Many associate the Adirondacks with summer hiking, canoeing and camping. But the mountains are calling in the winter too. You probably know that Lake Placid hosted past Olympics, but may not realize the vast variety of snow activities you can enjoy in this unique area.

January, February and March are the best times to enjoy the snow. To give you a sense of what to expect in terms of weather, January sees an average high temp of 24 degrees (brrr!), and an average low of 6 degrees. Mirror Lake usually freezes by January allowing for ice skating on the lake and toboggan. February is not quite as cold, and usually gets the most snowfall of the year averaging 11.8 inches of snowfall. March still sees plenty of snow averaging over 10 inches. Of course you never know when a freak storm will hit. In 2022 we got over a foot of snow at our cottage in April!

1. Ski the Face: Whiteface Mountain, about 10 miles from our cottage to the parking lot, is one of the top ski resorts in the East. Ski Magazine describes it as: “being both a no-frill skier’s mountain and a luxury resort destination with one of the best ski towns in the East located nearby. The best of both worlds.” With 11 lifts and 89 total ski runs, you can enjoy a vertical drop of 3,340 feet. A one-day lift ticket will range from $10 for little ones, up to $119 for adults. You can rent equipment on the mountain, or we typically rent in town from Cunningham’s Ski Barn on Main Street.

2. Ice Skate on a frozen lake or on Olympic Ice: Ice skating in Lake Placid is simply more special than your average rink. Maybe Rockefeller Center in NYC is iconic, but it’s hard to beat the Olympic Oval or skating on picturesque Mirror Lake. The Speed Skating Oval is one of the few outdoor rinks of its kind left in the country. Tickets for the Oval range from $12 - $20 depending on the day of the week, and skate rentals are $10. For a more natural experience, the Lake Placid Parks Department clears a two-mile loop around Mirror Lake as well as space for hockey and general skating near the town beach. Skating on the lake is free, and you can rent skates at Locker Room 5 on Main Street.

3. Toboggan: It really doesn’t matter how old you are, the Lake Placid Toboggan is fun for all ages. In operation since the 1960s, toboggans are sent down an ice covered chute onto frozen Mirror Lake. Depending on weather conditions toboggans can travel over 1,000 feet once they reach the frozen lake surface. Generally the chute is operating around the first full weekend in February, sometimes earlier. Admission of $15 covers the toboggan rental and unlimited rides that day. Toboggans can hold 2-4 people.

4. Watch World-Class Athletes Compete: In terms of spectator sports, there aren’t many things more exciting than watching athletes on the ski jump. Check the ski jump website calendar to discover competitions like the Ski Jumping World Cup that’s scheduled for Feb. 11-12. And the Mt. Van Hoevenberg website calendar has events like the World Cup Bobsled and Skeleton. Better yet, get tickets for the 2023 World University Games Jan. 12-22.

5. Give Bobsledding or Skeleton a Try Yourself: Because of its Olympic history and preeminent location for athlete training, Lake Placid maintains state-of-the-art tracks for bobsledding, skeleton (head first) and luge (feet first). Not only can you catch a competition, but you can also try each of these sports yourself! The Bobsled Experience is $125, Skeleton Experience is $75. Check the website for age, height and weight requirements. Discover Luge lessons are another option, but they’re only offered in summer.

6. Take a Dog Sled or Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride: As I’ve admitted before, I like to check the Mirror Lake webcam when I’m away and see what’s happening. One of my favorite things in winter is to catch sightings of the dog sled tours across the frozen lake. I’ve never been myself, but it looks like a ton of fun. Rides are $20 per person. If you want to upgrade from a sled to a sleigh — and from dogs to horses — try the Country Dreams sleigh tours. They have a location near the John Brown Farm and offer winter wonderland rides for romantic couples or the whole family.

7. XC Ski or Snowshoe Through the Woods: Lake Placid is frequently ranked #1 as the best place in the country for cross-country skiing. Whether you’re an expert or beginner, this is the place to come. And, it isn’t anywhere near as expensive as downhill skiing! The XC trails on Mt. Van Hoevenberg are the most expensive ranging from $6 - $32 for a day pass, and rentals run about $25. For the price, you get access to 55 km of olympic quality trails. And you can sign up for XC ski lessons at the Nordic Center at Van Hoevenberg. Shoeshowing is an option too. Another great idea is to head to the Cascade Center, now operated by the ADK Mountain Club. At Cascade you can access a network of 20 km of XC trails for $8-$15, or ADK Club members ski/shoeshoe for free. Rentals range from $10-$30.

8. Spa Day: The Whiteface Lodge has a very nice spa. Highly recommend. When you book a massage or other services it includes use of their facilities for the day. They have a nice outdoor hot tub, steam rooms, etc. A 50-minute massage is $140/person. Check out more spa options on this previous post.

9. Saranac Lake Winter Carnival: For 2023, the annual winter carnival is scheduled for February 4 - 12. This festival has been going on since 1897 with an ice palace made out of ice from Flower Lake!! It’s a thing. The firework displays are especially fun with the ice palace lit at night - opening fireworks on Feb. 4 and closing fireworks on Feb. 12. In between you can tour the ice castle (family friendly and dog-friendly), and watch a variety of serious and wacky events. Everything from curling to a woodsmen exhibition, snowshoe races, snow rugby, icicle contests and inner tube races. If you’ve got kids, don’t miss it. There’s also a formal ball on Feb. 10 and annual parade down Broadway on Feb. 11. Most of the events are free.

10. Hire a Nature Guide: Sometimes it’s nice to have a trained naturalist who intimately knows the area and can take you places where there’s likely to be wildlife or interesting points of interest. For instance, the Paul Smith’s VIC offers group events like XC Ski with a Scientist for $15. Another option that’s closer to Lake Placid is the Wild Neighbors Nature Connection. Follow them on Instagram @adknatureguide for specials; they frequently offer group community outings for as low as $10 per person.

11. Winter Hiking and Mountaineering: For a more rigorous adventure, Guide ADK offers packages for snowshoeing, winter mountaineering, ice climbing and backcountry skiing. Or as a more budget-friendly option, check out the activities and events at the Mountaineer in Keene. Our favorite outdoor equipment and gear store hosts Mountainfest and a Backcountry Ski Festival Feb. 10 - 13 with lots of outdoor clinics and tours. If you you want something a bit more low key, try one of the area’s winter hiking challenges — like the Lake Placid 9er and ADK 46er — or one of these beginner winter hikes. Just remember your winter hiking gear list.

12. Check Out Frozen Waterfalls: Visit High Falls Gorge in winter! Their winter season this year is Dec. 17 - March 26. Tickets are $17.50 for adults and $13.50 for kids 12 and younger. What makes this walk interesting is the frozen waterfall. It’s a nice beginner-level introduction to winter hiking.

13. Go Ice Fishing: If you’ve never been ice fishing, maybe you should give it a try. Seriously. The Hungry Trout Fly Shop out of Wilmington offers a range of winter fishing trips including a 2-hour learn to ice fish experience for $295 for up to four anglers. It includes all the equipment and instruction; all you’ll need is a fishing license and warm clothes.

14. See the Wild Lights Sparkle: The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, about 45 minutes from Lake Placid, hangs thousands of outdoor lights that transforms its campus and trails into a magical experience for a romantic evening or family fun excursion. Wander through the enchanting, illuminated, winter wonderland to explore the sights and sounds of Wild Lights. Check their websites for dates, which run through February. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

15. Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory: The winter stargazing schedule for the observatory is the first and third Fridays of each month. If that doesn’t align with your visit, consider a private viewing session at the observatory for $150 for up to 20 people. Approx. 45-minute drive to Tupper Lake.

16. Great Camp Santanoni: This special Great Camp, supported by AARCH, offers fantastic winter weekends on Jan. 14-16, Feb. 18-20 and March 11-12 when you can XC ski or snowshoe to the lodge. You'll be able to go into the Gate Lodge and Main Lodge of the Camp, view displays about the Great Camp, and take short interpretive tours with AARCH volunteers. The 10-mile round trip on gently rolling terrain will take you past the Santanoni Farm and through the Forest Preserve on a wide, old road (no vehicle access). The Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) provides snowshoes for visitors to borrow at the gate lodge. It’s about a 90-minute drive from Lake Placid.