The first whispers of fall color have officially turned into something a little more noticeable.
I LOVE NY has released its second fall foliage report of the 2026 season, and this week’s update shows the seasonal transformation continuing to spread across New York State.
While much of the state is still overwhelmingly green, some of the northernmost parts of New York are already seeing 40–55% foliage change, with certain higher-elevation areas getting close to their seasonal peak.
And if you’re trying to squeeze in an early leaf-peeping trip this weekend, the Adirondacks (America’s No. 1 fall foliage destination) are once again the place to watch!
The Adirondacks are seeing the biggest burst of color
According to I LOVE NY’s latest report for September 23–29, 2026, the most significant foliage changes expected this weekend will be in the Adirondacks.
Several locations are already showing substantial color progression, including Wilmington, Tupper Lake, Newcomb, Benson, Lake Pleasant, Long Lake, and Old Forge.
The standout may be Wilmington, where the area around Whiteface Mountain is reporting 55% foliage change and is already considered near peak. (P.S. you can soar above the High Peaks on the Cloudsplitter Gondola to Little Whiteface for some seriously spectacular foliage views!)
Elsewhere in Wilmington, observers are seeing about 40% change, with red and orange leaves beginning to dominate the landscape.
Tupper Lake and Mt. Arab are also reporting 50–55% foliage change, with shades ranging from copper and butterscotch to tangerine, plum, and scarlet.
Meanwhile:
- Newcomb: 40% change, with average-to-bright red and orange leaves
- Lake Pleasant: 40% change, with bright red and orange foliage
- Long Lake: 40% change, with red and bright orange leaves
- Old Forge: 35% change, with increasing red, burgundy, orange, and gold
- Benson: 50% change, with yellow, bronze, red, burgundy, and orange
- Lake Placid: 25% change, with splashes of crimson, deep red, burnt orange, and yellow
So, yes, the Adirondacks are officially entering their very colorful era.
The Catskills are starting to catch up
The Adirondacks aren’t the only region getting a noticeable dose of autumn.
I LOVE NY is also anticipating significant changes across parts of the Catskills, particularly at higher elevations.
Delhi is reporting about 30% foliage change, with certain pockets and valleys approaching the midpoint of the transition and trees covered in yellow, gold, and orange.
In Windham, 25–30% of the foliage has changed in the upper elevations, while Highmount at Belleayre Mountain Ski Area is reporting about 25% change.
The latter is especially colorful at higher elevations and north-facing areas, where bright yellow and orange leaves are beginning to dominate.
Other Catskills spots to keep on your radar include Colchester, Roscoe, Downsville, Hunter Mountain, and Forestburgh.
Central New York is seeing more color, too
Central New York is also beginning to shift from mostly green to noticeably autumnal.
Sharon Springs is reporting about 35% foliage change, with yellow leaves joined by emerging orange and red.
Cherry Valley is at roughly 30–35% change, while Utica is reporting about 30% change with muted-to-average yellow, red, and orange leaves.
There’s also about 25% change in Binghamton, while Cooperstown is currently around 20%.
That means there are plenty of places beyond the Adirondacks and Catskills where you can start spotting fall color this weekend–although you’ll still find plenty of green mixed in.
What about the rest of New York?
The further south and west you go, the earlier the season still feels.
In the Hudson Valley, foliage change is generally still in the single digits to low teens. New Paltz is reporting 15% change, while White Plains and Jefferson Valley are around 10%.
The Finger Lakes are mostly seeing between 5% and 20% change, with Auburn, Moravia, Cortland, and Canandaigua among the places showing more noticeable color.
In Greater Niagara, Niagara Falls is reporting about 20% change, while Buffalo is still around 5%.
Long Island remains mostly green, although the latest report shows about 10% change at Valley Stream State Park and less than 10% at Hempstead Lake State Park.
And yes, even NYC is beginning to budge.
In Manhattan, I LOVE NY observers are reporting just over 5% foliage change on the Lower East Side, while Central Park is showing more than 5% change, with mostly green leaves and some muted brown tones.
So if you were hoping for a colorful Central Park stroll this weekend, you may need to give it a little more time. And don’t forget there’s a separate map specifically for Central Park, which tracks when the park’s 19,000 trees start changing!
See exactly where fall foliage is changing with the latest map
The I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report is updated every Wednesday afternoon throughout the season, with reports collected from more than 100 volunteer observers across New York State. The reports track foliage through six stages, from no change all the way through peak and past peak.
You can use the interactive map to zoom into individual areas and see how much foliage has changed in each location.
See I LOVE NY’s updated interactive fall foliage map here.
And if you’re planning a leaf-peeping road trip, this is definitely the week to start watching the Adirondacks closely. Some locations are already approaching peak, while the color show is gradually working its way into the Catskills and other regions.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the map when the next update drops next Wednesday.