This challenging, 11.6-mile out-and-back scales Lake Placid's iconic peak, Whiteface Mountain, and rewards dayhikers with expansive summit views of the Adirondacks and beyond.
An Adirondack classic, the trek up Whiteface Mountain from its Lake Placid approach is no easy accomplishment. From the trailhead on Connery Pond Road, the summit climb starts along a mellow grade, but finishes with a grueling, 2,500-foot ascent: it's an all-day effort for most hikers.
Roughly 2.4 miles in, bear right at a junction to Whiteface Landing and head northeast up the Whiteface Brook drainage. After crossing the brook, the trail meets a lean-to shelter and starts to climb. Paralleling the brook, the conifer-flanked trail becomes increasingly rocky as the climb continues. After climbing up the low end of a cliff (and a washout above it), you'll approach the first tree-free view to the south (mile 5.3). From here, continue the ascent, following yellow blazes up the talus slope.
It's another half mile or so of steep climbing to the rocky summit area of Whiteface where a castle-like observatory offers well-earned views south across the Adirondack High Peaks, east to Camel's Hump in Vermont, and north to Montreal. Enjoy the vistas before backtracking to the trailhead at Connery Pond.
TO TRAILHEAD: From the junction of NY 86 (Main St.) and NY 73 in Lake Placid, take NY 86 northeast toward Wilmington for 2.9 miles. Turn left at the NYSDEC sign for Connery Pond. Go 0.7 mile to the barrier and trailhead. There are two small parking lots near the sign-in box.
Position Format:
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Tracks
Whiteface Mountain
Distance: 5.79 mi
Points: 372
Calories: none
Total Time: none
Speed: 0.0 mph
Pace: 0:00 / mi
Active Time: none
Speed: 0.0 mph
Pace: 0:00 / mi
Whiteface Mountain
Points of Interest
WTF001
Location: 44.308781, -73.936480
Start at the trailhead by the sign-in box on Connery Pond Road. Heading northwest on a dirt road, the route skirts a private camp on Connery Pond and then narrows to a footpath, which follows the western side of the pond.
WTF002
Location: 44.313955, -73.937103
Walk around the gate that marks the boundary of the MacKenzie Wilderness. On humid summer days, this section can be a buggy slog, but by early fall, the bugs disappear and the forest ignites with color.
WTF003
Location: 44.338562, -73.944573
Bear right (northeast) at the junction with the trail to Whiteface Landing.
WTF004
Location: 44.342650, -73.931294
Cross Whiteface Brook and continue uphill, following the brook.
WTF005
Location: 44.345100, -73.927569
Pass by Whiteface lean-to; from here, the climb up the southern face of the mountain kicks up to a significant grade (you'll gain 2,500 feet over the next 3 miles).
WTF006
Location: 44.359298, -73.908505
Enter the krummholz zone and enjoy the first clear views to the south. Continue climbing the talus slope. Just 0.7 mile remain to the summit.
WTF007
Location: 44.365765, -73.903088
Whiteface Mountain (4,867 ft.): An observatory/summit museum is just ahead, beyond a small viewing platform. The castle is 300 vertical feet above the end of the road and affords views east to Camel's Hump in Vermont, north to Montreal, and south to various Adirondack High Peaks (including Giant, Noonmark, Dix, Nippletop, Gothics, Marcy, and Algonquin). When you're ready, retrace your route to the trailhead.
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