NY 86 East to Wilmington - Whiteface Mountain



Town South: Lake Placid |  Town North-East: Jay & Ausable Forks via NY 86 to 9N |  Lake Placid -Whiteface Topo Map


Whiteface Mountain, click here for huge, 1.3 MB version of this picture
Whiteface Mountain, click here for huge, 1.3 MB version of this picture
(Taken by Kevin Heckler)

looking down the west branch of the Ausable River Gorge

The Town of Wilmington is the home of that great Olympic Winter Ski Homage: Old Man Whiteface Mountain. It also follows the beautiful West Branch of the Ausable River through High Falls Gorge, the 35mph tight zone. The road follows the river just before you get into the town center. This is a big fly fisherman spot but there is a catch and release, artificial lure restriction on the sport fishing in river there. There is also a restriction on the rock cliff climbing too due to the peregrine falcon nests. The town has plethora of lodging and is the budget and low noise spot close to Lake Placid.

For the leg challenged traveler, who doesn't want to do the grueling hike from Lake Placid Landing to the summit of Whiteface Mountain, there is a highway, the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, NY 431, which winds its way almost to the top of the grand mountain. This toll and scenic road was built in the Great Depression as a public works project. The Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway is also a challenge for serious cyclists, who also are drawn to this area. Most of the bicycles I saw on the NY 86 were worth more than my car.


Useful Links
Whiteface Region Tourism Board |  Whiteface Mountain Ski Area |  NYS Region 5 Fishing



Participating Establishments
12997 Zip Essex County 518 Area Code

Huntigton Motel & Cottages

Huntington Motel & Cottages

NY 86 at Whiteface Mountain, Wilmington NY
North Side of the Road
Call for specials
Phone: 518-946-2332 email