Nine miles from RetreatADK, in nearby Wilmington, sits Whiteface Mountain — the site of alpine skiing for the 1980 Winter Olympics and, still today, the biggest vertical drop east of the Rockies.
The Numbers
Whiteface has 3,430 feet of vertical on its hike-to terrain, The Slides — the greatest continuous vertical drop in eastern North America. The main lift-served terrain drops 3,166 feet from the top to the base. There are 94 trails across three peaks, covering 299 skiable acres, with 99% snowmaking coverage from 650+ snow guns and 40+ miles of pipe that keep conditions reliable even in lean snow years. The longest run is the Wilmington Trail, at 2.1 miles.
Whiteface skis big. It’s a legitimate Eastern big-mountain experience, not a beginner hill — though there’s terrain for every level, including dedicated learning areas away from the steeper upper-mountain pitches.
The Slides: Advanced Terrain
For experienced skiers and riders, The Slides offer 35 acres of in-bounds, off-piste double-black-diamond terrain — natural, ungroomed, and genuinely challenging. This is where Whiteface earns its reputation among serious skiers.
Staying in the Village vs. Staying in Wilmington
Most ski lodging clusters right at the base in Wilmington. Staying in Lake Placid village instead means a roughly 15-minute drive to the lifts — a trade worth making if you want walkable access to restaurants, bars, and shops after ski boots come off, plus the option to spend a non-ski day at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, the Olympic Center, or Main Street without getting back in the car.
Plan Your Trip
Check the Whiteface trail map and conditions report the morning of your visit, since conditions and open terrain shift daily. Arrive early on weekends and holidays, since the base lots fill. Whiteface’s high elevation means it can be considerably colder and windier at the summit than in the village, so dress for it.
Where to Stay
RetreatADK’s suites give you a fully equipped kitchen to make breakfast before an early lift line, plus self check-in so a late ski day never turns into a rushed check-in. Walk to Main Street for après-ski, or bring dinner back to the unit. Email stay@retreatadk.com to check availability for your ski trip.