Mirror Lake: The Lake the Village Actually Sits On

Here is a fact that surprises almost every first time visitor. The village of Lake Placid does not actually sit on Lake Placid. It sits on the shore of a different, smaller body of water called Mirror Lake.

The larger Lake Placid lies just to the north, over a low rise, and the two are often confused. Mirror Lake earns its name honestly. Because no gas powered motorboats are allowed on it, its surface stays remarkably calm, and on a still morning it reflects the surrounding mountains and shoreline like a sheet of glass.

Only canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, and quiet electric boats share the water. A walking path follows the lake, popular with runners and strollers year round. In winter the lake freezes solid and becomes a stage for ice events such as the pond hockey tournament held each February.

The lake sits right in the center of town, so from many restaurants and hotels you can look straight out over the water. If you only remember one thing here, remember this, the postcard view most people take of Lake Placid is very often actually a photo of Mirror Lake.