National Forest·New York·16,389 acres
Finger Lakes National Forest
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
red maple and sugar maple
northern red oak, peak Oct 20
Peak color should arrive around Oct 11 for the red maple and sugar maple, and around Oct 20 for the northern red oak.
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
Weather Hard frost Friday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Finger Lakes National Forest in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Finger Lakes National Forest around Oct 13, and the four days to aim for are Oct 12 to 15. northern red oak peak later, around Oct 20.
The forest runs from about 1,126 to 1,799 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 2 days: the high stands around Oct 12, the low ground around Oct 14. That's 1 day later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.
| Week | In the forest | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Starting to turn | |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Nearly peak | |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Peak color | 1,000 to 1,250 ft, 1,250 to 1,500 ft, 1,500 to 1,750 ft, 1,750 to 2,000 ft |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Just past peak |
- 1,750–2,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1211%
- 1,500–1,750 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1239%
- 1,250–1,500 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1334%
- 1,000–1,250 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1417%
Height off 3DEP inside the forest’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the forest stands in it.
That’s 1 day later than our model alone would say. This September has been running warm, which shifts peak color.
Plan this tripIf you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Monday, October 12 to Tuesday, October 13
You’ll find it peak color.
That's the day our forecast puts peak color here.
- 1,750–2,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 12
- 1,500–1,750 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 12
- 1,250–1,500 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 13
- 1,000–1,250 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 14
- Where to drive
- Letchworth Gorge Road (Park Road), about 62 miles · Route 30 (Great Northern Catskills), about 122 miles · Route 6 through Allegheny National Forest, about 122 miles
- What turns
- red maple, northern red oak, sugar maple, shagbark hickory, blackgum
What turns, and when
- red maple30%
- northern red oak20%
- sugar maple20%
- shagbark hickory10%
- blackgum10%
- tulip poplar10%
Also named across New York, outside what the canopy read measures here: American Beech, Yellow Birch.
The Adirondacks produce color as vivid as anywhere in New England, with sugar maples blazing orange across mountainsides of birch gold and beech bronze, all reflected in thousands of lakes.
Questions people ask about Finger Lakes National Forest
- When is peak fall foliage at Finger Lakes National Forest?
Our forecast puts peak color at Finger Lakes National Forest around Oct 13, and the four days to aim for are Oct 12 to 15. northern red oak peak later, around Oct 20.
- Where is the best fall color at Finger Lakes National Forest right now?
On Nov 10 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 1,000 to 1,250 feet, around Oct 14.
- How long does peak last at Finger Lakes National Forest?
About four days at the top, Oct 12 to 15, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 2 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 6 days.
- Is Finger Lakes National Forest past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 13, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Finger Lakes National Forest?
Sugar Maple, Red Maple, American Beech, Yellow Birch, Red Oak. The Adirondacks produce color as vivid as anywhere in New England, with sugar maples blazing orange across mountainsides of birch gold and beech bronze, all reflected in thousands of lakes.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. We score it here against 27 long-running forest cameras: two dates in three land within 10 days of the camera’s own peak. How this map is made
Nearby, and when they turn
- Peak Oct 15 best Oct 14 to 17
- Peak Oct 15 best Oct 14 to 17
- Peak Oct 8 best Oct 7 to 10
Fall color roads near Finger Lakes National Forest
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.
- Letchworth Gorge Road (Park Road)
The Grand Canyon of the East. Three major waterfalls framed by walls of orange and red hardwoods. Peak is early-to-mid October.
- Route 30 (Great Northern Catskills)
Runs through Schoharie Valley and into the northern Catskills. Less traffic than Route 28 with equally stunning maple color.
- Route 6 through Allegheny National Forest
Pennsylvania's wildest stretch of forest, peaking in mid-October with a sea of red oak, cherry, and maple.
- Route 28 through the Catskills
From Kingston to Margaretville through the heart of the Catskill Mountains. Best in the first two weeks of October.
- Route 97 (Hawk's Nest)
A short, thrilling stretch above the Delaware River near Port Jervis. Photograph from the overlook on the east side for the classic shot.