Best Fall Foliage Views in the Finger Lakes

No matter where you look, the autumn colors that paint the landscape of the Finger Lakes is absolutely breathtaking. Spend a weekend traveling along some of our back-country roads to find the most spectacular views during fall foliage season. View natural wonders, leap through the forest canopy, and climb your way through waterfall-filled gorges to make your leaf-peeping adventure in the Finger Lakes an unforgettable experience.

Watkins Glen State Park

Home to a handful of hiking trails including the famous gorge path that take you past--and over and under--some of the park’s waterfalls, Watkins Glen State Park is an idyllic location for a leaf-peeping excursion. Besides having an Instagram-worthy appearance on any given day, the trails and waterfalls of Watkins Glen only become even more beautiful with the warm colors of fall painted all around you. 

1009 N Franklin St
Watkins Glen NY 14891
607.535.4511

Bristol Mountain

Views from the summit of Bristol Mountain are legendary with its 1200’ vertical rise. If you’re feeling more adventurous than just getting to the top for the view, or if you want a front row seat to the fall foliage, schedule a zipline canopy tour and aerial adventure at Bristol Mountain. The zipline canopy tour features seven zip lines and four bridges with spectacular views of the Bristol Valley. The aerial adventure park is a series of obstacle courses within the forest canopy made up of about a dozen elements each including tightrope walks, bridges, rope ladders, ziplines, and more. To find out more, visit the Bristol Mountain website. 

5589 South Hill Road
Canandaigua NY 14424
585.374.1180

Taughannock Falls State Park

The tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi, Taughannock Falls, plunges 215 feet from rocky cliffs. Gorge and rim trails offer spectacular views from above the falls as well as below the falls at the end of the 0.75-mile-long gorge trail. 

1740 Taughannock Blvd.
Trumansburg, NY 14886
607.387.6739

Finger Lakes National Forest

Sixteen thousand acres of woodlands awaits you this fall season in the Finger Lakes National Forest, situated between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. Explore over thirty miles of trails through gorges and ravines or catch sight of 160 species of birds that New York’s only National Forest home. Consult the forest map before visiting for more information on trails.

Hector Ranger Station
5218 State Route 414
Hector, NY 14841
607.546.4470