The Capital Region of New York offers a beautiful display of fall foliage, with its numerous parks, forests, and scenic drives. Be sure to look up a New York State fall foliage map to take advantage of peak foliage times.
Here are some of the best places to see fall foliage in the Capital Region of New York.
Thacher State Park & the Indian Ladder Trail
Located about 15 miles southwest of Albany, Thacher State Park offers stunning views of the Hudson Valley from its escarpment overlooks. Visitors can enjoy the Thacher Park hiking trails, picnic areas, and campsites surrounded by colorful fall foliage.
The Thacher Park Indian Ladder Trail is probably the most popular hiking trail at John Boyd Thacher State Park, with spectacular views, including fall foliage. The trail includes a series of ladders and steps that lead down the cliff face to the bottom of the escarpment.
Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Spa State Park is located just outside Saratoga Springs and features a variety of walking and hiking trails, as well as scenic drives, picnic areas, and mineral springs. In the fall, the park’s maple, oak, and beech trees turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold.
Grafton Lakes State Park
Located east of Albany, Grafton Lakes State Park is a popular destination for hiking, fishing, and boating. The park’s rolling hills and hardwood forests provide a spectacular backdrop for fall foliage viewing.
Vroman’s Nose
Vroman’s Nose is just under an hour from Albany. This short hike has some amazing views of the Middleburgh area.
Other Hikes & Walking
Upstate NY is a great place to view foliage not just from scenic viewpoints. You can enjoy the changing colors on my walks, and fall is a great time to check out the many hiking trails around the Capital Region.
These are just a few of the many great places to see fall foliage in the Capital Region of New York. Be sure to check with local parks and recreation departments for current foliage conditions and recommendations.
Check out some of our Capital Region hikes here!
Hudson River Valley
The scenic Hudson River Valley, which stretches from Albany to New York City, offers a variety of options for fall foliage viewing. Visitors can take a leisurely drive along the Hudson River or hike the trails in the nearby Catskill Mountains.
There really is no better place to enjoy fall colors than the northeast. It’s just an explosion of color this time of year.
I absolutely love New York in the fall. The colors are just so fiery and brilliant.
I do love nature at this time of year, the colours are amazing especially on a crisp sunny day
These are beautiful images of fall. I love the sight of fall foliage in orangish hue.
These fall colors are so beautiful! I would love to explore the US in the Autumn season, especially the New York State. Thanks for sharing beautiful photos and the recommendations.
It sounds like the Capital Region of New York has some lovely places to see the beautiful Autumn colours. I do love the colours of this season and going for walks in places I can take in the fresh crisp air and beautiful colours.
As a wife and mom, finding family-friendly outdoor activities during this season is always a priority, and your detailed recommendations have been incredibly helpful. Thacher State Park, Saratoga Spa State Park, and Grafton Lakes State Park all sound like fantastic places to immerse ourselves in the beauty of autumn.
Woah! I like the place, the color the feels are so relaxing. The Capital Region of New York has many beautiful places.
That is exactly why I love Fall season, the scenery is out of this world!!! This is gorgeous….All these colors, wow!!!!
The Capital Region of New York truly comes alive with the vibrant hues of autumn, and these recommendations for experiencing fall foliage are spot on! Thacher State Park and the Indian Ladder Trail seem like perfect places to immerse oneself in the beauty of the season. Nature’s artistry at its finest!
I use to live in Lake George, New York and the autumn leaves are unmatched. It’s absolutely brilliant there! Thank you for sharing more spots to see the fall colors.
New York in Autumn is simply magical. Upstate has fabulous parks and trails. I love apple picking on LI…great post!
I love a good hike and walk especially now there is so much autumn colourful loveliness. The pretty rustic vibes is great for photography too xx
This is so beautiful! The leaves in my yard in The Poconos are changing yellow…. the river birches and they are beautiful! Cannot wait until it is in full color but not looking forward to dealing with all of the leaves LOL.