Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Spectacular peak NY fall foliage can be found across much of the state this week, including the Capital Region, Niagara and the Hudson Valley.
Bright reds, oranges and golden yellows are on display statewide, with pockets of peak or near-peak foliage in Central and Western New York, parts of the Hudson Valley and the Thousand Islands region. Most of the Adirondacks and Catskills are past peak, while New York City and Long Island are nearing the midpoint of fall foliage change.
Here’s what to know about foliage conditions across the Empire State, according to the state Department of Economic Development’s sixth weekly fall foliage report of the season.
Adirondacks fall foliage
Essex County: 100% and past-peak colors are expected in Wilmington, now with muted oranges and yellows, plus a few remaining subdued reds. A full color change and peak-peak foliage is predicted in Lake Placid with shades of yellow and gold, plus some muted reds in the village and significant droppage on the hillsides.
Spotters also predict a 100% color transition in Crown Point, with lingering patches of muted golds, russets, and some burgundy. Past-peak and 100% color changes is expected in the Ticonderoga area with muted-to-average yellows and oranges, and scattered red leaves
Hamilton County: Spotters predict a full 100% color change and past-peak foliage in Long Lake, with some bright golden oranges plus a few yellows and many bare trees. A full color transition and past-peak conditions is expected in Benson, with strong late season color remaining around the lake, especially across the oak covered upper hillsides, and dominant shades of orange, rust, bronze and gold. Significant leaf droppage and bare branches are visible at lower elevations, while the remaining oak foliage is especially beautiful.
Franklin County: Spotters reported a full 100% color change in Tupper Lake, past-peak conditions with a few splashes of yellow and red and many bare trees. A 100% color change and past peak is expected in Saranac Lake with fading reds, underscored by a few yellows and oranges remaining.
Lewis County: Spotters predict a 90% and peak-to-past peak color in Lowville with orange, rust and red leaves along with some bronze and brown and many bare trees.
Warren County: Observers predict a 100% change and peak color by the weekend in Queensbury, with autumn colors. In Lake George, expect a 65% color transition, with very bright orange, yellow and red hues.
Catskills fall foliage
Greene County: Observers predict a full 100% color transition in Windham, with mostly yellow and orange leaves. Expect 100% change and past-peak foliage in Cornwallville, Ashland and Hunter mostly muted shades of yellow and orange, and significant droppage.
In Durham and Cairo, a 100% color change and just-past-peak foliage is also expected, with brilliant yellows and oranges, underscored by touches of red. Spotters also predict an 85% change near-peak-to-peak in Catskill and Jefferson Heights with a bright mix of fall colors. There is still some green along the river, blending with some great patches of color.
Ulster County: Spotters predict a full 100% color change at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount, with bright and brilliant orange and red leaves. Trees above 2,000 feet are bare.
Sullivan County: Spotters predict a full 100% color change in Forestburgh, with brilliant red, yellow, orange, peach and claret hues.
Delaware County: In Dehli, expect a full 100% transition past-peak color and muted red, orange and yellow leaves and significant droppage. Spotters also predict a 95% foliage change and past-peak color in Colchester, Roscoe and Downsville with a few bursts of red, orange and yellow.
Capital-Saratoga fall foliage
Fulton County: A full 100% change and past-peak foliage in Stratford is expected with bright yellow leaves and significant droppage. Spotters also predict a 75% transition and past peak color in Northville with vibrant red, burgundy, orange and yellow hues.
Rensselear County: Spotters predict a 95% change and peak to just-past-peak color in East Nassau, with a great variation of foliage throughout the area. Many trees have shed their leaves while others are showing off bright bursts of yellow, orange, crimson and rust. In Troy, expect more than 75% change and peak color, with bright orange and yellow leaves.
Saratoga County: Expect a 95% change in Saratoga Springs by the weekend, with bright seasonal colors.
Albany County: Spotters predict up to 90% change and peak-to-just-past-peak color in Cohoes with yellow, gold, burgundy and some red leaves. In Voorheesville, observers predict up to a 75% color change with bright yellow, orange and red leaves and significant droppage.
Schenectady County: A 75% transition and peak color is predicted in Rotterdam with mostly gold and orange leaves. Spotters also predict a 65% change and peak in Schenectady with bright oranges and pops of yellow and red.
Central NY fall foliage
Schoharie County: A full 100% color change in Sharon Springs is expected by the weekend, with past-peak color, mostly orange and yellow hues.
Chenango County: A 100% change and past-peak color in Norwich is predicted, with muted-to-average yellow and orange leaves.
Otsego County: Spotters predict a 90% change and past-peak conditions in Cooperstown with muted yellow and dark orange leaves, and a 75% change in Cherry Valley with average-to-bright pockets of rusty orange leaves and significant droppage.
Montgomery County: Expect a more than 85% change and peak foliage in Amsterdam with bright yellow and orange shades.
Madison County: A 90% color change in Cazenovia is expected by the weekend, with bright yellows.
Herkimer County: Spotters predict an 80% change in Herkimer with muted fall colors and significant droppage.
Oneida County: Expect a 70% color transition in Utica by the weekend, with average-to-bright fall colors.
Broome County: Spotters predict a 65% foliage change in Binghamton with bright yellow and red leaves and some droppage.
Chautauqua-Allegheny fall foliage
Cattaraugus County: Spotters predict a 100% foliage change and past-peak color in Little Valley with bright reds and oranges plus some yellow and significant droppage.
Chautauqua County: Expect an 85% change and peak color in Chautauqua, with bright-to-brilliant yellows, golds and oranges and some leaf droppage. Northern Chautauqua County and the Lake Erie shoreline are likely near-peak-to-peak with about 75% change.
Finger Lakes fall foliage
Cayuga County: A 100% transition and peak color is expected in Moravia and Locke with bright oranges and reds. Spotters also predict an 80% transition and peak color in Auburn by the weekend, mostly red and orange shades.
Cortland County: Expect a 100% change and past-peak color in Cortland, Homer, Marathon and Virgil by the weekend, with incredibly vibrant, deep orange and yellow leaves, plus significant droppage.
Tompkins County: Spotters expect a 95% color change and peak color in Ithaca, Trumansburg and Dryden by the weekend, with very brilliant orange and gold leaves.
Tioga County: By the weekend, expect an 85% color transition in Owego, with orange, yellow and brown leaves and a touch of red.
Seneca County: Spotters predict an 85% color transition in Waterloo with bright red, gold and yellow leaves, and a 70% change and near-peak foliage in Seneca Falls with bright yellows and reds, coupled with several beautiful shades of orange.
Chemung County: Spotters predict an 85% change and peak color in Elmira with average-to-bright oranges and yellows.
Steuben County: Observers predict an 80% color change and past-peak color in Corning, Hammondsport, Bath and Painted Post with bright to very brilliant shades of fall colors and some droppage.
Livingston County: In Geneseo, expect an 80% change and past-peak colors by the weekend, with muted-to-average yellow leaves and some pops of red. Spotters predict a 70% change in Mt. Morris, at the north end of Letchworth State Park and peak color with bright yellow leaves and wisps of orange. Hickories, aspens and grape vines are showing brilliant yellows and oaks are beginning to change.
Onondaga County: Spotters predict up to an 80% change and peak color in Syracuse with average-to-bright yellows and reds and significant droppage.
Wayne County: In Lyons, a 75% color change is predicted by the weekend, with yellows, oranges and some muted deep reds.
Schuyler County: In Watkins Glen, expect an 80% transition and peak color by the weekend, with mostly peach-orange leaves.
Monroe County: Spotters predict a 70% change and near-peak color in Greece with average-to-bright yellow leaves and touches of red, purple and orange. Foliage closer to the lake is slightly less progressed.
Yates County: Expect a 70% change and peak color in Penn Yan by the weekend, with yellow leaves along with bright red pops.
Ontario County: A 60% color transition and near peak is predicted in Farmington with very bright yellows and oranges. Spotters also predict a 55% color change in Canandaigua, with bright fall colors.
Greater Niagara fall foliage
Erie County: Spotters expect a 95% foliage change and past-peak color in Springville with mostly orange and red foliage. A 90% foliage change is predicted by the weekend in East Aurora, with shades of yellow and bright orange, accentuated by touches of red. In Buffalo, expect a 70% color change with peak color and bright red, plum, orange and golden yellow shades along with some droppage.
Genesee County: Observers predict an 85% change in Batavia with peak color of average-to-bright oranges and reds.
Orleans County: In Albion, expect a 75% color transition by the weekend with bright and radiant amber leaves.
Wyoming County: At the southern end of Letchworth Sate Park and Castile, expect a 75% color transition and peak color with bright shades of yellow. Hickories, aspens and grape vines are showing brilliant yellow colors and oaks are beginning to change.
Niagara County: Spotters predict a 75% change and peak color in Lewiston with bright yellow, orange and red leaves. They also predict a 60% change in Niagara Falls by the weekend, with bright red, yellow and orange leaves.
Thousand Islands-Seaway fall foliage
St. Lawrence County: Expect a full 100% change in Potsdam by the weekend, with past-peak color with yellow and orange leaves.
Oswego County: Observers predict a 90% change and peak foliage in Pulaski, with bright orange, red, yellow and purple leaves. An 80% color transition is expected in Oswego with fall hues taking over the cityscape, along with striking pops of plum shining through some of the still-green leaves.
Hudson Valley fall foliage
Ulster County: Spotters predict a full 100% change and just-past-peak color in New Paltz with vibrant gold, yellow and orange leaves.
Columbia County: Spotters predict a full 100% foliage change and peak color in Hudson, with blazing orange and yellow leaves and some bright reds.
Rockland County: Spotters report a 100% change and peak along the Palisades Parkway with bright fall colors. A 90% color change at Bear Mountain State Park is expected, with peak color including bright yellow and orange leaves along with touches of red and purple. Spotters predict a 60% change and near-peak color in Orangeburg, with bright orange, red and purple leaves.
Orange County: Observers predict a 95% change and peak color in Newburgh with very brilliant bright orange and red leaves and some yellow and purple shades. An 80% color change is also predicted in Goshen with brilliant seasonal hues. More than a 50% color transition is expected in Cornwall with with a mix of all fall colors, and also a 50% change is predicted in Greenville, with bright shades of red, yellow and orange.
Dutchess County: Expect a 95% color change and just-past-peak color in Poughkeepsie, with bright reds, yellows and oranges. A 50% transition is predicted in Beacon with bright fall colors.
Putnam County: A 50% change in Cold Spring, with bright and beautiful yellow, red, orange and purple leaves. The best foliage colors are at higher elevations such as hiking the trails at Castle Rock Park or Anthony’s Nose and roads along the west side of the Hudson River.
Westchester County: In White Plains and Jefferson Valley, expect a 45% color change by the weekend, with yellow and orange leaves. Foliage in Jefferson Valley is bright and average-to-bright in White Plains.
Long Island fall foliage
Suffolk County: Expect a 75% change and peak color on the trees surrounding the lake at Belmont Lake State Park in West Babylon and trees closer to the midpoint of change along the trails and in picnic areas. A 40% change at Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island is predicted, with a blend of fall colors.
Sassafras, dogwoods, maples and cherry trees are changing while oaks, the predominant tree in the preserve, have yet to start transitioning. Up to 50% color change is emerging along roadways on the Northern State, Southern State and Sagtikos parkways in Suffolk County with a variety of red, purple, orange, yellow and green foliage depending on location.
Nassau County: Spotters report a 75% foliage change at at Mill Pond Park in Wantagh with peak foliage on trees surrounding the lake and some bare trees. Also expect a 60% around the clubhouse at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, with near-peak yellow and red leaves plus some leaf droppage, but only 10% change and still mostly green on the five golf courses.
They also predict a 60% change and near-peak color at Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead with swaths of brilliant crimson and cranberry leaves and splashes of goldenrod, mandarin and rust. Spotters predict 50% transition – the midpoint of change – at a variety of spots throughout the county including Manhasset, East Meadow and Roslyn, where one can expect red, purple, yellow and orange leaves and some bare trees.
Up to 50% color transition is predicted along roadways throughout the Long Island State Parkway System with trees at midpoint transition and a variety of red, purple, orange, yellow and green foliage depending on location. A 40% change with a mix of muted fall colors is predicted in Valley Stream with patches of muted reds and oranges.
New York City fall foliage
A 40% color transition is expected on the Lower East Side of Manhattan by the weekend, with mostly yellow leaves. Spotters predict more than 25% change by the weekend in Central Park, with mostly yellow leaves along with touches of red and orange. A 30% color transition is also predicted in Jackson Heights in Queens, with average-to-bright yellow and red leaves.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
