How to Go Big—Really Big—in the Adirondacks
Whiteface and Gore sit atop the throne in the Empire State
This content was produced in partnership with the New York Regional Office Of Sustainable Tourism.
Here’s a stat that may surprise you: The largest publicly protected wilderness area in the U.S. isn’t Yellowstone, Yosemite, or the Grand Canyon—it’s Adirondack Park in upstate New York, and it’s bigger than those other three combined.
Of course, this shouldn’t surprise you. From the new World Trade Center to Niagara Falls to mansions in the Hamptons, New York does everything big. And Adirondack Park is home to two ski areas that are no exception. Whiteface and Gore mountains offer vert, skiable acres, and diversity of terrain that don’t just make resorts to the east jealous; they’ll challenge the quads of your friends from Colorado who don’t think the Northeast has much to offer.
The Skiing
The runs off Whiteface’s 4,867-foot summit careen down 3,430 feet of vertical, which is the most of any ski resort east of the Rockies. The terrain here was formidable enough to host the alpine events during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at nearby Lake Placid and here’s a good rule of thumb by which to judge any ski area: if it’s tough enough for Phil Mahre, it’s tough enough for you. If you don’t know who Phil Mahre is, you’re awarded no points and can go to the back of the class.
If you’re not trying to relive the glory days of racing, when men were men and helmets hadn’t really occurred to any of them, Whiteface still has plenty to offer. Along with 87 diverse trails for all ability levels, there are a few legitimate side country shots. The Slides—effectively a series of frozen waterfalls that can hold deep powder when the wind blows right—are steep and challenging enough for the ski patrol to require skiers to carry avalanche gear on some days.
Gore can’t quite match Whiteface’s vertical, but it has the most skiable acres in the state (439), and a top-to-bottom run that clocks in at 4.4 miles. A lot of Gore’s terrain unwinds and reveals itself to skiers at a pretty leisurely pace, but there are certainly steeps to be had like The Rumor, Hawkeye, and Lies. Still, the quintessential Gore experience is found in the trees. When the snow is right, the glades off Burnt Ridge Mountain are some of the longest tree runs in the Northeast. Gore also has some of New York’s biggest and best maintained terrain parks.
And, while Whiteface has the Olympics, Gore has the old school cred. The first rope tow in New York was run off a Buick car engine on the mountain’s North Creek Ski Bowl, all the way back in 1935. In 1967, Gore installed the state’s first gondola, which was also run off a Buick car engine. Just kidding, it was run off totally state-of-the-art electricity, just like the current Northwoods Gondola is. It should be noted, however, that Northwoods floats up the mountain like 70s Buick floats down the road.
The Eating and Drinking
Whiteface offers seven places for a mid-day thaw, an evening meal, or some après drinks. Cloudspin Bar & Grill is a lively spot for the latter, while J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Cafe & Wine Bar is a few notches up the class ladder without ever feeling stuffy.
At Gore, the mid-mountain Saddle Lodge is the call for lunch, thanks to its garnet fireplace and stunning views. At the end of the day, the Open Pit Grille has arguably the best southern barbecue you can find this close to the Canadian border.
The Rest of It
Gore sits above North Creek and Whiteface sits above Lake Placid, with the two towns offering a study in contrasts. North Creek is probably the better call for anyone looking for a winter escape with an emphasis on “escape.” This is the kind of community that has dotted and serviced Adirondack Park for generations, full of quaint, small restaurants and hotels, with local outfitters who can help you with everything from finding fishing holes to tuning a perfect ski.
Lake Placid, on the other hand, offers a world class resort experience, with a bustling downtown, hip hotels and spas, and lively nightlife. It also has the Olympic legacy, which offers plenty of cool historical distractions like Olympic Sports Complex, where you can take a bobsled ride, and the Jumping Complex, where you can lie to your friends and claim that you’d totally hit the 120-meter jump.
Like we said, everything’s big in New York.
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