Upstate New York is one of the best places to see the leaves change in autumn, especially the Adirondacks. As you drive through Keene Valley, you’ll ooo and ahhh at every turn from the bright red, yellow, and orange hues. From Lake Placid to the peak of Whiteface Mountain, you’ll wish the colorful leaves would stay on the trees all year long. This guide will tell you everything you need to know for visiting the Adirondacks in the fall.
The Adirondacks
The Adirondack Mountains encompass the northern region of upstate New York. They dwarf the Catskills in comparison with their peaks and size. Adirondack Park alone contains six million acres, making it the largest park in the contiguous United States.
The heart of the Adirondacks is about a 5-hour drive from New York City and a 2-hour drive from Albany, New York’s capital city.
The Adirondacks can be informally broken up into three parts: the southern, central, and northern regions. At the foothills of the Adirondacks are Cooperstown, famous for the baseball fall of fame, and Lake George. In the central Adirondacks, you’ll find a plethora of lakes near Raquete Lake and the chain lakes near Old Forge to the west. In the northern Adirondacks, you’ll find the highest peaks near Lake Placid and the much larger Lake Champlain which shares a border with Canada.
Where to stay
The best place to stay for a fall trip to the Adirondacks is the northern region near Lake Placid. You’ll want to base yourself less than an hour’s drive from Lake Placid, preferably north of it to reach points of interest like Ausable Chasm.
I recommend staying in an Airbnb — bonus points if it’s on a lake. We stayed in Au Sable Forks near Ausable Chasm, about a 30-minute drive from Lake Placid. You can book this peaceful Airbnb on a lake. I stayed here a few years ago and the photos do not do it justice. The best part was the kayaks for us to enjoy the fall colors on the lake at sunset.
Other towns that would be good to base yourself near Lake Placid are Jay, Saranac Lake, and Keene.
When it comes to booking a stay in upstate New York, the cabin is more important than the exact town. You’ll need to drive to reach points of interest anyway, so prioritize the cabin over the exact location. As long as you’re in driving distance from Lake Placid, you’re good.
When to go
The best time to go upstate in the fall is for peak week in early-to-mid October. Peak week is when the autumnal colors on the trees reach their boldest and brightest. It changes every year based on temperatures but you can expect it to be in early October. In mid-September, New York state begins publishing a weekly fall foliage report to keep you updated on when the leaves will reach their peak. You can track it here.
What to do
Soar above the trees at Whiteface Mountain
Take a ride on the Cloudsplitter Gondola at Whiteface Mountain to the peak of Little Whiteface. The gondola/cable car takes you above the trees to see the colorful landscape below on a ski lift track.
The gondola is open Friday through Sunday until Monday, October 14th. Tickets for the gondola can be purchased in advance for $25 per person. The line can get long but it moves quickly. Luckily, you can get a beer from the cafe and enjoy it in line while you wait.
Ride the Cliffside Coaster at Mt. Van Hoevenberg
Go on a thrilling ride through the forest on the longest coaster ride in North America. The ride takes you through the fall foliage on the former 1980 Winter Olympics bobsledding track. The whole experience makes you feel like a little kid while giving you a bit of Winter Olympic history.
I recommend buying your tickets in advance because tickets are reserved by time slot. You can buy a ticket for $55 per ride here. It’s pricey but it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime type experience.
See Ausable Chasm
Ausable Chasm claims to be the Grand Canyon the Adirondacks. Now, while I wouldn’t go that far with it, it’s a beautiful gorge that’s worth a stop on your fall trip. Entry to the Ausable Chasm is $19.95 to explore its trails but you can simply enjoy the view from the bridge on the side of the road. It seems like they nickel and dime you once you enter the park, so I wouldn’t recommend paying the $20. There are other experiences in the Adirondacks that are worth your money.
Go apple picking
New York State grows almost 30 million bushels of apples every year, so it’s no wonder that NYC is called the big apple. Visit an apple orchard to pick your own apples and enjoy fresh baked goods. Rulfs Orchard is a great orchard to visit for fall activities with a corn maze and playground for kids. There are plenty of orchards in the Adirondacks but don’t fall into the trap of paying for entry to an orchard. You should only pay for the apples and goodies you take home.
Explore the town of Lake Placid
Lake Placid has the small-town charm you’d expect from any cute mountain town. It sits on the lake that it shares its name with. Being that it’s one of the largest towns in the region, it has international chains like Starbucks but it is mostly home to small businesses with souvenirs and family-run dessert shops with ice cream, taffy, and chocolate.
Grab an ice cream or cup of warm coffee to enjoy by the lake with a backdrop of colorful trees on the hillside. Lake Placid is a great place to stay if you prefer a hotel. There are many upscale accommodations on the lake and in town.
Enjoy views of Lake Champlain from a vineyard
Highlands Vineyards is a hidden gem with expansive views of Lake Champlain. While it’s not on the shores of Lake Champlain, it’s viewpoint from the hills makes it an even better place to see the lake. You can even catch a glimpse of Burlington, Vermont on the other side.
Highlands Vineyards makes its own wine on the property (both red and white). They have Adirondack chairs to enjoy the view in while you sip your wine and you can even take home their souvenir wine glasses.
Take a hike
It’s no surprise that the Adirondacks have many hiking trails. Mount Jo and Cobble Lookout will reward with you amazing views of the mountains covered in shades of red, yellow, and orange. These two hikes are low effort for a great reward at the top.
Many of the trails in the Adirondacks can be challenging. When researching the right hike for you and your group, look for “kid-friendly” trails on Google if you’re hiking with inexperienced people. If you’re more experienced, Alltrails is a great resource.
Chill at the cabin
My favorite part about a trip to the Adirondacks is the memories made at the cabin. In the fall, it starts to get dark in upstate New York around 6:30 p.m. The roads are dark, so it’s best to be back at the cabin before nightfall.
You can continue the fall festivities at the cabin by making hot toddies or spiced apple cider on the stove or making a fire outside to roast marshmallows one last time before winter rolls around.
For dinner inspiration, check out the recipes section of the blog, which includes many recipes for a crowd, like this Big Batch Baked Spaghetti.
How many days do I need?
Because of the long drive to reach the Adirondacks, you’ll want to spend five days on vacation. Two days for driving back and forth and three days for exploring the area. You can stay for additional days to add on day trips.
Day trips from the Adirondacks
There are plenty of things to do in the Adirondacks, but if you’re looking to check off more destinations or turn your adventure into a multi-city fall road trip, you can drive to Montreal or Burlington, Vermont.
Montreal, Canada is only an hour and a half drive from the Northern Adirondacks. You’ll need your passport to cross the border, so don’t forget to pack it.
Burlington, Vermont is also about an hour and a half away but to the east. It’s technically closer than Montreal but takes a bit of time to drive to because you need to go around Lake Champlain. The drive is faster in the summer when you can take the ferry. Check the ferry times just in case it’s available the weekend you’re traveling.
What to pack
The weather in early October is beautiful in the Adirondacks. It’s warmer than you’d expect with highs in the 70s during the day and lows of 40 at night. Pack layers including t-shirts, jackets, light flannels, and sweaters. If you’re planning on hiking, make sure to bring athletic sneakers with good traction.
Getting there
To make the most of your fall trip to the Adirondacks, you’ll need to rent a car. This will give you the freedom to drive from town to town and stop to admire the leaves along the way.
If you’re driving from New York City or LaGuardia Airport, you can rent a car there. Rental cars from LaGuardia are generally more hassle-free than a local rental car outpost in Manhattan or Brooklyn.
If you’re flying from outside of the northeast, you can fly into Albany, but it will likely be more expensive than flying into NYC.
If driving isn’t your thing, you can take the Amtrak Adirondack train line to Westport, NY, and take the free shuttle to Lake Placid. But…it’ll take you nine hours to get there.
If you have any questions about visiting the Adirondacks, I’m happy to answer any questions in the comments below.
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