Head to the Adirondacks this winter for festive holiday experiences in northeastern New York. The Adirondack Mountains are a top destination for winter sports and outdoor recreation, offering hiking, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dogsledding, ice skating and ice fishing for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Tupper Lake snowshoe hike. Photo: Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, Lake Placid
Make Lake Placid a priority on your itinerary. Famous for hosting the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, the area blends Olympic history with modern attractions. For an adrenaline rush, ride the Cliffside Mountain Coaster, the country’s longest year-round mountain coaster, or fly over the landscape on the Sky Flyer Zipline. If you prefer a relaxed, enclosed experience with dramatic views, take the SkyRide Experience: an eight-person gondola and glass-enclosed lift that carries guests from the Olympic Jumping Complex base lodge up toward the ski jump towers, offering sweeping vistas of the Adirondack High Peaks. Plan your trip around seasonal events such as the Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll, a festive community celebration that takes place in winter.
Fat tire biking. Photo: Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, Lake Placid
Beyond Lake Placid, the region offers many other attractions. Enjoy outdoor recreation on Mirror Lake, family-friendly slopes and programs at Oak Mountain ski area, engaging winter exhibits and activities at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, and guided frozen-waterfall tours at Ausable Chasm. These options make the Adirondacks an excellent choice for families, couples and solo travelers seeking active winter adventures or relaxed nature outings.
Lodging in the Adirondacks ranges from cozy inns to full-service resorts. Well-established favorites include Mirror Lake Inn and Whiteface Lodge, both known for comfort and convenient access to area recreation. Recent additions to the local hospitality scene expanded choices for visitors, and larger properties such as High Peaks Resort offer distinct accommodations to fit different needs: the main Resort with newly renovated guestrooms and suites, the quieter Lake House, and the Waterfront Collection with rooms and suites that emphasize lake views.
If you want help planning activities and building an itinerary, take advantage of virtual planning tools offered for the region. These resources can suggest routes, activities and lodging to match your interests and the length of your stay.
Mirror Lake Inn Resort, Lake Placid. Photo: Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, Lake Placid
Whether you’re chasing thrills on a coaster or zipline, exploring snowy trails by foot or fat-tire bike, or relaxing at a lakeside lodge, the Adirondacks deliver memorable winter experiences and seasonal holiday cheer.