All throughout New York, you can find some pretty well-known staircases that will take you on (or lead you to) some pretty unforgettable adventures. Many of us have stretched our legs out while climbing the 800 stone steps at Watkins Glen State Park, but if you happen to be heading up north there’s another set of stairs that you’ll want to climb. Leading you up to the top of our state’s fifth tallest mountain — find out why the Stairway Ridge Trail on Whiteface Mountain attracts so many visitors.
It’s time to put those New York legs to work! Because the Stairway Ridge Trail on Whiteface Mountain is an epic staircase that you’re going to want to climb.
Phyllis10/TripAdvisor
Begin your journey by heading to the small Adirondack town of Wilmington, where you can start your drive up Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway.
Jenny201110 /TripAdvisor
An 8-mile long drive that will have you rising over 2,300 feet in elevation, you’ll eventually reach the end of the road where you’ll find the designated parking areas along the mountain.
Peter C in Toronto Canada/Flickr
Now… the real adventure begins!
Jordan D/TripAdvisor
Unless you’re hiking all the way up Whiteface Mountain, you only have two other options to make your way to the summit — walk through a long tunnel and take an elevator ride 27-stories up or climb the staircase that makes up the Stairway Ridge Trail.
Matt Lancashire/Flickr
Well, due to the fact that the elevator is closed for the season for repairs, your only choice now is to explore the Stairway Ridge Trail!
Joanne S/TripAdvisor
Begin your journey by climbing the picture-perfect staircase that dates back to the early 1930s when the highway and structures on the mountain were built.
Mordechai P/TripAdvisor
Along the way, you’ll see the iconic signs that remind you of just how high up on this mountain you truly are.
Pherit/Flickr
Most of the time when we’re climbing a staircase we’re eager to get to the top, but this is one staircase that you’ll want to make stops on to soak in the breathtaking views.
tms934/TripAdvisor
The Stairway Ridge Trail is only .2-miles long, made up of both man-made and natural steps that you’ll have fun navigating.
stillwellmike/Flickr
Before you know it, you’ll be just steps away from Whiteface Castle at the summit.
Abhishek Srivastava/Flickr
Once you reach the summit, you’ll have even more to explore, with coin-operated binoculars available at the top to extend your views even further.
Geoffrey Williams/Flickr
And of course, you’ll have the most amazing view of Lake Placid in all of New York.
Pherit/Flickr
With the highway staying open until October, you still have plenty of time to get to the top of Whiteface Mountain this year.
Wayne R/TripAdvisor
So, who’s ready to cross off the Stairway Ridge Trail from their bucket list?
Pherit/Flickr To learn more about the Stairway Ridge Trail and check the conditions of Whiteface Mountain, click here.
Have you ever made it to the top of Whiteface Mountain before? If you have, be sure to tell us which adventure you took to reach the top in the comments! For more amazing outdoor excursions, read about how If There Are Only 5 Hikes You Ever Do In New York, Make Them These.
Phyllis10/TripAdvisor
Jenny201110 /TripAdvisor
Peter C in Toronto Canada/Flickr
Jordan D/TripAdvisor
Matt Lancashire/Flickr
Joanne S/TripAdvisor
Mordechai P/TripAdvisor
Pherit/Flickr
tms934/TripAdvisor
stillwellmike/Flickr
Abhishek Srivastava/Flickr
Geoffrey Williams/Flickr
Wayne R/TripAdvisor
To learn more about the Stairway Ridge Trail and check the conditions of Whiteface Mountain, click here.
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