Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway - New York

The 4,867 foot high Whiteface Mountain is not the highest mountain in the Adirondacks of New York State (it is the fifth highest in the state), but its summit is the easiest to access in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks. While many people make effort to climb Whiteface, there is also a highway that runs towards the top of the mountain. The names given to Whiteface Mountain by early Native Americans, as well as the present-day name Whiteface were based on the geological characteristics of the mountain. The Algonquins gave the imposing mountain the name "Wa-ho-par-te-nie," which translated roughly means "it is white". Nomadic Canadian Indians passing through the area to the Lake Champlain Valley called it "Thei-a-no-guen," meaning "white head," and the Mohawks called the mountain "Ou-no-war-lah" or "scalp mountain."

In 1929, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was the governor of New York State at the time, commissioned the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway to be built to a point just below the summit to honor the veterans of World War I. The highway provides access to within 300 vertical feet of the summit observatory. The highway begins in the town of Wilmington, New York as NY 431, and runs about 8 miles in length, with the first few miles being free. After approximately five miles and over 2000 feet in elevation gain from the toll building, the highway ends at a two-story castle built with granite excavated from the highway construction. A tunnel to the core of the mountain provides access to an elevator with a direct route to the summit roundhouse for equipment and personnel, along with a way for tourists to get to the summit with relative ease. The construction of a tunnel and elevator was the suggestion of FDR himself, to carry visitors from the parking lot to the summit of Whiteface Mountain.

The idea of creating an automobile road to the top of Whiteface was first documented in an essay written by Russell Carson in 1927 titled "Peaks and People of the Adirondacks", written in 1927. The opinion of Carson was not one where building a road was encouraged. After attending a meeting where the idea was discussed, Carson claimed that if the road were to be created, the summit would be "made filthy by careless picnickers, who, having attained the summit without effort, were unappreciative and indifferent about leaving it in such a condition that others who came after them might enjoy the pleasure that an undefiled mountain top affords". This opinion was not popular, because in November 1927, New York State voters decided to amend the Forever Wild clause within the state's constitution to allow the building of the road.

In a ceremony on September 11, 1929, Franklin D. Roosevelt shoveled a chunk of dirt to symbolize the beginning of construction of the highway, although the actual construction of the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway began on December 25, 1931. While the idea for the road was conceived before 1930, the actual building of the road coincided with the Great Depression. To promote the Adirondack economy and create jobs during the economic downturn, additional projects included the creation of the castle near the parking area, the summit shelter the elevator to the summit and its approach tunnel, and the toll house. These supplemental projects were not completed until a couple of years after the road had opened. At the time of construction, it was considered one of the most ambitious road construction projects of the time, costing roughly $1,250,000. Because the highway was built and completed during the Great Depression, it is often mistaken as a CCC project, but it was funded by New York State.

Opened to traffic in 1935, the naming of the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway after veterans of World War I was the idea of a local resident by the name of Marcellus Leonard. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt formally dedicated the highway on September 14, 1935, after over three years of work to complete the road. In 1985, New York Governor Mario M. Cuomo rededicated the highway for all veterans.

Today, the highway is open from the middle of May to the middle of October each year. Along the way, there are nine scenic lookout points and picnic areas where one can stop and enjoy views of the Adirondack region. Once at the top of Whiteface Mountain, you can enjoy a 360-degree, panoramic view of the region, spanning hundreds of square miles of wild land reaching out around the Adirondacks as well as into Vermont and Canada on a clear day, or on a not-so-clear day, plenty of clouds. Guests can also visit the castle, built from native stone, where they will find a gift shop and restaurant. For those who are unable to reach the summit on foot by way of a 0.2-mile hiking trail or want a relaxing way to the top, an elevator is available that will take guests the final 26 stories to the observation deck.

In all, a trip up the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway is a fun experience in any condition. My trip was socked in by clouds at the summit of Whiteface, but I was able to catch some scenic views from some lower elevations. The drive up is not cheap, I believe it is $20 in 2022, but it is worth the trip up the mountain.

A gateway sign for the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway in Wilmington at the junction of NY 86 and NY 431.

You can get to Wilmington from Wilmington.

Starting the ascent towards Whiteface Mountain on NY 431.

But first, a stop at the North Pole is in order.

North Pole, New York is home to one of the more colorful post offices around, plus you can find Santa's Workshop here.

Since we were all on the nice list and not the naughty list, Santa may have left us these neat embossed elevation signs along the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway. You can find these mountain shaped signs along the highway, and outside of the road to Whiteface Mountain, the only other place I've seen signs quite like this would be in Erie County, New York.

Sign warning you to pay the toll ahead to continue up the mountain. That goes for the cyclists who like to bike up Whiteface too.

Continue straight to go to Whiteface Mountain, but turn to the right onto Essex County Route 72 and eventually you'll wind up in neighboring Franklin County.

Lake Stevens is found near the toll house for the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway. Named for 1932 Winter Olympic bobsledder Hubert Stevens, the lake is stocked with trout for fishing and there is a walking path that goes around the lake.

The toll house looks like a mountain chalet.

Starting the real climb up Whiteface after going past the toll house.

One of a number of pull-offs along the road.

So far it looks like a nice day driving up the mountain.

Already about 1000 feet higher in elevation than Lake Stevens.

Clouds are starting to settle in on the way up Whiteface. That's life in the mountains. Some days are beautiful, some days you're studying clouds.

Roughly 1000 feet lower in elevation than the summit of Whiteface.

This turn-off is supposed to have a neat view of Lake Placid.

The Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway is full of turns and exposed rock.

Curves and clouds.

This doesn't deter the hardy cyclists who also like to venture up Whiteface.

About 600 feet in elevation lower than the summit of Whiteface.

This pull-off affords a divine view of Wilmington, New York in better conditions.

Continuing our climb up the mountain and into the clouds

Getting closer to the top..

The castle that is found at the top of the highway. While the highway doesn't get to Whiteface's summit, it's a short walk or elevation ride up. Plus there's also a NY 431 reference marker.

The two story castle was constructed with rock that was excavated as part of the construction of the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway

Plus you can drive under and around the castle.

Ceremonial plaque designating the road as the New York World War Veterans Memorial Highway. Since the highway was built in the 1930s, this refers to World War I.

I opted to hike up to the the summit, on a trail that's less than a quarter of a mile long. I didn't get the view I wanted, but I was able to see a neat sign or two.

Walking into the clouds is a mysterious yet magical experience.

Plus it makes for some great photos.

The Whiteface Mountain Summit Observatory, with a weather station run by the State University of New York at Albany's Atmospheric Sciences Research Center. We are near the summit now.

There's a tunnel that goes to the elevator if you look inside.

The summit of Whiteface Mountain.

While the summit of Whiteface was socked in by clouds on the day I went, I was able to see some nice views on the way down the mountain. Visibility wasn't great on the day I went, but I was able to see nearby lakes and mountains in the Adirondacks.

I do a fair amount of hiking in the Adirondacks and elsewhere throughout the year, and I consider myself a bit of a scenic view junkie. These are fine views.

Some of the nearby mountains have exposed rock faces.

Mountains as far as the eye can see.

As you can see, clouds were the name of the game on the day I went.

Time to head down Whiteface Mountain and back into the fog.

As we make our descent, things are starting to clear a bit.

The two main attractions on a mountain road like this are the scenic views and the road itself. It's nice that the scenery is making an appearance again.

Exquisite scenery to be seen on the way down Whiteface.

The drive up and down Whiteface has been a fun drive.

Now approaching the toll house with some of the final mountain shaped signs on this journey.

Descending back down into Wilmington.

And we end our journey the same place we started, at the junction with NY 86.

Here is a virtual drive of the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway (in two parts), courtesy of the Roadwaywiz family of YouTube channels.






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Sources and Links:
Pure Adirondacks - Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway
AARCH - A 5-mile drive to the top of the world (PDF)
Wander Wisdom - Driving the Veterans Memorial Highway to the Top of Whiteface Mountain
Lake Placid Adirondacks USA - Adirondack History: Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway
Lake Placid Adirondacks USA - Family Fun: A Drive to the Top of Whiteface Memorial Highway
Adirondack Almanack - Whiteface Memorial Highway Celebrates 75 Years
Hamilton College - Veteran's Memorial Highway
National Parks With T - Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway NRHP
New York Almanack - Whiteface Memorial Highway
Atmospheric Sciences Research Center / University at Albany - History of the ASRC Whiteface Mountain Field Station