Adirondacks, Catskills, Capital-Saratoga and Central NY Regions All Reporting Color Changes

This is the first 2017 Fall Foliage Report for New York State. Reports are obtained from field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Fall Foliage Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.

Week of Sept. 13 – 19, 2017

New York State’s colorful foliage season has arrived with the first significant signs of spectacular fall colors beginning to appear in the Adirondacks, Catskills, Central New York and Capital-Saratoga regions, according to volunteer observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NEW YORK program.

In the Adirondacks region, foliage spotters based in Old Forge expect up to 30 percent color change by the weekend, with some brilliant red, orange and yellow leaves, along with some emerging burgundy foliage. In Franklin County, spotters reporting from Tupper Lake and the Mt. Arab areas expect up to 20 percent color change with burgundy, copper and bronze leaves of average brilliance, as cool, crisp evenings with sunny, unseasonably warm days bring out the spectacular fall brilliance. Spotters reporting from Saranac Lake, also in Franklin County, expect an average of 20 percent color change with some areas up to 25 percent changed by the weekend. The predominately green background is starting to give way to vibrant red leaves on red maple trees and leaves, and Sugar Maples are starting to turn various hues of yellow and orange.

Spotters checking in from the high peaks area around Lake Placid in Essex County expect 40 percent change with bright orange, yellow and red leaves. Foliage here is expected to still be in the early stages, but rapidly approaching midpoint. Spotters at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington project 10-20 percent color change with touches of red and orange leaves of average brilliance. In North Hudson, foliage is expected to be around 15 percent changed by the weekend, with bright green leaves along with patches of intense red and orange, and some gold.

In Hamilton County, leaf peepers in Inlet expect up to 25 percent color change with shades of burnt orange along with a few reds and yellows randomly appearing. In Long Lake, also look for up to 25 percent change with orange and yellow leaves of medium brilliance along with some bright red leaves. Spotters in Speculator predict 15 to 25 percent color change by the weekend. Quite a bit of green remains, but a lot of bright orange and yellow leaves are beginning to peak through, along with some red leaves.

Foliage is still mostly green in the Lake Champlain area. Spotters reporting from Crown Point note only 5 percent change in the valley floor, but more color change, up to 20 percent, in elevated areas as you climb away from the lake. Look for some yellow, orange and russet leaves of average brilliance.

In the Catskills region, Spotters at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount, Ulster County, predict 20 to 25 percent color change with leaves of muted shades of red and yellow. Sullivan County spotters expect up to 20 percent color change with touches of yellow and red. Delaware County spotters expect 15 percent color change with some muted gold leaves.

In the Central New York region, spotters in the Montgomery County city of Amsterdam predict 20 percent color change with dull leaves, still mostly green, along with accents of speckled red maple leaves. Some early shades of yellow and brown are also appearing. In Herkimer County, spotters in Mohawk expect 20 percent color change with some red and yellow leaves emerging.

In the Capital-Saratoga region, Fulton County spotters reporting from Northville and Amsterdam expect 20 percent change by the weekend with mostly green leaves of muted brilliance accented with speckled red maple leaves. Some shades of yellow and brown are also beginning to appear.

The rest of the state reports 10 percent or less color change.