All Articles The best fall hikes in the Adirondacks

The best fall hikes in the Adirondacks

These trails deliver color leaves and more.

By Lauren Breedlove23 Aug 2023 5 minutes read
Person in red puffy coat on bridge overlooking fall foliage
Image: Getty Images

With 6 million acres to play with, New York State’s Adirondack Park is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Abundant pine, larch, and spruce trees are collectively part of the biggest boreal forest in the world—and hikers have the unique opportunity to walk among old-growth forests in parts of the park, which come alive in a fall color palette in autumn.

One of the greatest things about this region is how big it is—you can return year after year to explore new nooks and crannies. With 46 High Peaks (summits reaching more than 4,000 feet), you can even knock out more than one panoramic view in a single day. Whether you want to take a drive along a scenic byway, make pit stops at accessible overlooks, or walk your way through the park’s vast hiking trail system (filled with everything from beginner to advanced treks), you really can’t go wrong on a crisp, fall day in the Adirondacks.

If you’re looking for a scenic drive…

Route 73 with autumn colors near Keene, in the Adirondacks, New York
Route 73 near Keene
Image: Frank DeBonis/Getty Images

High Peaks Byway, Route 73

This 30-mile stretch of road (Route 73) winds through the Keene Valley to iconic Lake Placid, known for hosting two Winter Olympic Games. Chapel Pond will catch your eye first, and it’s got a designated parking lot so you can pull off to take some pics. Roadside waterfalls like Roaring Brook Falls can be seen from a pull-off just before the trailhead for the half-mile hike to the waterfall’s base—you’ll see it on the southbound side just before entering the Keene Valley.

Route 28 from Forestport to Warrensburg

This 50-some-mile stretch of road along Route 28 offers ultimate foliage viewing throughout the Central Adirondack region. Charming towns dot the route and offer a bit of a nostalgic feel with lakeside camps and cottages for rent, abundant trailheads, campsites, and small grocery stores (stock up on snacks!). You don’t have to do the whole road to see some of the best foliage either—the bit from Old Forge to Blue Mountain Lake is stunning come fall. You’ll pass by the Fulton Chain of Lakes and the tiny hamlet of Inlet, where you should absolutely grab a gelato at Northern Lights Creamery.

Travelers say: “[Northern Lights Creamery has] soft and hard ice creams in some unusual flavors such as s'mores. Quick service with a few tables outside. You may have to wait in line, but it's worth it!”—@74jom

Blue Ridge Road Scenic Byway

The nearly 20-mile Blue Ridge Road from North Hudson to Newcomb delivers big on foliage views along the southside of the High Peaks region. Keep an eye out for its technical name— Route 84—and access it from either Route 28N from Newcomb or Interstate 87 at North Hudson. If you start on the I-87 side, Palmer Pond and Blue Ridge Falls dazzle straight out the gate. They can both be seen from designated parking areas, with a trail down to the falls.

If you’re on the Newcomb side, a worthy addition to your scenic drive is up the Tahawus Road (Route 25) for more autumnal vibes and the ruins of the Tahawus iron ore mining town, which is now considered a ghost town. You’ll see some abandoned homes, the remains of the blast furnace, and machinery through a variety of overlooks and a short trail.

If you’re looking for a short hike…

Fall foliage at Heart Lake, in the Adirondacks, New York
Heart Lake
Image: marlonie/Getty Images

John Dillon Park, Long Lake

This fully wheelchair-accessible park was the first of its kind in the U.S. when it opened in 2006. John Dillon Park is filled with wide boardwalks with rustic-style railings and gentle slopes, picnic areas, an accessible electric pontoon boat, and accessible lean-tos for camping. The short, one-mile Grampus Lake trail is perfect for a quick overview of the park, or, if you’d like to go a bit further, the five-mile round trip Handsome Pond trail is another fantastic option. The park is open seasonally until Columbus Day, so it’s wise to get your foliage viewing in on the earlier side.

Heart Lake, Adirondack Loj

It’s hard not to swoon when hiking around a heart-shaped lake surrounded by lush fall foliage. Located within the Adirondack Loj, this 1.2-mile, flat loop trail skirts the lake and offers gorgeous autumn and mountain views, including Mount Jo, Algonquin, and Wright peaks. The beginning of the trail consists of a wide gravel path suitable for most wheelchairs and strollers, leading to the first couple of stunning lookout decks at the lake’s edge, but note that the entire trail is not wheelchair accessible. If you’re venturing farther, a network of trails can be accessed from the Loj with varying difficulty—they’re all free to hike but you’ll have to pay to park.

Pro tip: Hikers doing one of the shorter treks can plan to arrive after 1 p.m. and pay a reduced, half-day parking fee. And no matter where you’re trekking in the High Peaks region, make sure and stop into the Noon Mark Diner for a slice of post-hike pie. It’s famous for a reason.

Travelers say: “My daughter and I came to the [Adirondack Loj] campsite with no expectations—we are not experienced hikers, just lovers of nature. …We hiked Phelps Mountain and the trail started in the parking lot. …Our hike took nine hours the next day and the view at the top was so worth the climb—had we not stayed at this campground I doubt that we would have ever done it.”—@gainerjen

Pinnacle Trail, Bolton Landing

Soak up sweeping views over Lake George on this bang-for-your-buck trail near Bolton Landing in the eastern part of the Adirondack Mountains. The Pinnacle Trail lands you at an overlook in about three-quarters of a mile and is perfect for hikers looking for a short trail that gets your heart pumping a bit. Though short, there’s a steady climb and you’ll welcome the bench at the top—perfect for taking in the foliage below. Note: this particular trail is not equipped for wheelchairs.

Bubb and Sis Lake Trail, Eagle Bay

This easy, family-friendly 1.8-mile out-and-back trail is accessed right off Route 28 in the small hamlet of Eagle Bay and offers viewpoints of both Bubb and Sis lakes (and a supremely photogenic footbridge). If you’d like to modify the hike to make it shorter, it’s possible to do only the half-mile jaunt to the viewpoint for Bubb Lake before turning around. The dirt trail isn’t suitable for wheelchairs—however, there’s a paved section of the TOBIE trail close by that runs for two miles from Eagle Bay to Inlet. You’ll find parking for it at the Eagle Bay Welcome Center.

Whichever you choose, treat yourself to a freshly baked cinnamon sugar doughnut at The Donut Shop of Eagle Bay post-hike. Heck, get three.

If you’re looking for a more challenging climb…

View of falls colors from the top of Cascade Mountain, in the Adirondacks, New York
Cascade Mountain
Image: Katie Dobies/Getty Images

Cascade and Porter Mountains, Lake Placid

Bag two High Peaks in one go when you venture up the trail to the summit of Cascade and Porter Mountains, a side-by-side duo. It’s also the easiest trail of the 46 High Peaks at just 5.6-miles round-trip. The hike makes a relatively steady (but moderate) climb and hikers are rewarded with 360-degree views at the top. The trail is a popular one though and parking can be tricky as it's limited, especially on busy weekends. Consider going on a weekday or getting up early and making it up top for sunrise.

Snowy Mountain, Indian Lake

Get your steps in on the challenging 7.8-mile round-trip climb up Snowy Mountain, which is just shy of being a High Peak, clocking in at 3,899 feet of elevation. Located in Indian Lake, the trailhead can be accessed right off Route 30 and has a fire tower at the top that dates back to the early 1900s. Although the hike starts off relatively flat for the first mile and a half, a steep ascent is in store for the last portion of the trail, making it more suitable for experienced hikers. The true summit doesn’t offer views, so you’ll have to climb up the fire tower to see the stunning panorama from its perch.

The Northville-Placid Trail (Section 4: Piseco to West Canada Lakes)

The 135-mile Northville-Placid Trail offers hikers and backpackers access to some of the most remote parts of the Adirondacks. It’s possible to do just a section, and the 15.05-mile stretch from Piseco to the West Canada Lakes (section 4) is considered one of the most scenic and remote—a true taste of the rugged landscape of the Adirondack backcountry wilderness (complete with black bears). Hikers should be experienced and prepared with map and strong navigation skills as some of the trail is known to get very muddy and washed out, so you’ll have to reroute.

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Lauren Breedlove
Lauren Breedlove is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Upstate New York. She’s contributes to publications like Travel + Leisure, Thrillist, AFAR, and Matador Network, and keeps it real on her blog, girlwanderlist.com. She thrives on exploring off the beaten path; absorbing local culture; random adventures; dive bars; and grilled cheese. You can follow her endeavors on Instagram.