If you’re itching to hunt for brilliant fall foliage this week in Upstate New York, forget the mountains. Instead, head for the lakes.
Peak fall foliage is starting to arrive in waterside communities across Upstate, from Buffalo and Niagara Falls in Western New York to Kingston in the Hudson Valley, according to the latest foliage report from I LOVE NY.
Autumn’s best colors are also putting on an impressive show in the always-stunning Finger Lakes, where prime fall foliage is on display from Waterloo to Hammondsport.
Stunning fall colors shine at Clark Reservation State Park in Jamesville, New York, in mid-October 2025. Photo courtesy of Jen Corfield, @jencorfieldphoto on InstagramPhoto courtesy of Jen Corfield, @jencorfieldphoto on Instagram
Only one spot remains notably bright in the Adirondacks. Foliage is continuing to change and approach peak in Lake George, where the tourism bureau’s volunteer field observers noted a “bright seasonal mix” of colors.
While I LOVE NY said the “Colorful Fall Crescendo” is mostly leaving places like the Capital Region and Central New York behind, pops of fall beauty can still be found in every region of Upstate New York.
Other stellar spots to see fall foliage this week include:
Schenectady’s Central Park in the Capital RegionCatskill in the CatskillsOswego in Central New YorkLewiston in Western New YorkSeneca Falls in the Finger LakesOwego in the Southern TierBeacon in the Hudson Valley
This fall foliage report from I LOVE NY, the state’s tourism bureau, shows where colors are expected to peak between Oct. 22 and Oct. 28, 2025, in New York state.I LOVE NYHere are the color change predictions around Upstate New York for the week of Oct. 22-Oct. 28, 2025, according to I LOVE NY:
Adirondacks
Plattsburgh, 100%, past peakTiconderoga, 100%, past peakCrown Point, 100%, past peakMalone, 100%, past peakLake George, up to 65%Queensbury, 90%, past peak
Capital-Saratoga
Cohoes Falls, 75%Thacher State Park, Voorheesville, 85-90%, peak to just-past peakStratford, 85-95% past peakTroy, 95%, peakSaratoga Springs, 100%, just-past peakCentral Park, Schenectady, 65%, peakMaple Ski Ridge, Rotterdam, 75%, peak to past peakFonda, 25%
Catskills
Catskill, Coxsackie, Athens, New Baltimore, 100%, just-past peakLiberty, 95%, just-past peakForestburgh, 100%, past peak
Brilliant fall colors reflect in the water at Green Lakes State Park in Manlius, New York, in mid-October 2025. Photo courtesy of Judy McAdoo-Pelton, @judymcadoopelton.fireside on InstagramJudy McAdoo-Pelton, @judymcadoopelton.fireside on Instagram
Central New York
Binghamton area, 75%, past peakBainbridge, Guilford, Norwich, 100%, past peakHerkimer, 75%, just-past peakCody Farms, Cazenovia, 100%, past peakUtica, over 80%, past peakGilboa, up to 30%Middleburgh, 75%, past peakBeaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville, 65%, past peak
Finger Lakes
Homer, Polkville, 80%, past peakGeneseo, 50%Letchworth State Park, Mount Morris, 75%, past peakAuburn, 85%, peakRochester, 65%Farmington, 80%, peakCanandaigua, 75%Watkins Glen, 80%, past peakSeneca Falls, 75%, peakWaterloo, 75%, just-past peakBath, Corning, Hammondsport, Hornell, 80%, just-past peakOwego, 70%, peakIthaca, Trumansburg, 75-100%, past peakLyons, 70%, peakPenn Yan, 60%
Chautauqua-Allegheny
Jamestown, Lakewood, Chautauqua Institution, 90%, past peak
Greater Niagara
Buffalo, 60%, peakEast Aurora, 95%, past peakBatavia, 90%, peak to just-past peakNiagara Falls, 80%, peakLewiston, 90%, peakAlbion, 80%, peakLetchworth State Park, Warsaw, 90%, peak to past peakLetchworth State Park, Castile, 80%, past peak
Thousand Islands-Seaway
Oswego, 60%, peakWilliamstown, 80%, peak to just-past peak Eisenhower Lock, Massena, 100%, past peak
Hudson Valley
Hudson, 75%Valatie, 85-90%, just-past peakPoughkeepsie, 60%Beacon, 55%Cold Spring, 40%Taconic State Parkway, at least 70%Kingston, 100%, peak
Fall foliage 2025, Madison and Onondaga County. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comdennis nett | dnett@syracuse.com
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.