NEW YORK (WABC) — The 2026 fall foliage season is underway, with the first signs of the season’s colors appearing throughout Upstate New York and the most significant changes expected in the Adirondacks over the next few weeks.
October is the peak leaf-peeping season across the Tri-State area.
Only three places on the planet have deciduous forests that turn the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall. And nowhere else is it as bright and brilliant as in Eastern North America.
The autumnal equinox officially starts on Sept. 22.
Visit ILoveNY.com for weekly updates on where to see the best colors in New York.
Two visitors photographed in the colorful autumn view at the Indian Head vista overlooking Lower Ausable Lake in the Adirondacks, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, near Keene Valley, N.Y.
Robert F. Bukaty
You can check the interactive map on Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection website for the best areas throughout the season.
In New Jersey, the landscape will begin to change by mid-October.
The New Jersey Forest Service posts updated fall foliage conditions on its Facebook page, and you can find the best places to visit during the month at visitnj.org.
If you want an early view of fall foliage, head to New England, where peak colors can be seen as early as the end of the month in some places.
As you move farther from the equator, trees receive less direct sunlight in the fall, which speeds up the breakdown of chlorophyll – the pigment that keeps leaves green. As chlorophyll fades, the yellows and oranges that were always in the leaf become visible, while trapped sugars trigger the production of red pigments. The result: more dramatic color changes in northern regions.
The White Mountains of New Hampshire are well known for their fall foliage. Millions come to see the leaves erupt into reds, oranges and yellows during October. Sugars trapped in the leaves trigger the chemical reactions that produce the most vivid reds. Visit too early, and the colors will seem dull, but mid-October is prime viewing time.
A fly fisherman paddles on a pond as fall foliage begins to show color in Campton, N.H., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.
Caleb Jones
One of the best resources to find good viewing locations across the country is the fall foliage prediction map from SmokyMountains.com. You can check color projections for anywhere in the country every week through November 20.
Be sure to check the AccuWeather forecast too when planning your trip!
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Thursday will be cool, but nice with a blend of sun and clouds.
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Some information from the Associated Press
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