New York is a bustling state in the US and one of the busiest places in the world. Despite being renowned for being one of the top urban locations in the world, New York also has amazing fall foliage.
This post may contain affiliate marketing links (including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program), which means I may be paid a commission on sales of those products. These are products I fully use and endorse, and my content is not influenced by advertisers or affiliate partnerships.
What is Fall Foliage?
Fall foliage is some of the best time of year. The downside is that it is typically short because the leaves have a ‘peak’ window. To start off, fall is another name for the autumn season, one of four experienced every year. One thing I didn’t know about fall (and it’s most popular on the east coast), is that a lot of trees will turn fall colors and essentially bloom into this amazing blast of color.
Foliage, essentially, refers to plants or leaves on trees. Since fall is a transition season, Fall Foliage describes the changing color of leaves on trees. The color change in foliage is triggered by the reduced amount of sunlight the plant receives, which makes it produce less chlorophyll. The color of leaves changes from green to brownish-green or just brown. In other cases (depending on the plant or tree), the color can be red, purple, yellow, or orange.
What is the Best Time to See New York Fall Foliage?
The best time for tourists to travel for New York fall foliage is from late September to October. The change in foliage pigmentation begins in September and starts showing towards the end of that month. By October, the colors will be on full-on display.
However, this is best used as a general guideline. The best time to see fall foliage depends on the area you’re visiting. If you’re headed to Southern New York, mid-October is the best time to view the foliage. For Northernmost regions, late September is the best time to view the foliage. Lastly, the best time for those in the White Mountain Regions is early October.
We love using the Fall Foliage Prediction Map which always has the latest info on peak New York fall foliage.
Looking for more New York hiking inspiration? Check out my Guide to Lake Placid or my Guide to Lake George!
Where Can I See Fall Colors in NYC?
First, I’ll start off with hikes and areas with fall foliage near New York City.
Fort Tryon Park
One of the most notable cities in New York is Manhattan, and that’s also one of the best destinations for fall foliage. Fort Tryon Park is rich with American Elm trees, and during the fall season, its leaves take on a copper, orange, yellowish-brown, or reddish-brown color. This park is situated close to the Cloisters Museum and Gardens, a tourist attraction in its own right.
Another highlight of Fort Tryon Park is that it contains a great-looking garden that gives tourists a front-seat view of the Palisades and the Hudson River. Located in Inwood neighborhoods and Hudson Heights, it’s also one of the highest points in the city of Manhattan. It offers visitors great views. This park is 67 acres in land mass.
Central Park
A perhaps obvious place to see New York fall foliage is Central Park. It is the most well-known park in NYC. At 843 acres, there are tons of opportunities for you to walk around to enjoy the fall foliage colors.
The Mall & Literary walk is particularly beautiful for New York fall foliage. The walk is lined with American elm trees which turn a bright orange and brown once the leaves change color for the season.
Check out more information on fall foliage hikes from the Central Park Conservancy.
New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden is a fun choice for New York fall foliage. There are maple trees, beeches, and oak trees that give you a wide variety of the different fall foliage colors. Red, orange, and yellow leaves will be absolutely stunning in the gardens here. The garden has 250 acres for you to explore – they even host a fall foliage tour!
Long Island
New Yorkers can let me know if this belongs on the NYC list 🙂
This is one of the largest islands in the US. It’s situated in the southeastern part of New York state. This island is home to some of the best tourist destinations in New York. Are you wondering where to view fall foliage on Long Island? We have a few options you can check out.
1. Sunken Meadow State Park
This tourist destination is located in Suffolk County, about 50 miles away from the metropolis of Long Island. This state park features a variety of trees, including Black Birch, Red Maples, Sweet & Sour Gums, and Tulips. The highlight of this state park is its topography range which includes a beachfront setting and rolling hilltops. The foliage in this park during the Fall season takes on a combination of red, orange, and green pigments. The best time for tourists to visit this state park is any time within October.
2. Planting Fields Arboretum
This spot is 400+ acres of breathtaking foliage. It boasts an insane collection of over 100 maple trees. This arboretum and state park is situated in Upper Brookville, Oyster Bay, New York. Its Fall foliage displays a variety of colors such as red, orange, green, and brown.
3. Long Island Wine Country
Long Island Wine Country embodies a community of winemakers in Western Suffolk County, South Fork, and North Fork. It is a beautiful place to enjoy New York fall foliage while also having a sip or two of wine! See more wineries in Long Island Wine Country here.
Best Places to See Fall Foliage Near New York
The Adirondacks
This is one of the most captivating spots in Upstate New York. It covers roughly 13,000 hectares of land mass with an elevation of 1.6km in height. One of the places that add to the renown of the Adirondacks is the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.
1. Adirondack Scenic Railroad
This is the railway servicing Adirondack Park, but it isn’t an ordinary railway park; it’s also a tourist attraction. This railway cuts across a vast expanse of beautiful fall foliage on your way to and from the park. The foliage is a mix of green, yellow, red, orange, and brown. It’s a sight you can’t get tired of seeing.
2. Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley stretches from the Hudson River in Westchester County to Albany, the capital of New York. This valley is renowned for its rich foliage content, which includes farms, vineyards, and orchards. It also contains some hotspots you should check out.
3. Mohonk Mountain House
This landmark resort is about 145 km north of New York City. Here, tourists can get a rich rustic dining experience via farm-to-table meals. Naturally, this kind of location will have enough Fall foliage to remember. You’ll see a mix of yellowish red, green, orange, and brown leaves on a variety of trees.
4. Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway
This byway is a scenic drive through several miles of mountains, farms, and rustic landscapes. The natural preserves alone sit on 12.100+ hectares of land. This byway circles the northern Shawangunk Mountains. Coming to this destination will expose you to an explosion of foliage colors. Red here, brown there, yellow with specks of green. The overall aesthetic effect of these, coupled with the landscape, will give you a sight to remember.
Chautauqua-Allegheny
Chautauqua is an urban lake resort community situated in Chautauqua county, New York. This tourist town covers 3 million hectares of landmass and an elevation of 409 meters. This town has great-looking mountains, the famous Chautauqua lake, and vineyards for days. It also has long sandy beaches and Fall foliage to die for. One of the places you’ll want to check out is Allegheny state park.
Allegheny State Park
This spot is located in the Western parts of New York, Salamanca precisely. This park sits on 26.3 hectares of land and features wildlife, glaciated landscapes, forested valleys, and numerous fall leaves. Its Fall foliage comes in reddish-brown, green, and orange leaves.
Greater Niagara Area
This tourist spot is extremely famous for Niagra Falls, but did you know there is fall foliage nearby too? The tree colors around the waterfall will change colors and it’s absolutely breathtaking. If you are near Niagra Falls, you can go to Buffalo or keep going southeast to Letchworth State Park.
Letchworth State Park
This vast park is nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the East for a reason. It’s precisely located in Western New York, Wyoming, and Livingston County. It will interest you to know that this park was voted the best park in the US in 2015. During October, you’ll be blessed with 17 miles of green, brown, orange, and yellow foliage.
Central New York
Central New York fall foliage also has some great options, namely Chittenango Falls State Park
Chittenango Falls State Park
This 78-hectare state park is located in Madison county. Its waterfall is an astonishing 51 meters drop from its peak point. Beneath its waterfall is a creek that flows under a bridge. During the Fall season, the rich foliage of this state park changes to orange, greenish-brown, yellow, and reddish-brown.
Finger Lakes Region
The Finger Lakes Region is a significant tourist area in the New York area. One of the most popular spots for Fall foliage is the Taughannock Falls State Park.
1. Taughannock Falls State Park
This state park is located in Tompkins County, New York. It sits on over 300 hectares of land mass. As with other state parks, this place has incredible foliage, which is even lovelier during the Fall season. It’s like a kaleidoscope of red, orange, and yellow leaves.
2. Cayuga Lake State Park
Cayuga Lake Route to Cayuga Lake State Park is a fun way to see New York fall foliage. There are of course gorgeous lake views but you can also relax and have a picnic lunch while taking in the beautiful sights with the red and orange tree colors.
Thousand Islands-Seaway
The Thousand Islands-Seaway is situated in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, which skirts the border between Canada and the US. The impressive foliage this seaway has is nearly unrivaled in the entire country. There is a wide variety of trees and colors of leaves, and the crystal clear reflection of the St. Lawrence River creates a mirror effect on the foliage during the fall season. The overall effect? Breathtaking!
The Catskills
This upstate New York destination is home to the Catskills Mountains. There are tons of places to go hiking here and enjoy New York fall foliage.
1. Catskills Mountains Scenic Byway
This location features lovely waterfalls, picturesque vistas, 98 mountain peaks, lakes, ski resorts, and much more. You’ll see several miles of reddish-brown, yellow, and greenish-brown trees.
2. Mount Utsayantha
If you are looking for a short but beautiful hike, Mount Utsayantha is a great way to see New York fall foliage. At only 2 miles roundtrip, this hike has great views with minimal effort.
3. Vernooy Kill Falls
I personally really love New York fall foliage when it is surrounding waterfalls. Vernooy Kill Falls is around 3.6 miles roundtrip.
What to Pack for Fall Hiking
Fall hiking is some of my favorite hiking seasons because the weather becomes a little bit cooler than summer, but the hiking is not as technical as hiking in the winter. You will need some more outdoor gear in the fall, but nothing as thick or sturdy as the winter. Here are some of my personal favorites for New York fall foliage.
Hiking Boots / Shoes
Here are some of my favorite hiking boots for hiking. Depending on your ankles and joints, you may also find running shoes better. I personally don’t wear very sturdy hiking boots unless I am backpacking for multiple days. Hiking boots tend to be heavier and therefore less comfortable. But – if you are going on a long hike, they will keep you more protected over time.
Sun Protection
Even if it looks like a gloomy day, you will want to have sun protection. Whether it be a hat or SPF, sun protection will be really important.
Water Storage
Bringing water is really important for your hike. When I was first starting out, I used to just bring a small water bottle for an hours-long hike. That is definitely a top mistake for beginning and casual hikers.
My general rule of thumb is 1L of water per hour. I see too many people who set out on a fall foliage hike with a tiny water bottle and end up drinking all of it not even halfway into their hike. Here are some of my favorite water storage containers – I especially love the Drom Bags because it is easier to drink water – you don’t have to reach around and find a water bottle.
Hiking Clothing
Light hiking clothing will keep you cooler than your normal workout gear. If I’m going on a real hike, I will never wear cotton because it’s just a horribly inefficient material. For your adventure to the best hiking trails for New York fall foliage, you will want to make sure you are not wearing cotton. For more details on why that is, check my post on Essential Hiking Clothes!
Favorite Hiking Outerwear
It can obviously get cold in the early morning or dusk so having a good jacket is important to keep you warm and insulated.
Summary of New York Fall Foliage
Overall, New York is an amazing place to visit fall foliage. New York, especially upstate New York, has a lot to offer in terms of natural tourist attractions. It’s time to be part of the New York Fall Foliage this forthcoming fall season.
There are tons of hikes and parks where you can see fall foliage.
Have you been to any of the New York fall foliage destinations listed? Comment below!
This post may contain affiliate marketing links (including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program), which means I may be paid a commission on sales of those products. These are products I fully use and endorse, and my content is not influenced by advertisers or affiliate partnerships.
