During the week of the fourth of July, I took a trip to Lake Placid, NY. While there, I explored some of the rich history, beautiful scenery, and excellent cuisine of the Adirondack region. The town of Lake Placid is quaint and embodies that mountain charm while also catering to the tourist perspective. Situated amid one of New York’s premier hiking destinations, I had to venture out and explore the area. What I found are 3 must-do hikes for all skill levels near Lake Placid that I think most people will enjoy.
#1 Awesome Ausable Chasm:
AuSable Chasm was formed over 500 million years ago! If that isn’t enough of a reason to visit, I don’t know what is. The Chasm is a popular hiking destination and has been in operation since the late 1800s. There are 5 well marked trails. I chose the rim walk (labeled green) after an employee for AuSable Chasm suggested it was the most popular and provided the best views.
The Rim Walk: The rim walk is a short almost 2-mile walk/ hike around the top of the AuSable Chasm. Below you can see the waters and the various levels of rock formations. There are plenty of lookout points to take some great pictures, such as the crossing bridge. If you want, you can purchase add-ons for the river raft, tubing, rappelling, and/ or rock climbing.
#2 Gorgeous High Falls Gorge:
For more great views that are located near water, you could hardly go wrong by hiking the High Falls Gorge. The Gorge began as a tourist attraction around 130 years ago. But like AuSable Chasm, its geological history is much, much older. The Gorge is located about 15 minutes northeast of Lake Placid which makes it convenient for a short trip outside of town.
High Falls Gorge has three trails. Two of which traverse along the West Branch AuSable River. These two trails are great for breathtaking views of the Gorge’s waterfall. At the beginning of these trails is a boulder of Anorthosite which is about 1.5 billion years old, this type of rock has also been found on the moon!
Of the two trails that go along the Gorge, one is wheelchair accessible. The third trail goes into the protected forest and gives hikers a more relaxed version of the strenuous mountain hikes they may encounter within the Adirondack region whilst also enjoying the ancient forest ecosystem.
#3 Wild Whiteface Mountain Summit Trail:
One of the Adirondack 46ers, this high peak mountain stands over 4800 feet tall, that’s 700 feet taller than the Catskill’s highest peak mountain, Slide and is the fifth highest in all of New York. There are multiple trails to the top of Whiteface Mountain, one of which is a 9.5-mile Summit Trail that can be traversed from Wilmington, NY. But there is a more family friendly way to reach the top of this behemoth.
By driving up Veterans’ Memorial Highway, Whiteface Mountain can be easily accessible by most people. After parking, there are options to reach the top, one is by going through an underground tunnel and taking the elevator and the other is a short ¼ mile hike along the ridge. To access the summit trail along the ridge you go through a great structure called the “Whiteface Castle.”
At the top there is an opportunity to enjoy some great views and explore the signs describing the formation of the mountain and ecosystem. Finally, if you hiked up but want a ride back you can take the elevator down by going through the Whiteface Mountain Weather Station (that looks a lot like a lighthouse in the sky).
Conclusion:
These 3 must-do hikes for all skill levels near Lake Placid are a great way to enjoy hiking with all members of your family and/ or friends. On these hikes, not only will you enjoy some awesome views, and learn about history of the Adirondack region, but like the 3 Outstanding Hikes in the Hudson Valley, you will be more in touch with nature while experiencing some incredible trails.