5 Places for the Best Fall Hiking in NY State
It’s nearing the end of September here in New York. The weather is starting to get a little cooler—a relief from the summer sweltering heat—and change is in the air. Before too long it will be winter.
Hanging on to the last bit of reliably nice weather, time outside is now to be cherished, whether by yourself or with your school-age children on the weekends. With October just around the corner, the leaves will soon be a vibrant array of warm reds and yellows. Being outside has never been as beautiful!
While autumn has always been my favorite season, it is also one of the best seasons for hiking. Less chances of heat stroke, no spring showers, and a chance to enjoy the fall colors! Over the last few years, my husband and I have explored some varying hiking spots throughout New York State. Some are close to NYC and some are quite far away. Of course all are of varying difficulty, but generally are reasonably easy in our opinion. Here are our top five recommendations:
1) Letchworth State Park
One of my colleagues described Letchworth as the “the granddaddy of all gorges!” Based on her recommendation, we decided to check it out for ourselves. And she was right!
This state park is centered around a large gorge, or river canyon, which also has three waterfalls: the upper, middle, and lower falls. You can park near the upper falls and start down the gorge trail, which has stairs built in for the slopes. Be advised that the rocks, particularly at the lower falls where you have the option of crossing a bridge over the river, can get wet and muddy—and very slippery. Walking on the other side of the river was quite nice too, although the highlight was definitely the gorge trail. Be advised there is a small entrance fee per car ($8 in 2021) to enter the park. Bring some cash! There are also reasonably clean park restrooms near several of the picnic area, so no worries about that.
We went on the second weekend of October (Indigenous People’s Day/Columbus Day weekend) and the leaves were already spectacular shades. As Letchworth is closer to Buffalo and Rochester—and therefore closer to the Canadian border, the temperatures are generally cooler. This cooler temperature causes leaves to turn earlier than in more southern NY State, such as NYC.
What I didn’t expect at Letchworth was the amount of Native American history on site. Dehgewänis (birth name Mary Jemison) is buried in Letchworth and her grave is surrounded by reconstructed cabins and council houses relating to her life and tribe. If you don’t know her incredible story, check out Wikipedia here. There is also a museum, which we didn’t visit, a bit down the road.
2) Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen was the first gorge trail we visited, located at the base of Seneca Lake and a 40 minute drive west from Ithaca, New York. It is in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The gorge trail itself was breathtaking, with stone constructed stairs and a picturesque bridge amongst the waterfalls. At a certain point you even walk behind a waterfall! It was incredible to see how the water has shaped the stone over the centuries. Circular underwater crevices can be seen in the gorge’s winding stream. Be prepared to climb lots of stone stairs, but I promise it is absolutely worth it!
We went in August, but I imagine it’s even more beautiful in the fall. I recommend using the main entrance for your first-time visit. Parking was a bit difficult, as it was fairly busy, but we did manage to find a place in a lot just down the road. Note there is a small fee to park ($8 per car in 2021). If you aren’t as keen on the gorge trail, there are also plenty of other trails and camping available. There are reasonably clean restrooms at the park entrance along with a gift and food shop. I recommend going very early in the day to avoid some of the crowds.
3) Harriman State Park
Harriman State Park has a huge collection of hiking trails. No specific gorge trail that I’m aware of, but the park definitely has breathtaking mountain views along with wonderful woodsy trails. Imagine a fall walk in the woods, leaves crunching under your shoes! The park includes the ever-popular Bear Mountain within its boundaries. As a bonus for city folks, it is located an hour drive north of NYC. Pick a spot to start, park your car, and start walking! I do recommend checking out an online map ahead of time, just to know if the trail you choose is a loop or goes on seemingly forever. We thought we were on a loop trail, but turns out our trail was going “cross-country” to another state park! Luckily, some other hikers alerted us.
4) Rockefeller State Park Preserve
About an hour drive north of NYC lies the Rockefeller State Park Preserve. Formerly part of the Rockefeller family estate, the park consists of varying natural surroundings crisscrossed by a system of old carriage roads. These roads now serve as trails. Easy for walking, they are essentially slightly narrow dirt roads. Perfect for those of us looking for an easy walk or run! Take the roads through the woods, around a lake, through a meadow, and even under a bridge! Plenty of choice and enough for quite a few long walks. There is a fee for parking and there are restrooms near the parking lot.
5) Prospect Park
For those city-dwellers without a car or otherwise stuck in the city, I highly recommend Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same guy who designed Central Park, Prospect Park has some of the same grand elements of Central Park with a bit more freedom. It has a grand boathouse, usually reserved for special events, and sports fields and meadows as you’d expect. It also, however, has a nature preserve and plenty of small hiking trails in the wooded area in the northeastern part of the park. And, of course, if you want to see even more, you can always pop into the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or Prospect Park Zoo next door on the eastern park edge!
Enjoy this beautiful time of the year outside at one of these spots, basking in the cooler-but-still-nice weather and getting in the last bit of hiking, picnics, and even cookouts. Bring your kids or friends for some quality time before the holidays hit and schedules start getting crazier. And I promise a nice day off of work and picturesque scenery you’ll be remembering fondly throughout the winter and spring seasons! And yes, I also promise some walking exercise too! Mark your calendars for a weekend hiking trip in mid-October to get the best foliage!
