The Adirondack Mountains are insanely pretty. From the lush forests and the hidden lakes to the rugged mountains and the quaint little towns, Upstate New York is an amazing place to visit. And the best way to experience it all? From atop one of the region's highest mountain peaks--Whiteface Mountain. As for the hike to the top, there are three trail options. They all have their pros and cons, and they're all relatively different lengths and take varying amounts of time. Along the trails, you might stumble across old cement footers from when the mountain was used as a ski resort, herd paths, open forests, boulders and, of course, those magnificent stone stairs. The one thing you'll find on all of the trails? Breathtaking views of Upstate New York!If the stone stairs look a little too intense for you, fear not! You can actually drive to the top, or there's an elevator inside the mountain that can take you to the summit-- you just have to do a trek through a 400-foot-long manmade tunnel directly into Whiteface Mountain's core. It's a slightly more intense hike, so don't feel too bad about not hoofing it to the top, especially if you've got kids with you. Besides, the views along the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway are kind of awesome-- there are nine overlook spots where you can stop and take in the scenery. It's almost distractingly beautiful, so take advantage.There's a reward for making it to the top, too-- a castle made of granite excavated from the mountain when the road to the top was being built during the Great Depression. There's also a restaurant and a gift shop as well. But the main attraction is the views: from the summit, you can see for miles into Vermont and Canada... and on a really clear day, you'll be able to spot the skyscrapers of Montreal, which is an impressive 80 miles away. Also check out the mountain's Eastern slope-- this is where the legendaryWhiteface Mountain Ski Resort is. The alpine skiing portions of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olymics were held there! Thankfully, you don't have to be an actual Olympic athlete to experience or appreciate the beauty of the mountain! -RoadtrippersWhiteface Mountain is the fifth-highest mountain in the U.S. state of New York, and one of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Set apart from most of the other High Peaks, the summit offers a 360-degree view of the Adirondacks and clear-day glimpses of Vermont and even Canada, where the skyscrapers of Montreal, 80 miles away, can be seen on a very clear day. Located in the town of Wilmington, about 13 miles from Lake Placid, the mountain's east slope is home to a major ski area which hosted the alpine skiing competitions of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Unique among the High Peaks, Whiteface features a developed summit and seasonal accessibility by motor vehicle. Whiteface Memorial Highway reaches a parking area at an elevation of 4,600 feet, with the remaining 267 feet being obtained by tunnel and elevator.
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