Fall Foliage

Photo of the Mall courtesy of Central Park Conservancy

October 11, 2024

The best places in Central Park to see fall foliage

Some of the most breathtaking fall foliage can be found outside of NYC, but when it comes to autumnal bliss within the boroughs, not many places can compare to Central Park. The park experiences a different fall foliage season than other parts of the city because of the tall buildings that surround it and cast shadows on its trees. According to the Central Park Conservancy, the trees have a "distorted sense of the seasons," creating a later foliage season for Central Park. To make the most of this beautiful season, the Conservancy released its annual fall guide, complete with ideas for exploring the park, and their handy fall foliage map, which lets you know the best spots to see the park's 18,000 trees in all their yellow, orange, and red glory. Ahead, find eight spots that take the lead for leaf-peeping.
Get the guide to the best foliage spots

Events & Things To Do

New York fall foliage: This map tracks the best time for leaf peeping

Courtesy of I LOVE NY

September 13, 2024

New York fall foliage: This map tracks the best time for leaf peeping

By Devin Gannon

While it's still technically summer, the first signs of fall have already been spotted in New York. This week the state released the season's first Fall Foliage report, an annual guide and interactive map highlighting the progress of changing leaves across the Empire State. Based on observations by 85 volunteer leaf spotters, regions like the Adirondacks, Catskills, Thousand Island-Seaway, Capital-Saratoga, Central New York, Finger Lakes, and Greater Niagara are starting their colorful autumnal transformations.
fall is coming

Events & Things To Do

October 25, 2023

The best spots to see fall foliage in NYC

By Devin Gannon

The beautiful yet fleeting season of fall has officially begun in New York City. While a trip to the Catskill or Adirondack mountains makes for a fun weekend, New Yorkers don't have to travel outside city limits to enjoy the colorful fall foliage. Typically, peak foliage in the city takes place at the end of October through early November and lasts only a few days. Ahead, find some of the best parks and gardens across the five boroughs to take in the beauty of the season.
See the list

Events & Things To Do

Metro-North ‘Leaf Peeper’ train service returns for fall foliage lovers

Views along the Hudson Line on Metro-North Railroad in Beacon. Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

October 9, 2023

Metro-North ‘Leaf Peeper’ train service returns for fall foliage lovers

By Aaron Ginsburg

Take a train ride up through the Hudson Valley and witness the breathtaking beauty of New York State's fall foliage. The Metro-North Railroad last weekend kicked off its annual "Leaf Peeper" train service, boosting service on the Hudson River line, which provides scenic views of upstate's changing foliage and stops in charming autumnal towns like Peekskill, Cold Spring, and Beacon. Five extra trains on Saturdays and four trains on Sundays have been added from October 7 through November 5.
learn more about the leaf peeper rides

This map of Central Park tracks fall foliage in real time

The Reservoir; Photo courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy

October 21, 2022

This map of Central Park tracks fall foliage in real time

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Central Park Conservancy has launched a new, interactive Peak Fall Foliage map to let parkgoers know the best times and locations to take in autumn's most vibrant colors. In the coming weeks, approximately 18,000 trees across Central Park's 843 acres will reach their peak color. The map's real-time information is provided by Central Park's arborists who take care of more than 170 species of trees on a daily basis.
See more here

City Living

New York’s 2022 fall foliage map has arrived

Image courtesy of I LOVE NY

September 15, 2022

New York’s 2022 fall foliage map has arrived

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York State has begun its colorful transformation into fall. The first signs of autumn can already be seen in the Adirondacks, with the rest of the state to soon follow suit. To help New Yorkers follow the cycle of foliage, the state released this week its annual Fall Foliage Report. The interactive map is updated weekly using observations and reports from a state-wide group of volunteers known as "leaf peepers," as 6sqft previously reported.
Get ready to leaf-peep

New York’s official fall foliage map is here!

Image courtesy of I LOVE NY

September 9, 2021

New York’s official fall foliage map is here!

By Dana Schulz

Have you been dreaming of pumpkin spice and chunky sweaters all summer long? Well, autumnal bliss is upon us, with the first signs of colorful fall foliage already appearing in upstate New York. To help you keep tabs on peak foliage in your area, the state has released its annual Fall Foliage Report, an interactive map that is updated weekly using on-the-ground observations and reports from a state-wide network of volunteers.
READ MORE

MAP: Predict when fall foliage will peak in your area

Image courtesy of Smoky Mountains

September 21, 2020

MAP: Predict when fall foliage will peak in your area

By Michelle Cohen

It officially feels like Fall, and whether you're good and ready for sweater weather or you're sorry to see summer go, there's no avoiding the fact that cooler temps and shorter days are on the way. One way to savor the changing seasons is to enjoy the majestic hues of autumn foliage. If you're hoping to catch the changing season at its peak, there's no better tool to plan your leaf-peeping strategy than SmokyMountains.com's Fall Foliage Prediction Map. This interactive infographic will tell you when and where foliage is expected to appear, and when it will reach its peak, in your area. Here in NYC, expect peak foliage to hit around mid-October.
See the full map

Events & Things To Do

New York is looking for ‘leaf peepers’ to keep track of fall foliage

Image by Pierre Blaché from Pixabay

September 4, 2020

New York is looking for ‘leaf peepers’ to keep track of fall foliage

By Dana Schulz

Admit it--you can't wait to get that perfect #fallfoliage shot. But if you want to take it a step further, you can volunteer as an official "leaf peeper" for the state of New York (h/t Time Out). I LOVE NY, the state's tourism agency, is growing its statewide team of volunteers who submit weekly reports on the status of foliage in their given areas.
READ MORE

Events & Things To Do

Where to find fall foliage in Central Park

Photo via Flickr cc

September 28, 2018

Where to find fall foliage in Central Park

By Dana Schulz

You don't have to go upstate to experience the magic of fall foliage--right here in Central Park, there are 20,000 trees, many of which "transform into golden shades of yellow, orange, red, and more." Which is why the Central Park Conservancy has released its 2018 Fall Guide, complete with a map of the best spots to catch the autumnal bliss, as well as a list of upcoming fall tours.
READ MORE

Events & Things To Do

Fall Foliage

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