New York State’s 2024 fall foliage season is underway, with the first signs of the spectacular seasonal colors to come appearing in several Upstate New York regions. The Adirondacks, Catskills, Thousand Island-Seaway, Capital-Saratoga, Central New York, Finger Lakes, and Greater Niagara regions are all beginning to show indication of autumn’s brilliant palette, according to the field reports from volunteer observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.
In the Adirondacks, Franklin County foliage spotters in Saranac Lake anticipate 25% change with some pops of bright red and yellow. Reports from Tupper Lake and Mt. Arab anticipate 5-10% change by the weekend, as the vivid greenery commences its progression to autumnal brilliance with traces of mustard, goldenrod, and copper. As usual, the soft maples are delivering sporadic scarlet and burgundy splashes. Spotters in Malone expect up to 10% foliage change with bright orange and red leaves, along with some touches of yellow.
In Essex County, reports from Wilmington at Whiteface Mountain anticipate up to 10% foliage change with some bright red and orange leaves appearing over the mostly green backdrop. Spotters in the surrounding Whiteface area predict 10% or more color change with some deep shades of red and purple, along with pops of orange and yellow. Lake Placid foliage change is at least 10%. In Newcomb, observers predict a little less than 10% foliage change by the weekend, with muted reds and oranges beginning to appear. Spotters at the Lake Champlain Visitors Center in Crown Point predict about 5% change with muted gold and rust colored leaves starting to appear, while the Ticonderoga area can expect 5% change with average shades of red, orange, and yellow.
In Herkimer County, I Love NY spotters in Old Forge predict up to 25% foliage change this weekend, with splashes of deep red, burgundy and muted orange. Yellow shades are also emerging, mostly along the waterways. In Clinton County, Plattsburgh is hovering around 10% change with primarily red and yellow leaves. Hamilton County spotters in Lake Pleasant and Long Lake spotters anticipate 10% transition by the weekend, with some pockets of color within the canopies of maple trees. In Lewis County, reports from Lowville predict nearly 15% leaf change, with some bright orange and red leaves on the soft maples.
In Warren County around Lake George, spotters expect about 5% change, with hints of red and yellow leaves. Reports from Queensbury also show about 5% color and a few isolated trees showing muted green-yellow leaves.
In the Catskills, Delaware County volunteers in Hamden and Bloomville predict 10% transition, with some orange and yellow leaves. Reports from Colchester and Roscoe predict about 10% color change by the weekend, with some emerging reds and yellows.
I LOVE NY Greene County spotters in Catskill predict 10% foliage change by the weekend with wisps of seasonal colors. Spotters reporting from Windham expect 5% transition, as some maples have started changing and are displaying muted shades of red. In Sullivan County, reports from Liberty project that foliage will be up to 10% changed with some pops of bright reds and vibrant yellows. Forestburgh, about 20 miles from Port Jervis, should see less than 10% change, with some muted autumnal colors. In western Ulster County, spotters at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount anticipate 5% change this weekend with emerging bright touches of red leaves.
In the Hudson Valley, Ulster County reports from Kingston expect around 15% foliage change with yellow and red leaves of average brilliance.
In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, St. Lawrence County spotters in Wanakena predict up to 15% foliage change by the weekend with shades of deep purple and burnt red emerging from the green. Spotters at the Seaway Visitors Center at Eisenhower Lock in Massena predict 10% or more foliage change, with mostly green leaves of muted brilliance. In Jefferson County, up to 10% change is expected in Alexandria Bay, with some yellow and orange leaves. Oswego County spotters predict an average of 10% change across the county, with bright purple and red leaves. The southwestern portion of the county is still green, while areas to the north and east are experiencing a colorful start to fall.
In the Capital-Saratoga region, Albany County spotters in Voorheesville at WildPlay Thacher in Thacher State Park anticipate about 10% leaf change with some yellow leaves, along with a few hints of orange and brown, with trees throughout the park changing faster than the ones at WildPlay. In Fulton County, volunteers in Northville predict 10% change, with shades of red, orange and yellow emerging. Reports from Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center in Northville expect up to 5% transition.
In Rensselaer County, Troy spotters reporting from Burden Pond predict 10% change by the weekend, with hints of rust and gold and some changes to leaf margins appearing. Trees in drier, higher locations are starting to exhibit more yellowing. In Saratoga County, Saratoga Springs volunteers at Saratoga Lake expect 5% transition, as trees are still mostly green with occasional pops of red and gold. Trees between Northway Exits 12 and 16 are just beginning to show some changes. In Schenectady County, observers at Maple Ski Ridge in Schenectady expect 5% foliage change.
In Central New York, Chenango County spotters in Norwich, Preston, and Oxford expect 15% leaf change this weekend, with muted to average hues of red, gold, and yellow. In Oneida County, reports from Utica predict up to 15% leaf change with red-orange and yellow leaves appearing. Middleburgh spotters in Schoharie County expect 15% change, showcasing bright red leaves. In Otsego County, Cherry Valley should be around 10% transition, while Cooperstown is slightly lower at 5% with pops of red and orange. In Broome County, foliage change in the Binghamton area is expected to be slightly more than 5% by the weekend.
In the Finger Lakes, seasonal change is just beginning in the Brighton neighborhood or Rochester, with at least 8% transition and with green-yellow leaves appearing on silver maple and sycamore trees; touches of red on the furthermost branches of maple trees; and some dogwood and burning bushes beginning to show red. Tioga County volunteers in Owego predict 5% foliage change with some orange leaves appearing.
In the Greater Niagara region, foliage is expected to be around 5% in Niagara County around Niagara Falls, with some seasonal colors developing on the green leaves.
Foliage change in other areas of the state will be five percent or less.
Photos Courtesy of I LOVE NY