hiking – NYC SEASON WATCH

After a warm start to the season, our patience has finally paid off. Over the past two weeks, a significant drop in nighttime temperatures has sparked a rapid color shift, propelling the city beyond the “Minimal” phase.

We’re now officially in the Peak Color stage, where the leaves have exchanged their subtle summer greens for vibrant streaks of gold, orange, and early crimson. This weekend is the perfect time to head out and witness the city’s stunning autumn transformation.!

NYC Foliage Status

SPOTLIGHT: PEAK COLOR
These areas are ahead of the city average, thanks to elevation or microclimates—perfect for a day trip!

Central Park (North Woods/Ramble): Isolated pockets, particularly older trees and those in the quieter, northern sections (like the Ramble or North Woods), are showcasing brilliant yellows and vibrant reds.
Upper Hudson Valley (Day Trip): Areas like Dutchess and Westchester counties are now seeing 60% to 75% color change, with bright reds, yellows, and oranges, signaling the peak of the season.

CURRENT CITY STATUS: Peak Color
As of November 9th, New York City is officially in the Peak Color stage, with the majority of trees now fully transformed from their summer greens to vivid hues of yellow, orange, and red. The overall color change across the five boroughs is between 75% and 85%, with the parks leading the charge and the city center catching up.

The city’s color palette is now dominated by bright yellows and golds, thanks to species like Ash and Honey Locust trees, which are at their golden prime. Scattered throughout, you’ll find striking patches of red, particularly from the early-turning Red Maples in low-lying, well-watered areas like Central Park and Prospect Park.

We’re now in full transition: the city is displaying its iconic Peak Foliage of scarlet, orange, and golden tones, which typically lasts through late October to early November. If you’ve been waiting for the best fall views, now is the time to get out there!

Enjoy the full show while it lasts—these peak colors won’t stick around for long!

Foliage outside NYC

While the city’s foliage is still catching up, now is the perfect time to explore the vibrant colors beyond its borders. Choosing the best location for leaf-peeping can be a daunting task, but fortunately, there are many resources to help you make an informed decision.

NY – I love NY foliage report – This popular IG page with a website gives a weekly report on the foliage progression around NY state. Reports are obtained from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.
Maine – If you want to visit Maine this fall, you should check out the state’s official website, which gives the foliage report for Maine state. The report covers seven different zones and has six levels of foliage statues.
Pennsylvania – PA DCNR follows the fall season with complete reports with all PA regions. Like Maine, they also set 6 different levels of foliage progression.
Vermont – Vermont’s official website provides foliage reports based on the Vermont Department of Tourism and volunteer members of their “Leaf Squad” from around the state. Their foliage levels are simple and have only four stages.
New Hampshire – VisitNH website gives detailed foliage reports. While others use maps to visualize the foliage progression around the state, NH provides information about the seven zones.

Visit our Instagram and watch our stories to get more live updates.

Maple Trees

Maple trees are a common sight in the Northeast and are known for their vibrant fall foliage. But with so many different types of maple trees, how can you tell them apart?

One of the easiest ways is to look at their distinctive shapes.

Another common maple tree is the Norway maple, an invasive species native to Europe that was first introduced to North America in the mid-18th century. I often mistook Norway maples for sugar maples or red maples, but there are a few key differences to look for:

Leaf edges: Red maples have jagged sawtooth edges, while Norway and sugar maples have smooth-edged leaves.

Leaf density: Norway maples have denser foliage.

Seed dispersal: Sugar and red maples produce seeds in early spring, while Norway maples spread their seeds in the fall.

Leaf lobes: Red maple leaves typically have three lobes, while Norway and sugar maple leaves tend to look five-lobed.

Foliage outside NYC

The foliage narrative outside the five boroughs is moving rapidly toward its conclusion. While New York City remains largely green, reflecting its delayed schedule, the effects of an early start and recent drought have caused the highest elevations to fail quickly. Specifically, areas in the Adirondacks and Catskills are already past their peak, displaying muted, swift-fading colors and significant leaf drop. Currently, the actual peak viewing window is fleetingly concentrated in Central and Northern New York, including the Thousand Islands-Seaway Region and Steuben County (Finger Lakes area). This compressed timeline confirms the urgent need to travel to these northern zones, as the show will soon sweep south into the Lower Hudson Valley and Tri-State suburbs (currently 20%–40% changed), which are now preparing for their own highly anticipated mid-to-late October peak.

NY – I love NY foliage report – This popular IG page with a website gives a weekly report on the foliage progression around NY state. Reports are obtained from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.

Maine – If you want to visit Maine this fall, you should check out the state’s official website, which gives the foliage report for Maine state. The report covers seven different zones and has six levels of foliage statues.

Pennsylvania – PA DCNR follows the fall season with complete reports with all PA regions. Like Maine, they also set 6 different levels of foliage progression.

Vermont – Vermont’s official website provides foliage reports based on the Vermont Department of Tourism and volunteer members of their “Leaf Squad” from around the state. Their foliage levels are simple and have only four stages.

New Hampshire – VisitNH website gives detailed foliage reports. While others use maps to visualize the foliage progression around the state, NH provides information about the seven zones.