Get Ready for Fall with a Visit to These
Gorgeous National Parks of New York State
Fall is finally here, and with it comes the advent of sweater weather, PSLs, apple cider donuts, and of course, leaf peeping! Though the foliage is just starting to change in our state, you can remain up to date with the ever changing foliage report by I Love New York’s constantly updated map. Let’s explore some of the most beautiful National Parks for you to catch the autumn foliage for maximum photo opportunities and autumnal camping trips.
Letchworth State Park in Castile, NY is known as “The Grand Canyon of the East. This magnificent 14,400+ acre NYS Park is located along the Genesee River. Expect beautiful views of waterfalls, emerald green treelines, and a gorgeous rocky gorge with roaring river rapids. It’s prime real estate for scenic camping trips and family picnics, and budget friendly with a 10 entrance fee between 9AM and 5PM. Make a long weekend out of it and you can see the entire park in just 2 to 3 days, or do a day trip via drive-through with stop offs at the many scenic views to take in the falls!
Catskill Park spans Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. This park covers 700,000 acres of waterfalls, forests, trails, and peaks including Belleayre Mountain, Slide Mountain, Panther Mountain, Peekamoose Mountain and more! There’s ample opportunity to go camping, fishing, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, and even ziplining. If you’re an avid hiker, you’ll be rewarded at the summit of each with absolutely breathtaking views of the changing foliage.
Chimney Bluffs State Park in Wolcott, NY is known for its beautiful clay formations and rock spires along the glistening water’s edge. It’s a small park along the southern shore of Lake Ontario between Rochester and Oswego, with plenty of options for hiking trails and shoreside strolling. You’ll find the most dramatic, breathtaking landscapes during the autumn season, especially at Golden Hour!
Harriman State Park in Sloatsburg is the second largest state park in all of New York, with 47,527 acres in both Rockland and Orange counties, and more than 200 trails for hiking and exploring. Take in the sights of the beautiful lakes such as Lake Welch, Lake Sebago, and Lake Tiorati, and you may even consider an invigorating off-season swim. If you’re looking for a wonderful place to explore the outdoors, you’ll find plenty of options for boating, fishing, cabin rentals, camping, outdoor cooking and picnicking, and of course lots of hiking and biking!
Valley Stream State Park in Valley Stream, NY is a local Long Island gem! Although it is one of the smallest of Long Island’s state parks, it still has nearly 100 acres of nature trails and other outdoor activities to enjoy! Squirrel Nut and Hickory Nut trails are incredibly family friendly, and a great way to get kids to disconnect from the internet and connect with the world around them. If you’re looking for a short but interesting hke we also recommend the Valley Stream Loop - a 1.5 mile trail with a slight elevation that takes about a half an hour to complete. It’s a great local choice for a day trip, and perfect for some autumnal family portraits.
Clay Pit Ponds State Park in Staten Island, NY is the only state park on Staten Island, but it has 265 acres to explore with several natural habitats: woodlands, wetlands, streams, ponds, and plenty of trails to choose from. It’s also home to the Nature Interpretive Center which hosts all manner of workshops, lectures, classes, and events where you and your family can learn even more about state wildlife, the local flora and fauna, and different ways to engage with nature. Makes a great day trip with family and friends for a change of scenery.
Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs, NY is the most luxurious state park stop-off on our list. Home to natural mineral springs and classical bath and spa houses, you’ll really find lots of opportunities to kick back and relax after a day on the trails. It’s open year-round, too, making it a great autumnal destination for scenic photographs and fall activities. No matter your skill or activity level, there will be plenty for you to enjoy here as a casual hiker or even a trail runner or cyclist. It even has its own performing arts center, several museums, and lots of family friendly activities.
Other beautiful places to explore include: Bear Mountain State Park, Gantry Plaza State Park, Watkins Glen State Park, Adirondack Park, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Saratoga Spa State Park, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Taughannock Falls State Park, Niagara Falls State Park, Robert Treman State Park.
