WILMINGTON, New York ??” The Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) announced Tuesday the spring hours of operation for the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, with an opening date of Friday, May 20.

The Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway will be open daily from 9 am ??“ 4 pm. Admission to the highway is $9 for car and driver and $5 for each additional passenger. Admission to all venues is free for visitors under six years old.

The Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway ??“ built between 1931-1935 and dedicated to the New York State Veterans of the Great War (WWI) ??“ winds its way up the backside of New York’s fifth-highest peak offering motorists unparalled views of the Adirondacks, Canada and Vermont.

The Highway begins at the picturesque Toll House Area and snakes five miles up to the 4,867-foot summit of Whiteface Mountain. The Lake Stevens Tree Trail, at the Toll House Area, offers a self-guided 10 minute walk around the pond that points out all 34 species of trees native to the northern Adirondacks (14 conifer and 20 hardwood).

Once leaving the Toll House Area, the road bends and weaves among a continuous natural wildflower garden growing alongside the road, a living museum of natural forest history and the anorthosite bedrock roadside boulders that are over a billion years old. Upon reaching the summit of Whiteface, there is a tunnel and castle to be explored and stunning 360-degree panoramic views of unsurpassed beauty. The castle is made of granite that was excavated during the construction of the highway in the early 1930’s. Hardy souls can climb the one-fifth of a mile Stairway Ridge Trail over boulders to take in breath-taking views and observe flag trees, lichens and dwarf alpine flora that grow only on glacial summits.

For more information on the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, call (518) 946-7175 or visit www.whiteface.com.