Dec 3

Dec 3 Chasing Fall Colors in Lake Placid, New York

Pictures of the Indian Head vista have been flooding my Instagram feed the last couple of fall seasons, so I knew that was the main place I wanted to visit.

This past fall I went on a trip to Stowe, Vermont and Lake Placid to view the fall colors so I thought I’d share the itinerary for my trip with you all. Enjoy!

>> Related: 3 Days Leaf Peeping In Stowe, Vermont <<

When to Start Planning

The Adirondack Mountains are very popular all year long, especially in the fall time. The Lake Placid area is one of the better-known towns in the mountain range, most likely due to the vast amount of outdoor activities. Because it is a popular destination, you’ll want to start planning months in advance. There are many camping, cabins, hotels, and other stays available in the region so you just want to make sure you secure lodging. Unless you plan to backcountry camp, but then you’ll want to research where you can set up. With so many activities and areas to explore, you really want to do your research when visiting the Adirondacks.

Peak fall colors vary every year but tend to hit around early to mid-October depending on where you go in the region since elevation plays a big factor as well in mountains. You can track the fall foliage at either I Love New York or Lake Placid’s website.

>> Related: How To Plan The Perfect Fall Trip <<

Day One in Lake Placid

Start your morning off by driving to the top of the fifth highest mountain in the state of New York. Located in Wilmington, about 20 minutes up the road from downtown Lake Placid, you’ll be able to drive up the toll road of Whiteface Mountain. The toll road actually starts in Wilmington, making it 8 miles long, but from the toll house, the drive is only 5 miles. The road rises up from there about 2,300 feet in elevation, but don’t worry, it’s a gradual elevation change with lots of twists and turns. On the way up you’ll pass many scenic pull-offs and informational signs. Near the top, you have two options: hike to the summit or take the elevator. The elevator will take you 426-feet into a tunnel in the mountain and then 246-feet to the top. The Stairway Ridge trail is about 0.2 miles and is a rocky hike with handrails to help.

Not interested in driving the mountain or want another view of the surrounding region? No worries, you can also take the Cloudsplitter Gondola to the top of Little Whiteface Mountain, which is a lower elevation, and it’s only about a 15-minute ride to the top.

The top of Whiteface Mountain offers truly spectacular views of the surrounding region during peak fall foliage. You’re able to see other Adirondack High Peaks and even Lake Placid in the distance. This is easily an unforgettable experience when visiting the area in the fall time.

Next up is High Falls Gorge, located down the road. This is a privately-owned 22-acre property, so there is a fee to enter, but it’s totally worth it. You’ll get to walk along the gorge and see four amazing waterfalls from bridges, walkways, and viewing platforms. There’s a few options when visiting, the most popular waterfall walk which will take you down a few sets of stairs for more waterfall views; the easy path, which is handicap accessible but doesn’t show all four waterfalls; and then the nature trail which is a 1-mile loop in the woods, with no waterfalls. The fall foliage throughout the gorge is a beautiful combination. The waterfall walk usually takes about 45 minutes to explore, depending on your pace and how many stops you make.

For lunch, there’s a picnic area or the Riverview Cafe at High Falls Gorge, or you can grab something in downtown Lake Placid.

Continue on down the road to the village of Lake Placid, where you can walk down Main Street and go shopping. Parking along the streets or in a lot downtown requires you to pay at the kiosk or via the Flowbird app. I personally loved the app because you can extend your time and see where other parking areas are instead of driving around trying to figure out where you can park.

Some of my favorite shops here include:

Critters
Lake Placid Ski & Board
Imagination Station
Life is Good
Adirondack Chocolates
USA Spirit Shop
Adirondack Popcorn
Lake Placid Christmas Co.

While downtown, make sure you check out Mirror Lake, which is a beautiful spot to view the fall colors and enjoy some time at in the afternoon. You also can’t visit Lake Placid without stopping by the Olympic Fields! Right by the Lake Placid Winter Olympics Museum is the Olympic Center. Unfortunately, these sites are under construction in preparation for the 2023 World University Games so I wasn’t able to explore them when I went. Also down the road is also the Olympic Jumping Complex.

>> Related: The Complete Guide to Lake Placid (coming soon!) <<

Next up is another fun hike to the top of Mount Jo, which is about a 2-mile trail. It’s not the easiest hike but it’s short and offers great views of the surrounding High Peaks when you get to the top. When you’re done, be sure to walk around Heart Lake, which looks amazing with the fall colors surrounding it.

For parking, you need to park at the Adirondack LOJ, which requires a small fee. There’s also the High Peaks Information Center here and a small gift shop.

>> Related: Tips For Hiking As A Solo Female <<

Head back to Mirror Lake to catch a sunset before turning in for the night.

View of Lower Ausable Lake from Indian Head Vista

Day Two in Lake Placid

Start your morning off right with a good 10+ mile hike to probably one of the best views in the Adirondacks. It’s a bit outside of Lake Placid, about 30 minutes over in Keene Valley, but it’s definitely worth the drive.

While there are a few ways to this viewpoint, I personally took the middle/straight shot route, so that’s what I’m going to be referencing. When I visited, you had to reserve a spot in order to park in this area in an effort to protect the land and add safety. This was a temporary trial season of doing this, and it ended October 31st, 2021. So now you no longer have to make reservations and check in with the rangers. Personally, I hope they bring this back as it was amazing to not have to run into a massive group of people at the top of the mountain while enjoying the view.

You start at the St. Huberts Parking Area, which is an Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR) parking lot, and then walk up Ausable Club Road through the Golf Club area, then turn left onto Lake Road, which you’ll follow for about 4.5 miles before reaching the Lower Ausable Lake Dam. From here you have two options: take a right and go to Rainbow Falls (another excellent spot to see fall colors around a waterfall) or continue left to the Indian Head vista. Upon reaching the vista, you will be instantly amazed by the view before heading down the rocks to the edge of the cliff. Here you will have truly stunning views of the mountains and Lower Ausable Lake. Once you’ve gotten your photos and relaxed for a bit enjoying the view, you can head back to the parking lot the same way you came.

There are other side trails that lead to/from Indian Head or other scenic spots, I just chose to continue on Lake Road. Click here for the AllTrails map for Rainbow Falls and Indian Head that takes one of the side trails making the hike slightly shorter than taking Lake Road the entire way.

Across the street from the parking lot is the trail to Roaring Brook Falls, which is about a 1.6-mile trail that leads to the bottom of the falls. I personally was too exhausted after the hike to Indian Head, so instead, I drove up the street to a small pull-off to where you can see the falls from a distance.

Depending on how early you start the day, you’ll most likely have a good amount of time left in the day after this. Use this time to rest (you’ll need it after that hike) and stop at scenic pull-offs while driving around because there is so much beauty in this area. If you’re not too tired, be sure to head over to Upper Cascade Lake to enjoy a sunset.