For the past 8 years I have come to think of Adirondack State Park in upstate New York as a second home. Yet I really only consider myself knowledgeable about the area of the park near the town of Old Forge. Look at the park on a map and you will see that Old Forge and its surrounding towns represents a small sliver of the six million acres that make up the ADK. The Adirondacks are the same size as the state of Vermont. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier and Great Smoky Mountains national parks could all fit inside the borders of the park and still have room to spare (via When In Your State). While the western Adirondacks will always hold a special place in my heart, there is so much more to see and explore!
In the northern reaches of the park sits the High Peaks region. Here you can find 46 mountains with summits of 4,000 feet or higher. Summit all 46 peaks and you can earn the right to call yourself a Adirondack 46er, a prestigious group founded in 1936 whose sole criteria for membership is ascending these rugged mountains.
Having climbed several mountains in the western Adirondacks, and having completed my first ever mountain-climbing challenge in 2023, I had a longstanding goal of beginning to tackle the high peaks. So on an early August weekend my wife and I drove up to the town of Lake Placid from where I, accompanied by a friend, would ascend Cascade and Porter Mountains. Along the way we also explored an Olympic museum, ate great food, and while I climbed on foot, my wife took her Jeep on an awesome automotive Adirondack adventure.
Let’s begin:
Cascade and Porter Mountains
The pin has moved! Longtime readers will note that we would be heading further north on the map than a typical Adirondacks road trip.We left midmorning on a Friday and encountered mercifully little traffic as we headed north along the New York Thruway.I have not visited the Adirondacks since November of 2025, so stepping foot into the Adirondacks Welcome Center along I-87 felt like seeing an old friend again. It also made a great place to wait out a sudden storm of heavy rain and gusting winds.Seeing the mountains come into view meant I was back in my happy place.Before exiting the highway, we stopped somewhere new – the High Peaks Rest Area. Besides restrooms and water fountains, there was also tons of information available about activities in the High Peaks region.After driving through numerous storms, we arrived at Cadence Lodge in Wilmington, New York. Located at the foot of nearby Whiteface Mountain, Cadence is only a 20 minute drive from Lake Placid. My friend Steve, who I have known since we were both undergraduates at Boston University, drove out from New Hampshire to meet us for the hike. Work commitments caused him to have a later-than-expected departure, so he would not arrive until later in the evening.Cadence is quite lovely. Recently renovated, the lodge is affordable, clean, and well-kept. There is also an excellent restaurant on site.The large closet is definitely designed to cater to winter activities, giving you a place to hang (and dry) your skiing or snowmobiling attire. We had ample space to store all of our clothes and gear.After unloading the Jeep and relaxing for a few minutes, we headed into Lake Placid for dinner.Our dinner destination was Lisa’s G’s, a casual restaurant and bar in Lake Placid.The interior of Lisa G’s is best described as funky and fun. When we arrived the place was packed, so it was a bit on the noisy side. By the time we were midway through our meal the restaurant had emptied a bit and noise levels returned to normal.We started with an order of the pork lettuce wraps, which was terrific. Seasoned ground pork, pickled cucumber and onion, carrots, kimchi, and sweet Thai chili made for an excellent starter.We both ordered the Miso salmon, served with asparagus and rice. The meal was good, but we elevated it by adding on extra kimchi and chili sauce. Their kimchi is fantastic, and paired with the chili sauce and the miso, produced an outstanding entree. If Lisa G’s reads this and adds the kimchi and chili sauce to their salmon recipe, we’ll gladly take a percentage of the profits.After dinner we took a walk through downtown Lake Placid. After a long day in the car, it felt good to stretch our legs in such a cool town.We stopped for dessert at Emma’s Lake Placid Creamery. Located along Main Street, Emma’s is a Lake Placid institution.Emma’s was… ok. My wife had a cup of sorbet and I tried the cookies and creme ice cream. Decent, but for Adirondack ice cream I’ve been spoiled by Northern Lights Creamery in the town of Inlet.Before heading back to the lodge, I took one last look at the mountains… if all went well, tomorrow morning I’d be on top of one of those!The next morning my wife, Steve, and I gathered in the Cadence Lodge parking lot at 6:30 am. My wife drove us to the trailhead and we arrived a little before 7:00 am.We signed in on the trailhead register at 7:00 am on the dot and began our hike.Unlike mountain trails out west, Adirondack trails follow the drainage of the mountains, so you begin climbing almost immediately, following wet trails that climb, climb, and climb. The occasional fallen tree (foreground) is nothing out of the ordinary.We quickly encountered the trinity of ADK hiking: roots, rocks, and mud.The trail features several steep climbs, broken up by short, flat stretches of trail. However, the flat sections were not necessarily an improvement, as recent rains meant mud. Lots and lots of mud.As we started to climb higher we caught glimpses of some amazing views in the distance.Despite persistent rain during the week, the higher elevations of the trail were relatively dry. This would give us a false sense of confidence – more on that in a bit.About two miles into the hike we came to a trailhead split. Head straight up to climb to the top of Cascade, or go right to Porter. Having done a bit of research, we knew that Cascade had better views from the summit, so we decided to visit Porter first.“Holy mud, Batman!” The trail to Porter drops down into a col (a dip between two peaks) that had become an absolute swamp due to the rains. This slowed us down considerably as we carefully made our way through – one wrong step and you could be in mud over your ankles.About a half mile later we came to a large boulder (about fifteen feet tall)- I had gotten a tip that if you scramble to the top of the boulder, the view is rewarding. The tip was 100% correct.Just when I thought I couldn’t deal with any more mud, the trail mercifully climbs upward again, back onto rock slabs which were fairly dry.And that’s the summit of Porter Mountain (4,059 feet) for my first Adirondack High Peak. The view is ok… it’s fairly tree-lined so the views aren’t spectacular, but that did not matter to me – I had made it to the top of the mountain. Steve and I took a quick break to drink some water, eat a snack, and take some photos before heading to Cascade.Of course, heading to Cascade meant that we got to deal with the mud all over again. Good times.We got back to the trail split and headed toward Cascade. Here the trail was in far better condition, and we easily cruised toward the summit.The summit of Cascade is an exposed rock slab, offering phenomenal views for miles and miles. Painted trail blazes keep you pointed in the right direction.Several cairns (elevated rock piles) mark the route toward the top. These cairns were erected by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation as trail markers. They ask that you not knock it over as it is a navigation aid. This is different than hikers creating their own cairns on trails, which is strongly discouraged, as a trail should look no different when a hiker finishes a trail than when they begin it. More on the “leave no trace” principle in a bit.After all the boulders, roots, rocks, and mud, I had to laugh at this ladder on the summit approach. However, its purpose is to guide people up the correct path and keep hikers from trampling the fragile vegetation that exists in the alpine zone.And that’s Adirondack High Peak #2 – Cascade Mountain (4,098 feet) was officially in the books. The view from the top was everything I hoped it would be.Of the mountains I have climbed, Cascade has absolutely the best view.Just checking… yep. Cascade Mountain!A dad who had climbed Cascade with his ten year old daughter asked if I’d take a picture of them together (of course I happily said yes). I chatted with them and they shared that the daughter’s goal is to become a 46er before she graduates high school. Pretty awesome goal!I took a moment to look back toward the route we had come. Of all the hikes and climbs I have done, I am the most proud of having completed this one.A rare shot of me in the blog! I want to call special attention to the walking stick, handmade for me by my father-in-law. Not only did it save my bacon several times during the hike, but it also became invaluable as a depth-finder when we were inching our way through the mud. It was an absolutely amazing gift. It was also made from wood that he found in the Adirondacks, so it was cool to bring my walking stick back “home.”Just one more photo from the summit, ok?Before starting our descent, Steve and I sat down on the rock slabs to have a snack, guzzle some more water, rest for a few minutes, and soak in as much of this view as possible. We were also careful to pack all of our trash with us – Adirondack hikers are asked to adhere to the “leave no trace,” principle which helps keep the land as nice for the next hiker as it is for you. Put it another way: “If you carry it in, carry it out.”I’m glad we enjoyed the summit so much, because the downhill hike was, without question, our least favorite portion of the day’s activities. Downhill positively destroys me.Downhill calls upon an entirely different set of muscles than climbing, and I quickly realized I need to adjust my training if I’m going to have an easier time on future High Peaks climbed. Steve and I made it down safely, however. Sore… but safe.A little before 1:00 pm I proudly put a checkmark into the trailhead register – Cascade and Porter Mountains were complete!After hours of hiking, the stairs leading back to the roadway felt like climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, but when I reached the top my wife was patiently waiting for us. While Steve and I were on the mountain, she had gone on her own High Peaks adventure…
Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway
After dropping us off at the trailhead my wife headed into Lake Placid to get some coffee. She chose The Coffee Bar, which offers a spectacular view of Mirror Lake.After fueling up with coffee, my wife drove back to Wilmington to head up the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway, a 5-mile toll road that runs to the top of Whiteface Mountain (4,867′ elevation). Whiteface is also one of the Adirondack High Peaks, and so while Steve and I would be climbing to the top of Cascade and Porter, my wife and Grace would be doing their own mountain ascent!“I tried to take a car glamour shot like you do!” my wife said proudly as she showed me the result. Very, very well done!The road gains 2,300 feet of elevation in 5 miles, so it’s a steady climb, but numerous turnouts offer spectacular views along the way.After arriving at the parking lot, there are two ways to the top of the mountain. The first is a set of 27 flights of stairs that climbs to the top.Alternatively, you can walk through a tunnel in the mountain to an elevator which takes you to the summit. Between the roadway, the tunnel, and the elevator, Whiteface is the most accessible Adirondack peak for visitors with mobility disabilities.Then-Governor of New York Franklin D. Roosevelt was on hand to inaugurate the road’s construction in 1929. Its accessibility for people with disabilities was one of the reasons why he strongly endorsed the creation of the road.My wife shared that the view from the top was absolutely spectacular. On a clear day you can see Montreal, about 100 miles away. The only High Peak that is further north than Whiteface is nearby Esther Mountain. The other 44 peaks are all to the south.A chart at the southern face of the summit shows Whiteface’s elevation compared to other East Coast mountains.And that’s High Peak #1 for my wife and Grace – congrats on a morning well spent! After enjoying the summit, my wife headed back to the Cascade trailhead to pick up a couple of weary hikers.
Lunch and Lake Placid
Three hungry explorers set off for a late lunch at the Twisted Raven, a restaurant and pub in Wilmington.The Twisted Raven definitely leans into the gothic/horror vibes. Not pictured, but there was a life-size dire wolf statue next to our table. Cool, man.The vibe may have been strange, but the meal was spectacular. I positively inhaled my cheeseburger and fries. I’d love to tell you what Steve and my wife ordered, but I was too busy shoveling food into my face to notice.After lunch we headed into downtown Lake Placid to tour the Lake Placid Olympic Museum. Longtime readers might remember when my wife and I visited in 2018, but the museum has undergone a significant renovation since then. In addition, Steve had never visited before, so it made for a fun afternoon activity.Lake Placid was the site of both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games. Lake Placid saw a number of firsts in 1932 – the first indoor ice arena for the winter games, the first podium ceremonies at an Olympic event, and the first time that Coca-Cola became an Olympics sponsor (which has continued to this day).It was interesting to see how equipment has changed for athletes from 1932 to 1980, and then to today.NPR’s long-running car advice show Car Talk was hosted by brothers Tom and Ray Magliozzi. When confronted with a problem they couldn’t solve, they would often exclaim, “Well, Sonia Henie’s tutu!” Here is a display about three-time Olympic gold medalist Sonia Henie… in her tutu.Perhaps the centerpiece of the 1980 Olympics section is this display of the Miracle on Ice game, when the United States men’s hockey team defeated the heavily-favored Soviet Union in the semi-final round.Some of the exhibits installed after the 2022 renovation are pretty high-tech, such as this immersive bobsled simulator. It really makes you feel like you’re flying down a track.We next paid a visit to the Herb Brooks Arena, built for the 1980 Olympics. It was here, as the final seconds wound down in the game between the US and USSR that play-by-play announcer Al Michaels exclaimed, “Do you believe in miracles?”Steve and I also got in a spirited game of bubble hockey, and in this rematch the USSR (me) won over the USA (Steve).Our last stop was to the Jack Shea Arena, built for the 1932 Olympics. It was thoroughly modernized in 2021 and is now capable of hosting both Olympic and NHL games (the Olympics and National Hockey League rinks have different dimensions).Perhaps the coolest item on display I almost missed – the scoreboard from the 1980 Olympics, set to display the final score of the Miracle on Ice game. After leaving the museum, it was back to the lodge for a light dinner and an early bedtime – it had been a long, fun-filled day.The next morning, after loading up the car and saying our goodbyes, my wife and I hit the road, heading back toward New Jersey.We stopped in Chestertown for coffee at Two Sparrows Coffee Co., a small coffee shop located a half mile from the New York Thruway.The lattes? Excellent. The view behind the coffee shop? Even better!As we had our plug-in cooler with us, we made stop at Oscar’s Smokehouse, an Adirondack institution in Warrensburg. Oscar’s has been serving smoked hams, bacon, sausages, and freshly cut meats and cheeses since 1943. It is also a favorite of TV host Rachael Ray.Our prime reason for stopping was for Oscar’s More Than Mustard spread, which is our secret ingredient in making great sandwiches. We may have also brought home some freshly-smoked bacon and homemade chicken salad.We stopped for lunch at the Metro 7 Diner in Latham, outside of Albany.Metro 7 has rave reviews for their gluten free options, and we quickly discovered the reviews were accurate. My wife had an order of gluten-free eggs Benedict, while I devoured this Belgian waffle. Lunch was excellent, and it fueled us up for the rest of our drive home.A few hours later we pulled back into our driveway, home once again. Along the way, Grace crossed the 136,000 mile mark. Onward!
Wrapping Up
Climbing two of the Adirondack High Peaks was an amazing experience. From ascending a challenging trail, to traveling above the tree line, to standing so close to the clouds it felt like I could reach up and touch them, it was a wonderful way to welcome my upcoming birthday. Add to it a fun exploration of Lake Placid, and it all made for a fantastic weekend.
Adirondack High Peaks Status: 2 of 46
Thanks, as always, for coming along on another journey down the open road ahead.
