, ~1 hour, 20 minutes drive
Titus Mountain, NY, ~60 miles, ~1 hour, 20 minues
Other I3 Pass Neighbors
Belleayre, NY (~215 miles, ~3 hours 40 minutes drive)
Travel by Plane
Closest airports:
Plattsburgh International Airport: (PBG) ~36 miles, ~50 minutes drive (limited service)
Albany International Airport (ALB): ~130 miles, ~2 hours, 10 minute minute drive to the resort (limited service)
Closest regional airport:
Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK): ~25 miles, ~40 minutes drive
This airport is private plane accessible
Travel By Bus
The Mountain Valley Shuttle is a free shuttle service that runs between Lake Placid and Whiteface with several stops in Lake Placid and Wilmington. Once in the area, we recomend parking your vehicle and using the shuttle service
Amtrak Operates between NYC and Montreal with a local stop in Westport, N.Y., ~40 miles from Whiteface
Adirondack Trailways provides bus service between Lake Placid, Ticonderoga, Schroon Lake, Albany, and New York City and its suburbs
Travel by Car
We prefer to have a car here.
Pros: Cars are the easiest way to reach Whiteface and Lake Placid; most parking is free and a car provides flexiblity to explore the broader area
Cons: Parking is mostly free though limited in town and may require a longer walk to the center of town
Ride shares are limited here
