Adirondacks (Winter)

The Adirondack mountain region, from Lake George to High Peaks, once formed the hunting grounds of the Iroquois and Algonquin and still supports a bounty of animal life from moose to black bear. Winter festivals give insight into the region’s more recent lumberjacking past, while traces of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics are still evident in the High Peaks and Lake Placid area. The region is a winter sports lover’s paradise. Top-rated downhill skiing, Olympic-quality skating ovals and ski jumps, unique opportunities to experience the high adrenaline bobsled or skeleton ride, endless miles of groomed Nordic ski trails, ice fishing, ...

The Adirondack mountain region, from Lake George to High Peaks, once formed the hunting grounds of the Iroquois and Algonquin and still supports a bounty of animal life from moose to black bear. Winter festivals give insight into the region’s more recent lumberjacking past, while traces of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics are still evident in the High Peaks and Lake Placid area. The region is a winter sports lover’s paradise. Top-rated downhill skiing, Olympic-quality skating ovals and ski jumps, unique opportunities to experience the high adrenaline bobsled or skeleton ride, endless miles of groomed Nordic ski trails, ice fishing, backcountry snowshoe trekking, ice climbing, and winter waterfall hiking abound. There is no question, the majority of Adirondack visitors from December to March arrive ready to sweat away the cold. But those who prefer the après-ski to strapping on actual skis or who would rather hit the spa than the slopes will find themselves tucked into a place of great natural beauty, welcoming them in to sip a hot cocoa by the fire with a good book.

About the Expert

Sascha Zuger is the author of the New York State Moon Handbook, the travel novel Girl Overboard (under the pseudonym Aimee Ferris), and is a freelancer for publications such as National Geographic Traveler, the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post.