Getting to Whiteface Mountain is easy. Whiteface Mountain is approximately 280 miles (450 km) north of New York City. There are four airports within two hours drive time from Whiteface Mountain Lake Placid – Albany NY, Burlington VT, Plattsburgh, NY...
Whiteface
Whiteface ski resort and the two-time Winter Olympic village of Lake Placid are nestled in the Adirondack Mountains in Northern New York State.
Whiteface ski resort is located in the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York near Lake Placid. Lake Placid has twice hosted the Olympics, first in 1932 and then in 1980. Whiteface was the venue for the alpine ski events at the 1980 games.
Whiteface has the longest vertical drop east of the Rockies at 3,430 feet. It has been voted the number one ski resort in the Eastern US, in part because of its imposing vertical drop, but also because of its 200 inches of annual snowfall, 86 trails, 283 skiable acres, 11 ski lifts and Olympic heritage. In addition, Whiteface’s in-bounds backcountry experience in the Slides and two Olympic downhill runs provide world class challenge to advanced skiers. Intermediates enjoy long cruisers over the entirety of the resort’s vertical drop and beginner skiers have a seperate learning facility.
Just 15 minutes from Whiteface, the village of Lake Placid celebrates the region’s Olympic heritage and is home to a number of shops, restaurants and hotels. Ironically, Lake Placid is busier in the summer months when the Adirondacks buzz with campers, fishermen, boaters and outdoor enthusiasts. However, there’s still plenty to do and explore in town during the winter months.
The Lake Placid regions is home to an impressive array of off-mountain activities which are sure to thrill and excite. Try bobsledding, luge and skeleton or visit to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Museum. Touch the ice in Lake Placid’s 1980 Rink, home of the most famous ice hockey game of all time, the “Miracle on Ice” victory by the USA over the Soviet Union.
At just four and a half hours from New York City, Whiteface is a comparable drive with many central Vermont ski resorts. It’s difficult to beat the continuous fall-line skiing and Olympic heritage at Whiteface, but the resort’s much maligned reputation as “Iceface” has a grain of truth to it. Snow conditions tend to be better in the Green Mountain State, but Whiteface’s high summit elevation makes it one of the most snowsure resorts in the East.
Whiteface Pros & Cons
+ Highest vertical drop east of the Rockies
+ Uniquely challenging expert skiing in the Slides
+ Easily accessible by New York City metro skiers
+ Olympic heritage and nightlife in the nearby village of Lake Place
– Well-deserved reputation for wind and cold
– No on-mountain lodging
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There is no base village or ski in, ski out lodging at Whiteface. The best accommodations are nearby in the village of Lake Placid, which offers everything from motor lodges to motels to five star hotels.For a resort with such...
Whiteface Ski Area Whiteface is one of the East's best ski areas. The base elevation of Whiteface is 1,200 feet (365 m) rising to the Summit Quad terminus at 4,386 feet (1,336 m), with the option to hike up to...
Whiteface Beginner Skiing Whiteface's beginner skiing is concentrated in near the base, but runs from the top of Facelift allow beginners to ski half the mountain's vertical. However, neither the summit nor Little Whiteface offer green runs. Beginner skiing at...
Whiteface Intermediate Skiing Whiteface's intermediate skiing is underrated. Whiteface's reputation for steep and icy expert terrain belies the fact if boasts some great blue runs. With 43 percent of the slopes marked as “more difficult,” Whiteface has plenty of terrain...
Whiteface Expert Skiing Whiteface's expert skiing features some of New York's best black diamond ski trails - most notably the Slides and the two Olympic downhill runs. Without question, Whiteface's expert terrain is the biggest ski experience in the Eastern...
Whiteface Backcountry & Off Piste Skiing Whiteface's backcountry skiing is found in an area known as "The Slides." These rockslide chutes are amongst the toughest skiing in the East and will test the mettle of even the toughest expert skier....
Whiteface Mountain Restaurants The on mountain restaurant options at Whiteface Mountain are very limited. Try Boule’s Bistro at the bottom of the Mountain Run and Little Whiteface chairs for great views and hot food or return to the base area...
Whiteface Village Whiteface's village is the nearby Olympic town of Lake Placid. While there is no ski in, ski out lodging at Whiteface itself, Lake Placid offers a bustling main street lined with shops, restaurants and hotels and is a...
Whiteface Restaurants and Bars Without a village at Whiteface Mountain, Main Street in Lake Placid is the hub of the apres-ski activity. Whiteface-Lake Placid Apres-Ski Apres-ski at Whiteface is limited to the Cloudspin Lounge and J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines...
Whiteface Activities Whiteface has the best off-mountain activities of any resort in the Eastern United States. From bobsledding to cross country, the Whiteface-Lake Placid region is a winter sports hub without equal. If you’ve ever watched the Olympics and dreamed...