National Geographic just confirmed what locals have always known: Upstate New York offers fall experiences that rival anything in New England.
If you’re looking to avoid the crowded leaf-peeping hotspots the magazine suggests turning to “unexpected” but equally beautiful fall destinations across the U.S., including Upstate New York.
The list names places such as Big Bear, California, and Washington, D.C., but for those who live here, Upstate New York is anything but unexpected. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors travel north to take in the autumn hues.
It’s also the perfect season to visit an apple orchard, take a fall foliage train ride, pedal a rail bike, or bite into a hot cider doughnut.
National Geographic highlighted three destinations in New York where travelers can enjoy brilliant fall color with fewer crowds:
Adirondacks
Covering six million acres, the Adirondacks boast one of the longest fall foliage seasons in the country, according to the magazine. Peak color has already begun this week, just days into the official season, thanks to dry weather speeding up the display.
Great hikes this time of year, according to Whiteface Lodge’s director of sales, include High Falls Gorge, a tourist attraction, and Cobble Lookout in Wilmington, as well as Hurricane Mountain in the High Peaks.
Catskills
Highlighted with a photo of popular Kaaterskill Falls, the list suggests taking on the 26-mile Catskill Scenic Trail which sits atop part of the former Hubbell Corners-Bloomville segment of the Delaware & Ulster Railroad. The Highmount to Roxbury segment is still being utilized by trains for scenic rail rides.
Another favorite is Bramley Mountain and its historic fire tower in the Western Catskills. It’s where “colors spread out across fields and mountains for miles,” Ann Roberti, president of Friends of Bramley Mountain Fire Tower, told NatGeo.
Westchester County
While it’s not traditionally considered part of our Upstate New York map, Westchester County also earned a mention as an underappreciated gem. A fall drive here takes you through rolling hills and beneath canopies of deciduous trees made for the perfect for a Sunday outing.
