Whiteface Mountain, 20 minutes north of Lake Placid, is the alpine ski area that hosted the 1980 Winter Olympic downhill and slalom events. It is the highest ski resort in the northeastern United States by vertical drop, with 3,430 feet from summit to base — the mountain falls steeply from its 4,867-foot peak to the village level. In winter it operates as a major ski area with a wide range of runs and the kind of serious vertical that the rest of the northeast cannot match.
In summer and autumn, the Veterans' Memorial Highway toll road climbs to the summit, where a tunnel leads to the castle observation tower. On clear days you can see Vermont, Quebec, and the full sweep of the Adirondacks from the top. The mountain also has a gondola that operates in autumn for foliage viewing. The ski area base lodge is worth a stop in ski season simply to see the Olympic downhill start — a run that even experienced skiers find formidable.