Best Cross-Country Skiing Near Lake Placid
We are admittedly new to cross-country skiing. We first tried it in February 2025 and were hooked. I started downhill skiing when I was around 12 or 13, and my husband is a long-time snowboarder. But there’s something special about XC skiing in the backcountry. The snow-covered forest is gorgeous. Quiet. Peaceful. Serene. Magical.
Here are all the places we’ve been around Lake Placid. Ranked in order of our personal favorites, but they’re all great.
ADK Mountain Club Loj / Heart Lake: We love skiing these trails. It’s predominately a backcountry, wilderness experience. Some of the trails are what I would consider lightly groomed, but the further back you go, the less grooming. We hike these trails a lot in the summer and fall, so it’s fun to enjoy the area in winter. Absolutely beautiful, wooded trails. And there’s so much to explore. More info. There’s a fee for parking, but no trail fee. Light grooming on about 2 miles of trail closest to the loj; many more miles of ungroomed backcountry trails. Ski and snowshoe rentals available. Be aware that the trail around Heart Lake, closest to the shore, is better for snowshoeing and less than ideal for XC. Our favorite was heading out Mr. Van’s and exploring from there.
Paul Smith’s VIC: We took our first introductory lesson at Paul Smiths and had a great experience. This is option is the furthest from Lake Placid, about a 30-40 minute drive. It’s a gorgeous area that offers a wilderness feel of skiing through the forest, and yet the trails are very well groomed and maintained. The best of both worlds. More info. Free parking. Trail passes for adults are $20, which is a deal for the level of grooming. About 15 miles of groomed trails, and a total network of more than 25 miles of trail. Ski rentals available. Check their calendar for free group lessons.
Peninsula Trails: This is a favorite for us because it’s so close to our house. It’s the opposite end of the spectrum compared to Paul Smiths. We probably go to the Peninsula Trails at least once a week in the warmer months to walk the dog and stretch our legs. In the winter it’s a nice XC ski when you’ve got cabin fever. The Ridge trail and Boundary trail are great. You can cross at the dam and ski out-and-back to the Whiteface Club golf course (which also offers access to groomed trails for a fee), or connect up with the historic Jackrabbit Ski Trail if you want a longer, more advanced adventure. More info. Free parking at the trailhead. No trail fees. No grooming. No rentals. Just no-frills skiing through the woods.
Mt. Van Hoevenberg: If you want immaculately groomed XC trails, this is your spot. If you want lessons, go to Mt. Van Ho. They invest a lot into grooming and snowmaking, and tend to open early in the season and stay open late. There are lots of programs to learn XC skiing, both classic and skate skiing. We enjoyed their Snowboomers group on Thursdays, and also went for a Full Moon nighttime ski. Their trail signage leaves a lot to be desired (we got a little lost during the Full Moon ski), so take a map. More info. Free parking. Trail fees are on the higher end at $32 for adults. 34 miles of groomed trails. A wide selection of rentals available. Group and private lessons (which include rentals). Also the option to learn and try biathlon (XC and riflery). On-site cafe with snacks and meals. Lots of services.
Scotts Cobble: I like Scotts Cobble for the community feel. It’s run by the family that owns and operates the High Peaks Cyclery and they offer after-school programs for the local schools. This is a golf course in the summer, so it’s a very typical wide-open golf course layout that’s open for XC in winter. And there’s an easy want to connect to the Jackrabbit Ski Trail for more of a backcountry, wilderness experience. More info. Free parking. Locals ski free. Trail passes for visitors is a very reasonable $20. About 9 miles of nicely groomed trails. Ski and snowshoe rentals available. Lessons available. Small on-site cafe with snacks and a lunch menu.
