Whiteface Ski Area Profile

Between the top of the highest lift at Whiteface and the bottom of the lowest there's 3430 feet of vertical - plenty of room in which to play.

The vertical drop tells only part of the story. Six dozen trails provide everything from gentle novice slopes to The Slides, a truly steep double black diamond drop from the summit area. Eleven lifts, including the Cloudsplitter Gondola and a high speed quad serve this tall terrain.

With genuine Olympic credentials (and a genuine Olympic town in nearby Lake Placid) Whiteface continues to draw visitors from far and wide to its Northern Adirondacks location. But despite its reputation as a steep, tough mountain, Whiteface has its gentler side, too. Beginning skiers and riders will love Easy Acres, a separate mini-mountain with its own lifts, lodge, rental shop, and ski school for families. Intermediates can head to Little Whiteface (with a peak elevation of 3676 feet it's not so little) and ride the detachable quad to access classic cruisers like Excelsior. Even from the top there are a couple of fine intermediate trails: The Follies and Paron's Run, which segues to Excelsior.

Advanced skiers and riders can take advantage of the tougher side of Whiteface on Upper/Lower Skyward, Upper Cloudspin, Essex, Upper Northway, and Approach, plus nearly a dozen more black diamonds. Then there's the aforementioned The Slides, actually an old avalanche path, and it's equally challenging exit, Slide Out.

A couple of terrain parks and a 450' ½ pipe are available for more formal snowplay, but boarders are welcome anywhere on the mountain.

The main base lodge houses all services and the Cloudspin Lounge and Deli, upstairs. Up at the mid-mountain lodge you'll find Boule's Bistro and the Mountain Run Demo Center.

Lodging for a night or longer is available in Wilmington and Lake Placid. Choices range from rustic lodges in the Adirondack style to four-star resorts. And the dining options are just as varied, with everything from the ubiquitous pizza to wild game and fine wine available in the area.

With the vibrant Olympic town of Lake Placid just a few miles away, finding something to do after a day on the slopes or as an alternative is not a problem.

It's deciding what to do that may stump you. Go ice skating or take in a hockey game. Watch bobsledding or luge or take a run yourself. Visit the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Museum. Take a sleigh ride. Visit the ski jumping complex and watch a competition or a practice session. Watch a concert or show or go shopping. Go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing; there are miles of trails in the area. Take the family on a snowmobile tour. The point is if you want to do it, it's here to be done.

The Slides are open only when natural snow cover and weather conditions allow, but if you're there when they are and you fancy yourself an expert, there are few other lift-served runs in the Northeast where you can enjoy the challenge they present - and find out just how good you are.