What to do this fall in Lake Placid

Crisp Mountain Air & a Canvas of Natural Beauty

The Adirondack Region boasts one of the longest, most stunning fall foliage seasons in the country. Whether you want to take a hike, go biking, attend an event, or just take in the fall colors, there is so much to do during the fall in Lake Placid. Here are some of our top picks on what to do this fall in Lake Placid and the surrounding area. 

You can also check out the I Love NY foliage report for an overview of 11 regions throughout the state or the Visit Adirondack’s Foliage Report for a breakdown of 10 regions within the Adirondacks.

Fall Flavors

apple & pumpkin picking. cider donuts. pumpkin cookies

It doesn’t matter if you’re Team Apple or Ream Pumpkin – head over to Rulfs Orchard for fall fun for the whole family. During September and October, Rulfs offers U-Pick Apples and U-Pick Pumpkins, as well as a corn maze, petting zoo, and bakery. Rulfs is about a 45-50 minute drive from the Golden Arrow, but well worth the drive.

The U-Pick Pumpkin season typically runs mid-September to late October, 10 am-4 pm on the weekends, and includes a wagon ride!

They also always have pre-picked pumpkins in the greenhouse at a great price; $.50 per lb, but never more than $10.00 each!

After you pick your pumpkins, you can visit the petting zoo which has a horse, alpacas, goats, and donkeys, play on the playground, or challenge yourself in the corn maze. The petting zoo is open every day the store is open, and the maze is open from September 7 through October 31 for the 2024 season. They also offer two flashlight nights!

Before leaving, visiting the bakery is a must! Their cider donuts are always a favorite, but they also have some delicious cookies, including molasses and pumpkin chocolate chip.

What to do this fall in Lake Placid? Visit Rulfs Orchard
Baked goods at Rulf's are a must!
Visit Rulfs this fall for Pumpkin picking
A variety of pumpkin shapes and colors
Visit Rulfs this fall and say hi to Chloe the horse
Say hi to Chloe at the petting zoo!
What to do this fall in Lake Placid? Visit Rulfs Orchard and their corn maze
The 2024 corn maze design

The Great Adirondack Corn Maze

If you’re looking for a fun challenge, take the 30 minute drive over to Tucker Farms and take on their corn maze. Open Mid-August until the last weekend in October, the maze is one of the few mazes anywhere conceived, designed, cut, and photographed by themselves and their neighbors. 

When you arrive, you will enter the barn to pay and pickup your maze puzzle sheet. Your goal is not only to make it through the maze, but to also find the mailboxes throughout the maze that have the puzzle pieces. As you find the pieces, you tape them to your sheet and by the end, your puzzle will show the whole maze. 

Up the challenge by going during a flashlight night (Friday or Saturday night) and complete the maze using your flashlight or headlamp. They also have a fright night, which is usually the last open Saturday, where you don’t know who or what may be lurking around the corner. 

What to do this fall in Lake Placid? Visit Tucker Farms Corn Maze
Just a partial look at the 2024 design

Farmer’s Markets

Visit a farmers market for a variety of local vendors offering goods including produce, baked goods, arts, home goods, peanut butters, tamales, craft beverages, and more! 

Saranac Lake
Saturdays 9am – 1pm
Through October 12, 2024
Riverside Park ~17 minute drive

Keene Valley
Sundays 9:30am – 2pm
Through October 13, 2024
Marcy Field ~26 minute drive

What to do this fall in Lake Placid? Visit a Farmer's Market
Fresh and colorful tomatoes
Visit a farmers market for local baked goods
Chocolate chip cookie and chocolate croissant
Visit a farmers market this fall for locally made art
Art by @secret.mountain.creations

Olympic Venue Events

Oktoberfest | September 21 & 22, 2024
Whiteface Mountain

Dust off your lederhosen and head over to Whiteface Mountain to enjoy a tall mug of German beer! This weekend-long, Bavarian-style celebration features authentic music, dancing, food and beer—and was rated one of the 5 Must-Visit Oktoberfests in North America by SKI Magazine!

This is a family-friendly event with activities for all ages including craft vendors, pumpkin painting, bounce houses, scenic gondola rides, and more!

What to do this fall in Lake Placid? Go to Oktoberfest at Whiteface Mountain
Photo from @whiteface_mt

UCI Mountain Bike | September 27-29, 2024
Mt Van Hoevenberg

WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Debuts at Mt Van Hoevenberg
Experience all the thrills as three UCI World Cup competitions descend upon the terrain of Mt Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid, NY, for its inaugural UCI Cross-country Olympic World Cup (XCO), UCI Cross-country Short Track World Cup (XCC), and UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup (XCM) races.
 
Are you a Golden Arrow guest looking to purchase tickets? Let us know for a special discount link!
What to do this fall in Lake Placid? Attend the UCI World Cup
Photo from @vanhoevenberg

Flaming Leaves | October 11-13, 2024
Olympic Jumping Complex

A variety of local color, live music, crafts, food and beer vendors, and activities for the whole family, all with one of the premier ski jumping events of the season, the USA Nordic National Championships. Fall celebrations don’t get better than this! Dance to live music while elite ski jumpers soar overhead with the beautiful high peaks in the background. Flaming Leaves combines live entertainment, thrilling competition, captivating vendor booths, and good old family fun. 

What to do this fall in Lake Placid? Attend Flaming Leaves
Photo from @lakeplacidjumps

Other things to do at the Olympic Venues

Olympic Museum
Daily | 9:30 AM – 5PM
Olympic Center

As a 2x Winter Olympic Host City, the Olympic Center is home to North America’s second-largest Winter Olympic artifact collection. Come explore the new interactive exhibits and discover the Olympic spirit while learning about remarkable athletes who changed the world of sports.
 
 
Visit the Olympic Museum this fall
Display from the 1980 Olympics

Cliffside Coaster
September 6  – October 14, 2024 | Friday – Tuesday
10 AM – 5PM | Mt Van Hoevenberg

RIDE THE LONGEST COASTER IN NORTH AMERICA!
As you ride to the top, you’ll learn about the Olympic history of the track. Once at the peak, you’ll be in the driver’s seat, controlling the speed as you zoom alongside the historic 1980 bobsled track, navigating sharp corners, cliffside banks, and long winding stretches.
 
What to do this fall in Lake Placid? Take a ride on the cliffside coaster at Mt Van Hoevenberg
photo from @vanhoevenberg

Sky Flyer Zipline
September 3 – October 14, 2024 | Friday – Sunday 
11 AM – 5PM | Olympic Jumping Complex

For the ultimate adventure seeker, the thrill of ski jumping can be replicated, experience the rush of ski jumping yourself on the Sky Flyer zipline. Our Zipline follows the HS 100 meter ski jump, emulating the flight of ski jumping at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. You’ll feel the exhilaration of an Olympian as you take flight!

What to do this fall in Lake Placid? Ride the Sky Flyer Zipline at the Olympic Jumping Complex
Photo from @lakeplacidjumps

Looking for more fun? Check these things out!

Leaf Peeping
Hiking
Haunted Trail

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