New York's Lake Placid is a year-round vacation hotspot for a reason. Not only is the town's namesake lake one of the most beautiful in the Northeast, but the surrounding expanse of New York's heavenly Adirondack Mountains offers countless mountain trails to escape from the stresses of daily life. Case in point, a mere eight miles from Lake Placid stands one of the titans of New York's mountain canopy. Algonquin Peak is the second-highest mountain in both the Adirondack Range and in all of New York State, so the trails to and around the Algonquin Peak summit are some of the most strenuous in Adirondack Park, but also some of the most rewarding. Also, Algonquin Peak's summit offers a panorama of many of the best views anywhere in New York.