Wilmington, NY
Hiking trailsNear wildernessKayak & canoe
From $170/night · Nov 6–8Unplugging in the Adirondack High Peaks
The High Peaks are the tall mountains in the northeast corner of Adirondack Park. There are 46 of them, give or take the ones that turned out to be shorter than people thought, and hiking all of them is a whole hobby.
You don't have to climb anything. There are lakes to paddle, rivers to fish and plenty of short walks. Lake Placid is the busy town. Keene Valley and Wilmington are smaller and a lot quieter.
Where to stay
Stay in Keene Valley if you want to walk out the door to a trail, Wilmington if you want to be near Whiteface, and Lake Placid if you want restaurants and shops close by. They're all within about half an hour of each other.
Little chalets in Wilmington, about 18 km from Lake Placid. Each one has a fireplace and its own entrance, some have a kitchen, and dogs are allowed. Whiteface is up the road.
Adirondack Spruce Lodge
★ 4.90Wilmington, NY
Hot tubHiking trailsHorseback riding
From $163/night · Nov 6–8Simple, comfortable rooms in Wilmington near Whiteface, and one of the best-rated places in the area. There's a grill and an outdoor fireplace, some rooms have a spa bath, and a couple of suites sleep a family.
What to do
- Mount Jo
- A short, steep hike from Heart Lake near Lake Placid with a big view of the High Peaks from the top. A good first hike, or a good one for a lazy day.
- Cascade Mountain
- One of the easier High Peaks, right off Route 73 between Lake Placid and Keene. It's popular, so go early.
- Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway
- A toll road up Whiteface Mountain from Wilmington, open in the warmer months. You drive most of the way and walk the last bit to the summit.
- Roaring Brook Falls
- A tall waterfall you can see from Route 73 near the Giant Mountain trailhead.
- Mirror Lake
- The lake right behind Main Street in Lake Placid. Walk the loop around it, paddle it, or sit on a bench and watch other people do both.
- The Ausable River
- The West Branch runs through Wilmington and is well known for fly fishing. There are pullouts along Route 86 to stop and watch the water.
The towns
Lake Placid hosted the Winter Olympics twice, in 1932 and 1980, and still feels like a ski town. It's the busiest place up here, with a real main street and the most places to eat.
Keene Valley is a small hiking town with trailheads on all sides. Wilmington sits at the foot of Whiteface. Saranac Lake, west of Lake Placid, is a bit bigger and more of a regular town, with lots of lakes around it for paddling.
Before you go
- Trailhead parking along Route 73 fills up early on summer and fall weekends. Some lots, like the one for the Adirondack Mountain Reserve, need a reservation in season, so check before you go.
- The weather on the summits can be very different from town. Bring layers, even in summer.
- It's roughly five hours from New York City and a bit over two from Albany or Montreal. Plan on two nights at least.
More places to stay nearby
First look
New places we find and the odd guide to somewhere quiet. A few emails a year, that's it.