KOA Campground Winter Weekend Adventure
The Lake Placid region in winter is a beautiful place full of activities covering a broad range of interests. From skiing and snowboarding to snowshoeing and ice skating, winter recreation opportunities are a great way to explore a different side of the Adirondack Mountains. Beyond outdoor recreation, the surrounding towns offer unique shops, spa experiences and even dog sledding. Olympic ties are prevalent throughout the area; between the bobsled experience and the Herb Brooks ice rink where the “Miracle on Ice” took place, the spirit of the Olympics can still be felt.
The Lake Placid-Whiteface Mountain KOA Campground, an already hopping spot in the summer, is now open during the winter season, offering visitors an affordable and cozy option for lodging and camping. With 41 cabins and cottages available, each one heated, the KOA combines the convenience of location with the comfort of home. In addition to cabin lodging, the campground offers popular, cleared RV sites with limited services and even tenting for the hardiest of guests. As a base camp for a day full of adventures or for a “staycation” away from home, the campground is a great place to spend some time. Breakfast is offered in the main lodge each morning and if you’re up for a round of ping pong or a movie, the lodge can fulfill those wishes as well.
This past January, the PureADK team and a few friends and their furry companions met up at the KOA and spent the weekend enjoying the area (Check out our video above to see everything we got to do!). On the first day of our stay, we had breakfast at the lodge, where we met up with campground managers Chip and Julie and enjoyed some pleasant conversation about their love of the area – they truly are a wealth of knowledge! We first set out to the Adirondack Wildlife and Rehabilitation Center, right down the road from the KOA, to see a broad range of birds of prey, small mammals, and wolves. We then made our way to the Silver Lake Bog Area, where we walked through a true Adirondack bog along a snow-covered boardwalk that led us to a short trail that guided us to the Silver Lake Bluffs. This spot is a great place to get beautiful views of Silver Lake and the surrounding mountains.
After a quick pit stop at the Adirondack Chocolates shop to grab some of their incredible peppermint patties and chocolate turtles, we meandered back to the KOA where we then hiked down to the lean-tos along the AuSable River. With ice on the river and snow coating the ground, the scene was quite pleasant. Upon returning to the cabin with some tired out pups, we decided to take advantage of the warmth of the great room and play some entertaining games before dinner. After a few rousing rounds of Norwegian Etiquette, we started to prepare a satisfying pasta dinner that would have been complete with garlic bread, but there may or may not have been a slight scorching incident on the grill. Regardless, the food and company made for a great time. The rest of the evening was spent playing Jenga, chatting, and huddling around a campfire, topped off of course with s’mores.
Our last morning at the cabin started off slowly, with a nice big breakfast of coffee, eggs, and bacon. Once we got all of our gear and bags packed up, we decided to head down the road to High Falls Gorge before parting ways. After getting outfitted with some Yak Trax, our group set out to explore the trails surrounding the gorge. The ice sculptures hanging above the water were a sight to see! The walkways bring visitors up close and personal with the power of water and ice. There was even a campfire near the visitor’s center – a great way to end the walk! Our group split ways at this point; Bryce, Paul, and Liz headed out to go for a quick hike up Owls Head while Evan and I made our way over to the Lake Placid Olympic Sports Complex. At the Olympic Complex, we got our thrill for the day by taking part in the Bobsled Experience. A 47.6-second ride that got our hearts racing and our adrenaline pumping – it was a truly fun way to top off an amazing weekend.
In addition, we'd like to offer all our readers a 25% discount code that is valid through the end of 2016 on any site type (tent, RV, cabin, whatever!) at the Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA. Simply click here to reserve online with the discount applied or provide the code "CK" if you're reserving by phone.
