LAKE PLACID – A Lake Placid autumn, with its changing foliage and crisp air, is inevitable. Yes, we’ve enjoyed a brilliantly bright, sunny and warm summer in 2018. And as I write this, we are getting more of the same. But eventually, this extended summer will sunset, but what gives rise beyond, we know, will be spectacular fall weather and accompanying colors.
For those who are into the science of leaf change, it’s the loss of chlorophyll that results in a transformation of color prior to the leaf’s fall to the ground. That change occurs first in northern climes as sunlight begins to diminish. Once we hit that time of year, the process is underway for green to morph into red, orange and yellow. In a Lake Placid autumn, that cycle has started.
For close observers this year, the change is coming a bit later, no doubt, thanks to the summer-like conditions that are lingering. But once that cycle ends, well, just make sure your electronic device is fully charged because the new colors can be stunning.
If you are a foliage follower, log on to the I Love New York fall report and keep track of where the colors are best.
Golf courses are among the prime places to observe a Lake Placid autumn. The Whiteface Club Golf Course, sister property of the Mirror Lake Inn, will remain open until mid-October, at which time we will be in peak foliage season. The par 71 track, mostly tree-lined with tall pines in excess of 100 years, brings the colors up close to each player. Yet, if one observes in the distance, the change is also evident in the nearby Adirondack High Peaks.
We also recommend that visitors take advantage of access to elevation: a drive to the summit of Whiteface Mountain, or a Cloudsplitter Gondola ride to the top of Little Whiteface, or an elevator lift to the top of the 120-meter ski jump will all get you visual access to a spectacular palette of colors that comprise a Lake Placid autumn.
Of course, the ultimate lift to elevation is the scenic airplane ride from Lake Placid’s municipal airport on Route 73. You can tour the entire Adirondack region and decide for yourself where the best colors are located.
Finally, we would be remiss if, along with this insider info, we didn’t provide some guidance as to appropriate clothing.
A Lake Placid autumn is known for chilly mornings and nights, with sunny and comfortable weather in between. It’s not unusual for a 35-degree wake-up temperature, only to find the mercury topping out at 72 after lunch. So with this in mind, you must bring clothing for summer and fall (jackets, sweaters, shorts, short-sleeved shirts, long pants, sunscreen, head wear, sneakers, dress shoes).
If you have other questions about a Lake Placid autumn, please give our on-site hotel staff a call at 518-523-2544. They’ll give you a first-person account of what to expect upon your visit.
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Note to readers: the images on this page and the cover image are from recent years. But rest assured, in a matter of weeks the current foliage will catch up.