Upstate NY fall foliage report: Some Adirondack areas nearing peak while others just changing

Today not only brings the first official day of the fall equinox, but it is also the day of the third fall foliage report by I LOVE NY, the state’s tourism website.

Spotters around the region reported back to I LOVE NY with a look ahead for autumn leaves during the week of Sept. 22-28, 2021.

This week’s foliage reports vary widely, especially in the Adirondacks where some areas like Lake Placid are predicted to be nearing peak colors while others like Crown Point are just changing. All across the state however, autumn scenes will be appearing.

Look for leaves of copper, tangerine, buttercup, canary, burgundy, plum and scarlet hues as you watch the seasons transition. Though several reports said colors are an average or muted brilliance thus far.

New to the report this week is the Greater Niagara area, the Capital region, and the Hudson Valley.

With heightened rates of Covid-19 cases, the tourism website urges travelers to follow all Covid safety guidelines while leaf peeping this season and embarking on seasonal excursions like fall festivals and foliage train rides. Checking ahead to make sure attractions are open and available is also recommended.

Here are the color change predictions around Upstate New York for the week of Sept. 22-28, 2021:

Adirondacks

Lake Placid, 75 percent
Long Lake, 25 percent
Whiteface Mountain, 40 percent
Saranac Lake, 40 percent
Tupper Lake, 50-55 percent
Mt. Arab, 50-55 percent
Old Forge, 35 percent
Lake Pleasant, 35 percent
Newcomb, 20 percent
Schroon Lake, 20 percent
Ticonderoga, 15 percent
Crown Point, 10 percent
Malone, 30 percent
Lake George, 20 percent
Queensbury, 10 percent
Cranberry Lake, 10 percent

Catskills

Delhi, 40 percent
Roxbury, 40 percent
Windham, 15 percent
Swan Lake, 30 percent
West Shokan, 15 percent
Highland, 15 percent
Belleayre Mountain, 10-15 percent
Forestburgh, 15 percent
Greene County, 30 percent

Hudson Valley

Columbia County, 10-20 percent
Dutchess County, 10 percent
Orange County, 10 percent
Rockland County, 20 percent

Central New York

Madison County, 20 percent
Oswego County, 30 percent
Chenango County, 15 percent
Oneida County, 10 percent
Montgomery County, 15 percent
Broome County, less than 10 percent

Finger Lakes

Chemung County, 10 percent
Schuyler County, 10 percent
Tioga County, 15 percent
Livingston County, 10 percent
Monroe County, 15 percent
Ontario County, 15 percent
Steuben County, 10 percent
Wayne County, 10 percent

Thousand Islands-Seaway

Jefferson County, 45 percent
Watertown, less than 10 percent
St. Lawrence County, 10 percent

Capital-Saratoga

Fulton County, 40 percent
Great Sacandaga Lake, 15 percent
Rensselaer County, 10-15 percent
Albany County, less than 10 percent
Saratoga County, less than 10 percent
Latham and Loudonville, less than 10 percent

Chautauqua-Allegheny

Cattaraugus County, 35 percent
Chautauqua County, 20 percent
Little Valley, 20 percent

Greater Niagara

Niagara County, 10 percent
Erie County, 10 percent
Genesee County, 10 percent

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