Pet-Friendly Lodging

High Peaks Resort - Conveniently located on the corner of Main Street and Saranac Ave, the newly renovated High Peaks Resort has been consulting with Jake on pet-friendly amenities.

Crowne Plaza Resort & Golf Club - One of Jake’s favorite morning strolls is around the property at the Crowne Plaza. Views of the ski jumps and bobsled run are a really magical morning surprise, no matter the season.

Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort - On the shore of Mirror Lake, and centrally located on Main Street, the Golden Arrow has a pet-friendly floor, and donates a portion of pet fees the Human Society annually.

Comfort Inn on Lake Placid - Just off Main Street on Saranac Ave, the Comfort Inn offers pet-friendly accommodations tested and approved by Jake’s friend Tyson from Virginia. Though the hotel never said so, Tyson told Jake that the tennis courts (when not in use) make a great fenced in area to run. Jake enjoys hiking the Peninsula Trail, located behind the Comfort Inn on the shore of Lake Placid.

Great Walks and Hikes with Your Dogs

Peninsula Nature Trails - This is one of Jake’s favorite “choose your own adventure” hikes. If he’s got lots of energy, we add up the 3 trails below. If he’s just looking for a quick jaunt and a cooling swim, we stick to the Lakeshore Trail. This is a moderate hike with generally level terrain, that’s suitable for most people and dogs. You’re likely to run into plenty of other dogs along the trails. Keep this in mind if your dog isn’t as predictably ecstatic to meet new friends as Jake is.

From Saranac Avenue (Route 86) turn onto the Peninsula Road which starts between Comfort Inn and the Howard Johnson Restaurant. Follow the road about ½ mile to a small parking area where a sign indicates the dirt road that leads to the trails themselves. Park at the gate and walk approximately 1/3 mile where you will find a large clearing from which the trails radiate.

1. •Lakeshore Trail - .78 mile self-guiding nature trail (blue markers). Bear left at the far end of the clearing, following the sign and trail to the edge of the lake. Turn right and wind along the shoreline, noting the variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, mosses and ferns that are found in this low moist area. After approximately 1000; the trail leaves the shore and turns right returning to the clearing.
   
   

2. •Ridge Trail – 1.31 miles (yellow markers). Moving to higher and drier ground, the trail winds through the lands selectively cut for saw logs in the 40s. The hardwoods, beech, birch and maple predominate the occasional hemlock, balsam fir and poplar.
   
   

3. •Boundary Trail - .91 mile (red markers). Start as on the Lakeshore Trail, but bear left at the edge of the lake. Pass a large white pine to the boundary of state land. After a while, you will reach road. Cross it and continue on. The Boundary Trail intersects with the Ridge Trail. Bear left and follow the Ridge Trail back to the clearing.
   
   

Around Mirror Lake
Stroll, walk or run around Mirror Lake for a different view of Main Street. Approximately 2.5 miles. Be sure to stop in at Jake Placid Doghouse and A Placid Life for free, clean water, and some samples of our latest new products!

Wilmington Flume Trails

The Flume Trails are located in Wilmington on Route 86 starting next to the bridge over the West Branch of the Ausable River near the Hungry Trout Restaurant. This network is popular for hikers and mountain bikers. The trails are a variety of old woods roads, xc ski trails and mountain biking single track.

Most of the trails are marked with blue hiking trail discs, red mountain bike trail disks, yellow square mountain bike signs and orange surveyors tape. This is a wide woods road with good footing and minimal elevation gain.

John Brown Farm
Historic farm and grounds of famed abolitionist. Easy trails with spectacular views of the High Peaks. Interpretive displays. This area is as close to a “dog park” as there is up here. Keep in mind that it is NOT a fenced-in area. Jake can’t play here unless he’s on-leash or with a herding dog that comes when called (he’s definitely a terrier!)
http://nysparks.state.ny.us/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/nysparks/historic.cgi?p+11

Pet Healthcare & Boarding

One thing we don’t have here in Lake Placid is a doggie daycare. If we had more time, we’d open one, but our hands are full. If you’re up for a drive, there is a doggie daycare in Plattsburgh, NY.

If you’re not planning to stay at one or the pet-friendly hotels above, and you need to board your pet, High Peaks Animal Hospital offers pet boarding just a few miles outside of town.

When it comes to medical care, there are a number of choices, however Jake has first-paw experience with the care offered at High Peaks Animal Hospital. If he had thumbs, he says he’d give them 2 thumbs up.

High Peaks Animal Hospital - www.highpeaksvet.com - 518.891.4100 - This is where Jake is treated every time he gets himself into mischief. They are a full service, accredited hospital, grooming salon, and kennel, with an amazing staff of animal lovers. When Jake stayed overnight for a few nights because of an illness, they let me come snuggle on him every evening, let him have his blanket and a shirt of mine with him, and when I went to see him one day, one of the receptionists mentioned to me how soft and snuggly he was. Yes, they love to love on dogs who love to be loved on! Here's what their site says about boarding: "We provide pet boarding as a service to our clients. All boarders receive personal attention from our caring staff and are walked 4-5 times daily in a large, fenced-in outdoor area. Boarding pets also have the option of "playtime," guaranteeing a maximum of affection and play during their stay here. Pets may be dropped off and picked up during regular business hours, Monday through Sunday."

Adirondack Pet Lodge - http://www.adirondackpetlodge.com/ - 518.566.2626 - This is a new facility in Plattsburgh (about 45 minutes away) that is veterinarian owned, and focuses on doggie daycare and boarding, with a variety of options. They have a few facilities, so this is what they do. It's designed as more of a camp. We don't have any firsthand experience with this business, but our UPS guy swears by them. Their site is pretty comprehensive, so if you're OK having your dog a little bit farther away, this might be a good alternative.