New York City, New York fall foliage

New York City’s color usually comes late, around the turn from October to November, because the city sits near sea level and is kept warm by the ocean and by its own pavement and buildings. That makes it a good backup when the Hudson Valley and the Catskills are already past peak.

Central Park. The Ramble and the North Woods are the wildest, most wooded corners of the park, and the Pool and the Harlem Meer are framed by trees that reflect in the water. At the southeast corner, the Pond and the Gapstow Bridge pair fall color with the Midtown skyline. The Mall is lined with American elms that turn yellow.

Northern Manhattan. Fort Tryon Park looks over the Hudson to the cliffs of the Palisades, and Inwood Hill Park has some of the last natural forest in Manhattan.

Brooklyn. Prospect Park, designed by the same pair as Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, has woods along the Ravine and a long lake.

On the streets. Ginkgo trees are common along city streets. They turn a clear butter yellow and often drop nearly all their leaves within a few days, so the sidewalk color is brief. See the ginkgo page.

The Palisades Interstate Parkway runs north from the George Washington Bridge along the top of the Palisades, with overlooks such as State Line Lookout high above the Hudson. It continues north to Bear Mountain.

Rather not drive? See fall foliage tours, from train rides and boat cruises to guided hikes.