Undercliff Approach.
This 1.9-mile approach trail serves as a connector route, likely linking lower elevations to higher terrain or a main trail network. The name suggests it follows beneath a cliff band or steep section, keeping to more protected ground. Expect moderate grades and a utilitarian character—more about getting somewhere than the walk itself.
Seasonal pattern for this trail · tops out ~3,862 ft · live closures appear above
- intermediateTrail visibility
Read the line before you walk it.
What the trailhead is doing today.
Where the hike begins.
What the route itself carries.
Summits reached, waters touched, and the lean-tos along the way — read it like a cue sheet, mile posts ascending.
Guides, outfitters & shuttles.
If you’re already out here.
Lake Placid.
The corner of the Park this trail calls home — its hamlets, waters, lodging, and the rest of its field record.
Read the Region→
Make a weekend of it.
Closest editorial picks for a meal, a scoop, a pint, a bed, and a sight worth your time.
Eat.
4- Artisans at the Lake Placid Lodge2.9 mi
The restaurant at the Lake Placid Lodge, a Relais and Chateaux property, serving a seasonal farm-to-fork menu in a fire-lit dining room with a three-season terrace over the lake. Breakfast and dinner daily.
- Heritage Indian Grill3.7 mi
Heritage Indian Grill in Lake Placid offers a vibrant exploration of Indian cuisine, presenting a curated selection of traditional recipes and contemporary creations.
- West Shore BBQ3.7 mi
West Shore BBQ offers 100% wood-fired barbecue in the Adirondacks, distinguishing itself by using no pellets, soaked chips, or liquid smoke. They exclusively use wood sustainably harvested from within the Blue Line.
- Green Goddess Natural Foods3.8 mi
A market and cafe on Saranac Avenue in Lake Placid with organic groceries, scratch-made soups, salads, and sandwiches, locally roasted coffee, and a weekly Thursday fresh-fish delivery.
Sip.
4- Simply Gourmet3.8 mi
Simply Gourmet in Lake Placid offers daily breakfast and lunch with a focus on clean food, using fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients free of additives or preservatives. They also provide comprehensive catering services for various ev…
- The Coffee Bar4.5 mi
A small coffee bar on Main Street in Lake Placid with Mirror Lake and Whiteface Mountain views, pulling shots from Tug Hill Artisan Roasters beans.
- Saranac Juice4.8 mi
Cold-pressed juices, cleanses, protein elixirs, and nut mylks from Saranac River Ranch in Bloomingdale, made from organic produce grown on the farm or sourced from local Adirondack growers.
- Origin Coffee4.8 mi
Origin Coffee Co. is a specialty coffee shop with locations in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, offering a chef-driven breakfast and lunch menu served all day. It serves as a community gathering spot for locals and Adirondack travelers.
Sweet.
4- Emma's Lake Placid Creamery5.0 mi
A 1950s-themed creamery in the heart of walkable Lake Placid, famous for its Maple Creme soft serve alongside 16 hard flavors, gelato, sorbet, and old-fashioned malts. The reliable apres-hike treat.
- Ben & Jerry's5.1 mi
The Ben & Jerry's scoop shop on Lake Placid's Main Street above Mirror Lake — the Vermont brand's pints and cones in the heart of the village.
- Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream5.5 mi
A fourth-generation Saranac Lake institution on a former dairy farm, serving exactly one rotating soft-serve flavor each day — twisted with vanilla on the same 1953 machine. Cash only; check the daily flavor. Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- Adirondack Corner Store6.1 mi
A longtime deli and general store at the corner of Route 73 in Lake Placid with an ice cream counter and subs — a locals' spot off the Main Street tourist row.
Drink.
4- Top of the Park4.2 mi
A Lake Placid bar on Main Street offering a curated selection of wine, scotch, bourbon, craft beer, and top-shelf liquors, complemented by small plates and signature cocktails. Enjoy 'Spirits with a View' from its large deck overlooking Mi…
- Lake Placid Pub & Brewery4.8 mi
A brewpub on Mirror Lake Drive in Lake Placid since 1996, with 12 house beers on tap including the original Ubu Ale, a downstairs Irish pub, and a deck over Mirror Lake.
- Ray Brook Brewhouse5.1 mi
Ray Brook Brewhouse is a unique brewery in Ray Brook, NY, offering wild and traditional brews paired with adventurous dishes made from local and exotic ingredients.
- Hex and Hop Brewing5.7 mi
Hex and Hop Brewing is a craft brewery and meadery in Bloomingdale, New York, making full-flavored, locally sourced beer and mead. They prioritize community and craft, using fresh, local ingredients.
Stay.
4- Whiteface Club2.7 mi
A historic resort on Whiteface Inn Lane in Lake Placid since 1882, with 18-hole Van Kleek championship golf, tennis and pickleball, a private marina on Lake Placid, and a Nordic Center.
- Lake Placid Lodge2.9 mi
A 30-room Arts and Crafts lodge on the western shore of Lake Placid, one of two Relais & Chateaux properties in the Adirondacks. Main-lodge rooms and suites, plus private cabins and lakeside cottages. Artisans dining room and Maggie's Pub on site.
- Moose Mountain Lodge3.1 mi
Moose Mountain Lodge is a five-bedroom, five-bathroom Adirondack-style home in Lake Placid. Overlooking the Whiteface Club and Resort golf course, it features a rec-room with a pool table, sauna, and hot tub, and includes access to the res…
- Cambria Hotel Lake Placid - Lakeside Resort3.8 mi
Cambria Hotel Lake Placid is a new hotel in the Adirondacks, offering modern rooms, an indoor pool, and an on-site restaurant, Haystack Bar & Bistro. It is dog-friendly and located near Lake Placid's Olympic sites and Main Street.
See.
4- Captain Marney's Boat Rental3.6 mi
Captain Marney's Boat Rental offers boat and water sports rentals in the Lake Placid, NY area. They provide reasonably priced options for various water enthusiasts, including discounts for multi-day, multi-boat, and group rentals.
- Boots & Birdies3.7 mi
Boots & Birdies is a family-owned, Western-themed fun center in Lake Placid, NY. It offers an 18-hole miniature golf course, a baseball batting cage, and a custom mining sluice for gemstone and fossil mining, providing hours of outdoor act…
- Lake Placid Olympic Museum4.7 mi
Museum focusing on the winter Olympic games & its events, including hockey, skating & curling.
- Olympic Center4.9 mi
The hockey arena where the 1980 'Miracle on Ice' happened, now part of a larger Olympic complex with skating rinks, the Olympic Museum, training facilities, and bobsled / skeleton experiences.
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Frequently asked.
- How long is the Undercliff Approach?The Undercliff Approach is approximately 1.88 miles (3.0 kilometers) — a short out-and-back suitable for most fitness levels.
- How long does it take to hike the Undercliff Approach?Most hikers complete the Undercliff Approach in about 1 hour at a steady pace with roughly 121 feet of elevation gain. Allow extra time for rest stops, photos, weather, and trail conditions.
- How difficult is the Undercliff Approach?Based on its length and elevation gain, the Undercliff Approach is an easy hike (121 ft of climbing over the route) — gentle grades suitable for most fitness levels and families. This is an estimate from route data, not an official trail rating — check current DEC advisories before heading out.