WILMINGTON
- The hamlet of Wilmington offers plenty of outdoor and family activities in the summer,
from fishing, hiking and mountain biking to swimming and free concerts at the Town Beach
on the Au Sable River.
For
recreation, hikers will enjoy the foot trail up Whiteface Mountain which starts near the
town reservoir off the Veterans Memorial Highway. Also, there are shorter hikes on other
trails on state land, such as those to Cooper Kiln Pond, off Route 431 past the toll house
on Whiteface, or to Copperas and Winch Ponds, off Route 86 between Lake Placid and the
hamlet of Wilmington.
Mountain
biking with chairlift/gondola assist is available at the Whiteface Mountain Ski and Mountain Bike Center, complete with rentals and repair
shop. The chairlift/gondola is open to sightseers, also. Mountain biking trails available
to the public are accessible from the Flume parking lot off Route 86, just north of the
Hungry Trout Restaurant. The marked loop runs along the foot of Whiteface Mountain.
Driving up the
Veterans Memorial Highway, open to vehicles from May to October, offers wonderful views of
the surrounding mountains and into New England. The road is operated by the New York
Olympic Regional Development Authority. It's also the site of the Annual Whiteface
Mountain Uphill Footrace, held in June.
Wilmington
also offers superb fly fishing in a special catch-and-release section of the West Branch
of the Au Sable River. There are fly fishing shops and guides available for instruction and
tips.
Swimming and
picnicking is available at the Town Beach on Bowman Drive off Route 86. This section of
the river is known as Lake Everest, named after 19th-century resident and entrepreneur
Frank Everest. On Thursdays during July and August, the town offers free concerts starting
at 6:30 p.m. at the beach. The lifeguard will be on duty into the evening, so parents can
enjoy the concert while the kids swim. Bring a picnic dinner.
Since 1949,
families have enjoyed visiting Santa's Workshop at the North Pole on Whiteface Mountain.
The amusement park offers character, rides, and entertainment, and is open late spring,
summer and fall. High Falls Gorge on Route 86 also is a popular attraction, with its
walkways along the scenic Au Sable River.
There are a
number of motels and campgrounds in Wilmington/Whiteface Mountain Region for
accommodations, and all sorts of restaurants, from fine dining to fast food. For more
information on Wilmington and the Whiteface Mountain Region, contact the Whiteface
Mountain Regional Visitors Bureau at 888-WHITEFACE (944-8332), or 518-946-2255.
West Branch of
the Au Sable River
Located in the
heart of New York's majestic Adirondack Mountains, the West Branch of the
Au Sable River
tumbles and flows, twists and turns through one of the most pristine and scenic regions in
the East. There is probably no river in America that offers such diversity to the visiting
angler. With miles of pocket water, vast stretches of slow moving runs, deep pools and
long channels, the West Branch provides opportunities for anglers unequaled anywhere.
Nestled at the
base of Whiteface Mountain, the tranquil hamlet of Wilmington is headquarters to those
anglers wishing comfortable and affordable lodging, great dining diversity, and immediate
access to miles of productive and un-crowded trout water. Our region remains legendary for
its abundant hatches of Caddis, Mayflies, and Stoneflies.
Thanks to
years of studies and research, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
has dedicated five miles of the Au Sable as Catch and Release water open
to fishing year-round. With this dramatic new regulation in effect, we will not only
welcome the return of a healthy wild trout population, but also the 2 to 4 pound Brown
Trout that were so frequently caught in the 1960's. Licensed, professional guides are
available to take you to secluded spots loaded with fish. Tackle and Fly Shops are here to
provide all information and gear necessary to challenge our trout. One and two day schools
are offered continually.
