Whiteface Mountain is the fifth tallest mountain in New York and offers an excellent 360 degree view. Views include the Green Mountains of Vermont, as well as the skyscrapers in Montreal and White Mountains of New Hampshire on a very clear day. Whiteface is often climbed with Esther Mountain, another Adirondack High Peak.
Distance: 3.9 miles to the summit, thus 7.8 mile round trip if skipping Esther Mountain
Ascent: 2,535 feet
Elevation: 4,867 feet
Primary Trailhead: The main trailhead is not labeled with a DEC sign. From the intersection of Route 73 and Route 86, follow Route 86 toward Wilmington. Continue into Wilmington to the four-way stop sign. Take a left onto Route 431 (Whiteface Mountain Road). Follow here for 2.4 miles to the Atmospheric Science Research Center Road on the left. Follow this road around the one-way roundabout to the trail on the right, just past a dirt road that descends into the woods.
Trail Route: From the primary trailhead you descend a bit to a very long and steep climb up Marble Mountain. The Marble Mountain section used to be an old ski slope and you will be able to see that one way – old cement footers still line the trail. From the top of Marble Mountain you will come to an intersection, left is the secondary trail outlined below. Right is the route you will want. After a short break on a flatter section you will start a demanding climb through an evergreen forest that opens up a few views along the way. After about 1.5 miles you will come to a rather large cairn at a trail intersection. This is the herd-path to Esther Mountain. Continuing straight the climb relaxes a bit after a short descent before it climbs steeply to the Whiteface Memorial Highway – trail four outlined below. During times where the road is open to vehicles it cannot be walked on. The trail leaves the roadside as soon as it hits it and climbs steeply up to an open ridge with amazing views. You will continue the ridge to the summit of Whiteface where you will encounter the tourists who drove up.
History: Located in the town of Wilmington, about 13 miles from Lake Placid, Whiteface Mountain’s east slope is home to a major ski area which hosted the alpine skiing competitions of the 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 (1,400 m) where visitors can access a tunnel leading to the core of the mountain. From here, visitors wait their turn to take an elevator which rises 276 feet (84 m), approximately 27 stories, to the summit.
Conceived and initiated prior to the Great Depression, Whiteface Castle and the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway were funded entirely by the state of New York. Construction on the toll road began in 1929 and it officially opened July 20, 1935, in a ceremony featuring President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The highway was dedicated to veterans of the Great War. Whiteface Castle, built with granite excavated during the road construction, dominates the summit area.
Location: Whiteface Mountain is located in the Town of Wilmington, in Essex County, in the Northern region of New York State.