Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway Summit

The Veterans Memorial Highway was built in the 1930s and dedicated to the state's war veterans, conceived as a way to open one of the great Adirondack summits to people who could not make the long climb on foot. Governor Franklin Roosevelt championed the road, and it was carved up the mountainside to reach a stone castle and parking area just below the peak.

The road climbs through the changing forest zones of a northern mountain, from thick hardwoods at the base to stunted, wind-bent spruce and fir near the top, and finally into the open alpine world above the trees. It remains one of very few places in the Adirondacks where a High Peak summit is within reach of anyone, and the drive itself, with its overlooks and switchbacks, is part of the experience.

Near the top of the highway stands a small castle built of native Whiteface stone, housing a gift shop and shelter and blending into the rocky summit as though it had grown there. From the castle, visitors face the final stretch to the true summit, and here the mountain offers a remarkable choice.

One option is a steep stone stairway up the exposed rock ridge to the peak. The other is an elevator, reached through a tunnel bored horizontally into the mountain, that rises through solid rock to emerge near the summit, a piece of Depression-era engineering that lets even those who cannot manage the stairs stand on top of a High Peak. Either way, the reward is the same soaring, open view.

The summit of Whiteface is a true alpine environment, one of the few places in the eastern United States where fragile mountain tundra survives above the trees, home to hardy plants that cling to life in the wind and cold. Signs urge visitors to stay on the rock and paths to protect these rare communities.

The view is the payoff for the climb. On a clear day the whole Adirondack High Peaks wilderness spreads to the south, Lake Champlain shines to the east with Vermont's mountains beyond, and the land rolls north toward Montreal. The summit is high, exposed, and often far colder and windier than the valley below, so even on a warm summer day a jacket is essential.

The mountain's forests hold the wildlife of the northern Adirondacks, black bear, deer, and a rich birdlife that shifts as you climb, with hardy species like the gray jay and boreal chickadee near the top. Ravens and hawks ride the winds around the summit ridge.

The memorial highway is a seasonal road, open in the warm months and closed by snow in winter. In winter the mountain becomes a major ski area with a storied Olympic pedigree, having hosted the alpine events of the Lake Placid Winter Games. Fall is spectacular, when the lower slopes flame with color while the summit may already wear its first frost, and clear autumn days offer some of the longest views of the year.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

It is a scenic toll road that climbs about five miles up Whiteface Mountain, one of the highest peaks in New York, ending near the summit high in the Adirondacks. Built as a memorial to veterans, it lets almost anyone reach a nearly 5,000-foot summit by car, with panoramic High Peaks views along the way. On a clear day you can see across the Adirondacks all the way to Vermont and Canada, a genuinely spectacular drive.

The highway ends at a stone castle and parking area a few hundred feet below the true summit, and from there you have two options. You can walk the short but steep Stairway Ridge nature trail with handrails, or take a long tunnel bored into the mountain to an elevator that rises to the summit. The elevator route is fully accessible, while the trail is not, so choose the option that suits your group.

The toll road is seasonal, usually open from around May through October, and closed in winter. Because it is a high mountain road, it can also close temporarily for weather even in season, so check current conditions before driving up. There is no fuel available on the mountain, so top off your tank in Lake Placid or Wilmington first, and allow a few hours to enjoy the drive and summit.

Bring warm layers, since the summit runs at least ten degrees colder than the base and is often windy, even on a summer day. Along the five-mile road are several marked pullouts to stop, take in the views, and read about the mountain, so take your time. There is a toll, and the summit has a gift shop, a small restaurant, an observation deck, and short trails to explore.

Clear days deliver the fullest views, so aim for good weather and check the forecast, since the summit can be socked in by cloud even when the valley is sunny. Summer brings the most reliable conditions and full amenities, while fall is spectacular for foliage across the Adirondacks. Mornings often have the clearest air, and going early also means a quieter drive and summit.