How to Plan a Ski Trip to Whiteface Mountain in New York

Two teen boys hovered at the edge of the fault line, their faces caught between bravado and doubt as they weighed whether to take the plunge down one of the East Coast’s most unforgiving ski runs. It’s a familiar sight at the summit of Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, New York. 

As I cruised down to my favorite drop-in, they called out to do some reconnaissance: “Have you been down this yet? How is it?” 

“Fantastic!” I shouted back over the roaring wind. “So fun—incredibly steep!”

“But…how are the conditions?” Clearly, they were hoping I’d give them a reason not to take that gut-churning descent. 

“Oh, yeah, it’s a bit icy,” I conceded with a grin before taking off. Skyward, Whiteface’s highest in-bound trail, is a relentless, nearly mile-long run starting with a drop-in that feels more like a dive. Steep and exposed to all the frigid winds the East is famous for, it sends you soaring with the rolling Adirondacks, Lake Champlain, and Green Mountains ahead, all looking so puny from the cloud-grazing peak.

Even on that day, when the powder had long congealed into the infamous hardpack that East Coast skiers know so well, this was my favorite ski run in the world. I love the scrape of my edges biting into that unforgiving face, leaving my mark—however ephemeral—on this fabled shoot that’s left its mark on me.

Call it nostalgia or loyalty, but after three decades of skiing, there’s still something special about the mountain where I grew up honing my technique. A former Olympic race site, Whiteface Mountain is 4,867 feet of nature at its rawest. It rises in the northeast of the Adirondack Park, the largest protected piece of land in the continental U.S. The ski area is about a 15-minute drive through twisting, riverside roads from Lake Placid, the charming mountain town that hosted the Olympic Games in 1932 and 1980. 

Although Whiteface is undoubtedly a place for advanced skiers to prove their mettle, it’s got plenty of space for kids and new learners. The recently renovated Bear Den Lodge houses a renowned ski school, and it’s secluded with its own parking lot and lifts. It’s staffed by superb teachers—kids make weekly trips all the way from New York City to train here—and a cozy dining hall with a wall of windows for watching little ones take their first turns. 

And you don’t have to be a certified shredder to enjoy the Main Base Lodge’s Cloudspin restaurant, which serves impressively flavorful barbecue fresh from the mountain’s slope-side grill. Even some of the thrills are open to everyone: The Cloudsplitter gondola starts from the base, climbs up one frosted peak, and then plummets back down into a deep valley before sweeping back up for a final ascent to the top of Little Whiteface. There, you come face-to-face with the ancient summit of Whiteface Mountain.

Here’s everything else you need to know to plan a trip to Whiteface Mountain.

Skiiing and Snowboarding Information

Whiteface has 94 trails on 299 skiable acres comprising three peaks: Little Whiteface, Lookout Mountain, and Whiteface. It has 30 percent expert, 46 percent intermediate, and 24 percent beginner terrain. Lifts include an eight-person gondola, two detachable quads, three fixed quads, one triple, two doubles, and two conveyor belts. Updated for the 2025/2026 season, it has 99 percent snowmaking coverage. A dedicated learning center from Bear Den Lodge offers a beginner-friendly area separate (though accessible) from the main mountain. 

Wilmington Trail is a 2.1-mile-long intermediate trail from the top of Lookout Mountain. It starts with an enchanting, gentle through-line generously flanked by snow-caked pines and continues to some of the Whiteface’s best views. Riva Ridge and Paron’s Run—both intermediate—begin at the summit of Whiteface and have impressive vistas of their own. 

Skiers just beginning to advance to intermediate trails can take several blue runs from the top of Little Whiteface and transition to a green paths that begin with Easy Street about halfway up the mountain. Black and double-black trails like Skyward, Essex, and Lower Mackenzie offer terrific advanced skiing. 

Whiteface has one cross course and four terrain parks: Mixing Bowl (beginner), Flying Squirrel (beginner), Wolf (intermediate), and Bear (advanced). There are seven named glades (apart from the Slides), including two intermediate areas. 

Opened only at the discretion of the ski patrol team and accessible via a short hike, the off-piste Slides offer some of the rawest skiing in the region. The incline approaches 70 degrees. Having avalanche gear (beacon, probe, and shovel) is mandatory. You’ll have the best chance of the Slides being open in March after the season’s snow accumulation.

Where to Stay

Mirror Lake Inn

A true winter wonderland perched on the edge of its namesake lake, beloved Mirror Lake Inn is home to Lake Placid’s premier accommodations. Fairy-tale scenes unfolded before the expansive window in my second-floor suite—dog sled rides continuously looping past, flakes piling on the twinkling cottage that sits on the frozen shore, children playing hockey on the inn’s public skating rink. Things were just as dreamy inside, with fireplaces and plush furnishings creating stately yet homey common spaces. Being a guest of Mirror Lake Inn feels like staying in the mountain home of an exceptionally tasteful family. And after returning from Whiteface, treating my muscles to a circuit of the inn’s sauna, indoor whirlpool, indoor pool, and outdoor hot tub capped off a day of skiing in blissful fashion. 

Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort

Tucked between the tranquil Mirror Lake and the historic Olympic Village, Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort delivers convenient winter sport access and après essentials. Enjoy dog sled rides, cross-country skiing, and ice skating steps away from hotel grounds, or recover from a day at Whiteface in the indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and whirlpool tub. The pet and family-friendly resort’s central location in the heart of the village makes for effortless afternoons perusing charming shops for souvenirs and artisanal goods. And thanks to the Golden Arrow’s underground parking lot, guests can skip scraping ice off their windshields and head straight to the mountain to lay their tracks on powder days.

Lake Placid Inn Boutique Hotel

If you’re looking for a practical, contemporary, and cost-effective place to lay your head, the recently renovated Lake Placid Inn Boutique Hotel is the best choice. The 40-room inn overlooks the Olympic speed-skating oval in the lively heart of downtown Lake Placid, making it a standout for off-mountain walkability. Guests also enjoy pristine, spacious rooms and reliable service.

Where to Eat

Kanu Dining Room at The Whiteface Lodge

For a quintessential Adirondack experience, enjoy a hearty meal in Kanu’s grand log-cabin-style dining room. Massive stone fireplaces and rustic furnishings complement rich flavors and generous portions. During my post-holiday visit, the festive decor was still jaw-dropping, including a towering Christmas tree in the center of the dining room and whimsical touches like ice-skate ornaments and heaps of twinkling tinsel. For a particularly scrumptious meal at an incredible value, head to the prime rib buffet on Sunday nights. 

Big Mountain Deli & Crêperie

If you’re looking to carb load before a chilly day on the slopes, breakfast at Big Mountain Deli & Crêperie is the perfect place to get the job done. Even better, pack a lunch of one of their 46 celebrated sandwiches, featuring generous servings of premium deli meats on homemade asiago peppercorn, caramelized onion, rosemary garlic, or basil pesto rolls.

Smoke Signals

Smoked in-house and served lakeside, these creative barbecue dishes and chophouse classics are loved by locals and visitors alike. Homey Smoke Signals has an extensive selection of whiskey from around the globe in addition to seasonal cocktail offerings like peppermint espresso martinis and hot cider toddies. Make sure to come with an appetite—duck fat poutine, pork belly cinnamon rolls, and wings with your choice of 10 sauces and rubs are just preludes to an epic list of entrees.

Where to Après-ski

Top of the Park

Craft cocktails with scenic views are a classic après recipe for success, and Top of the Park delivers with Adirondack-inspired refreshments served in a second-floor lakeside lounge. Drinks like hot buttered rum, Cabin Ember Punch (with brandy, amaro, cinnamon, lemon, milk wash), and Still Water Smoke (with mezcal, vermouth, Suze, saffron honey, and orange bitters) are made with top-shelf liquor and served amid a quaint-meets-contemporary ambiance.

Lisa G’s

You can’t leave Upstate New York without chowing down on some bar wings and sharing a beer with the locals. Join welcoming regulars and returning vacationers at Lisa G’s for creative cocktails and dishes in a warm, relaxed atmosphere. Drinks include a banana split whiskey concoction and a fruity twist on a Moscow mule, while the food menu spans from truffle-infused Buffalo wings to blueberry and bacon pizza.

Roomers

For bar games, DJ music, and a party-minded crowd, Roomers is Lake Placid’s late-night go-to. The lively dive is on Main Street, Lake Placid’s central strip, offering drink specials and dancing until 3 a.m.

Off-mountain Activities

Visit Olympic legacy and tribute sites. 

Grab a Legacy Sites Passport to save on admission to popular activities like tours of the ski jump complex, entrance to the Lake Placid Olympic Museum and the speed skating oval,  Mt. Van Hoevenberg, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. Passholders also get 10 percent discounts on retail and concessions at the sites, plus 10 percent off the Olympic Center Winter Comedy Series.

Experience High Falls Gorge.

High Falls Gorge is a winter dreamscape of frozen waterfalls and ice formations just 10 minutes away from Whiteface Mountain. The one-mile path can be walked or snowshoed from Fridays through Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The facility includes a cafe with light refreshments, and a campfire with s’mores fixings is provided on the weekends. 

Ride a dog sled.

Thunder Mountain Dog Sled Tours and Mike Arnold Dog Sled Rides both operate on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid. The teams run Thursdays through Sundays when conditions are deemed safe by mushers. Check ahead of time to confirm rides are available, and then catch the four-legged adventures from Main Street in Lake Placid. 

Go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.

The Whiteface region is full of serene wilderness trails for off-mountain recreation. Snowshoe and cross-country skiing equipment rentals and trails can be found at Whiteface Club & Resort’s Nordic Center and Mt. Van Hoevenberg.

How to Ride

Tickets

Purchase daily lift tickets online ahead of time for the best rates. Lift tickets purchased on-site on the day are $134 for one day of skiing, $268 for two days of skiing, and $402 for three days of skiing.  

Whiteface is part of New York’s Ski3 season pass, which also gives members access to Gore Mountain and Belleayre Mountain. Adult Ski3 season passes with no blackout dates are $1,239. Discounts are available for military members and those aged 0 to 29 or 70 and older.  

Mountain Collective passholders are entitled to two free days at Whiteface with no blackout dates during the 2025/2026 season, plus 50 percent off additional lift tickets. To use your Mountain Collective pass at the mountain, visit the ticket office upon arrival. If you hold a Ski3 pass, tickets at the Mountain Collective’s 27 member mountains around the world are 50 percent off. 

Limited Whiteface season passes are available for skiers 13-69 for $959, with blackout dates from Christmas through New Year’s Day, during the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and during Presidents’ Day weekend. 

Ski3 midweek passes are available to adults aged 20 to 69 for $879. 

Frequent Skier Cards offering heavy discounts on lift tickets can be purchased from July through mid-December.  

Rentals

Whiteface has two rental shops stocked with equipment from Rossignol and Burton. The mountain recommends that beginners, skiers taking lessons, and visitors with different abilities rent from the Bear Den Lodge, and intermediate and advanced skiers grab gear from the Main Base Lodge.

Purchase rentals online ahead of time for the best rates. Full packages with skis or snowboard, helmet, and poles start at $64 a day when reserved in advance, $73 at the shop. Rental packages for kids 7 to 12 and adults over 65 are $48 for one day online and $56 at the mountain, and $20 for children 6 and under. Individual pieces of equipment can also be rented. Specialized skis and snowboards are also available to demo, including free-ride, all-mountain, on-piste, and racing skis. 

Full-season rentals are $199 for kids 12 and under and $249 for teens 13 and up. Rental shops are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. 

Programming

Whiteface holds group lessons for skiers ages 4 and up. Private lessons must be booked ahead of time and run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Groups of up to five people per lesson are welcome. Adaptive lessons for all ages and experience levels are available. 

Whiteface’s docket of season-long programs includes sessions for skiers over 50, kids at least 4 years old, and youth athletes interested in training with the New York Ski Educational Foundation.  

Teens 14 to 15 can sign up for the Instructor in Training program to assist with kids’ lessons and work towards becoming an instructor at 16 years old. 

When to Go

For optimal mountain conditions, visit Whiteface during the last two weeks of February or the first two weeks of March. The season’s snow will be nicely accumulated to allow for maximum trail openings, perhaps even the chance to ski the legendary Slides. 

As a former Olympics host, Lake Placid is going all out while the 2026 Games unfold in Italy. From Feb. 5 to Feb. 22, visitors can spectate and participate in meet-and-greets with Olympic champions, speed skating demonstrations and workshops, special exhibits at the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, and viewing parties at historic legacy sites.  

Check Whiteface’s season calendar for special events like Adirondack Winter Pride (Feb. 27 to March 1), slope-style competitions, and ski races.