New York fall foliage

How fall color moves through New York

New York has one of the longest foliage seasons in the East, running about four weeks from the Adirondacks to New York City. The Adirondacks lead: Lake Placid typically peaks around October 2 and Old Forge around October 6. The Catskills and central New York follow, with Cooperstown around October 12, Hunter and Lake George around October 13, and Letchworth State Park around October 14. In the Capital Region, Albany follows around October 17. The Finger Lakes and western New York come next: Ithaca around October 16, Watkins Glen around October 17, and Buffalo around October 18. The lower Hudson Valley is late, with Bear Mountain around October 23, and New York City is last, around October 31.

Best places for New York fall foliage

• Lake Placid, in the Adirondack High Peaks, is typically the first New York destination to peak.
• Old Forge sits in the western Adirondacks on the Fulton Chain of Lakes.
• Lake George is a long, clear lake at the southeastern edge of the Adirondacks, ringed by wooded mountains.
• Hunter is a Catskills mountain town near Kaaterskill Clove and Kaaterskill Falls.
• Cooperstown sits at the south end of Otsego Lake, in the rolling hills of central New York.
• Albany, the state capital, has Washington Park in the city and the Helderberg Escarpment overlook at Thacher State Park just outside it.
• Letchworth State Park follows the deep gorge of the Genesee River past three major waterfalls.
• Watkins Glen, at the south end of Seneca Lake, is known for a gorge trail that passes 19 waterfalls.
• Bear Mountain rises above the Hudson River in the Hudson Highlands and is one of the last places outside the city to peak.

Scenic drives

In the Adirondacks, Route 73 runs between Keene Valley and Lake Placid past the Cascade Lakes. In the Catskills, Route 23A climbs through Kaaterskill Clove toward Hunter, and Route 28 crosses the central Catskills. The Taconic State Parkway runs the length of the Hudson Valley east of the river, and Seven Lakes Drive winds through Harriman State Park to Bear Mountain. In western New York, Letchworth State Park follows the deep gorge of the Genesee River.

Planning around elevation and water

The Adirondack high peaks turn well before the lake shores and valleys. Farther south and west, the Finger Lakes and the Lake Erie shore run later, partly because the water keeps nearby nights milder.

Visiting in early, mid, or late October

Early October. Head for the Adirondacks. Lake Placid is typically at its best from about October 1 to 9 and Old Forge from about October 4 to 12.

Mid-October. The Catskills, central New York, and the Finger Lakes take over. Cooperstown, Hunter, Lake George, Letchworth, and Saratoga Springs are typically at their best from about October 11 to 21, with Albany, Ithaca, and Watkins Glen a few days behind.

Late October. Go south and downstate. Buffalo and Woodstock typically stay good until about October 25, Bear Mountain is at its best from about October 21 to 30, and New York City peaks around Halloween.