Is Whiteface Mountain Worth Going To In The Fall?
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This year, I had a fall foliage content shoot at Whiteface Veteran’s Memorial Highway, which takes you to the top of Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, New York. This was not my first time driving the road up to the summit, but it was my first time going in the fall.
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For transparency, I was hired to gather content of this. But, I covered the cost of the toll to use the road, paying $45 for my brother and myself to go up. I was paid for the images and videos I delivered to the client, but not to post about this. All opinions in this post are my own.
About Whiteface Mountain
This mountain is one of the most popular spots in the Adirondacks because you have the ability to drive up it. The road takes you almost all the way to the 4,867-foot summit, which is the fifth highest in the state of New York. From the parking lot where the road ends, there’s an elevator that will take you right up to the summit. It makes the mountain extremely accessible.
The road up to the mountain is five miles long. As you drive, you’ll go up over 2,300 feet in elevation. There are a handful of pull-offs to enjoy the views as you make your way up.
At the top of the mountain, there’s a castle built from native stone, a restaurant, and gift shop. The mountain truly provides and experience for those that visit. Oh, and for being on the top of a mountain, the food is actually pretty good.
Is Whiteface Mountain the best spot to see fall foliage?
Personally, I don’t think so. Due to the high elevation, you won’t be up-close and personal with the vibrant foliage. At the base of the mountain where the toll house is, there was beautiful, colorful foliage.
The beginning of the drive will provide you with views of colorful leaves, but the higher up you go, the further you get from the trees with the beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows. Those colors are still down below, but they look more muted the higher up you get.
And since you’ll be on a fairly high peak, there won’t be any colorful trees on top of the mountain with you. At the summit, you’ll be in an alpine zone, which means you’ll be in an area that has conditions that are too harsh for trees to grow. To help highlight how harsh the conditions can be up there, less than a week after I went for foliage, the summit was hit with snow and ice.
When you get to the parking lot at the top, you’ll have some nice views of the road below. But in terms of foliage, don’t expect vibrant swatches of color below.
To make the most of our time up on the mountain, we decided to take the stairs up to the summit instead of the elevator. If you’re capable of taking the stairs, you’ll get more views. But, be sure to wear shoes with plenty of traction since most of the path is stone. They have railings to help you stay steady on your feet, but I can tell you from experience that the rocks can be slippery.
From the summit, you’ll be rewarded with views of Lake Placid and surrounding mountains. But, the foliage that is below will look pretty muted from the summit. This is because of the elevation and the fact that there will almost always be clouds or fog up there. It’s very unlikely you’ll get a nice, clear view of the vibrant colors from up here.
So, Should You Go In The Fall?
On a clear day, the mountain does offer some stunning views, with very little effort. If you want to go, have realistic expectations. This is not the kind of spot where you’ll be surrounded by colorful leaves the entire time. Those colorful leaves will be much lower than you. I hope the images in this post have helped to give you a realistic idea of what to expect in the fall.
If you’re going to go, I recommend going during the middle of the week if possible. I went on a Wednesday and did not deal with any traffic on the road. However, it can be a nightmare going up the road on a weekend. You can see footage of just how bad it can be here (aka, bumper-to-bumper traffic just trying to get to the summit). I want you to have realistic expectations and know what you could possibly be getting yourself into.
If Whiteface Mountain doesn’t sound worth it to you, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy fall in the Adirondacks. Consider taking a scenic drive, hiking to a summit with a lower elevation, or visiting one of the many towns scattered throughout Adirondack Park. Last fall, I did a trip to Saranac Lake and loved it. During the trip, I spent time driving through Adirondack Park, hiking, and did quick stops in Lake Placid.
This year, I hiked Mount Jo right after I drove up Whiteface Mountain. I thought Mount Jo offered much better views of foliage than Whiteface. Mount Jo’s summit is 2,832 feet, which is much lower than Whiteface’s 4,867-foot summit. There were trees that were close enough to look extremely vibrant while we were at the top. If you’re looking for a hike, definitely consider this one.
