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Where to Catch the Best Leaves This Fall- On Foot, By Bike, Or in the Car - 3 October, 2009
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The Journal News
By Karen Croke
October 3, 2009
When it comes to leaf-peeping, Barbara Walker of Ossining says her favorite Lower Hudson Valley lookout in any season is Bull Hill, aka Mount Taurus, just north of Cold Spring. But when Walker hiked her favorite trail recently she was surprised at how many others were going up the steep western face.
Jane Daniels of Yorktown prefers to head to the Yorktown Trailway near her home for a good stroll and to revel in the changing colors. She, too, has seen a sudden surge in walkers, bikers and hikers on her go-to-trails. "This is the time of year when everyone wants to get outside and walk," she says.
It's fall foliage season, those precious few weeks each October when the leaves in our area change from green to glorious shades of red, orange, purple and gold, turning ordinary people into ... leaf-peepers.
Fortunately, for us, New York is a big state, especially when it comes to fall's changing hues and the opportunity to leaf-peep. According to Eric Scheffel, who coordinates the fall foliage program for I Love NY tourism, this should be a banner year for peeping. "In all the years I have been doing this, this is shaping up to be one of the best seasons ever," says Scheffel. "The conditions have been perfect."
Scheffel employs a network of about 60 volunteer peepers across the state, who report in weekly on how things are progressing in their areas, from brilliance of color to the percentage of changing leaves. It's all then compiled at www.iloveny.com, where you can get an up-to-date report on where and when leaves are starting to peak, at their midpoint, peaking or beyond peaking. (You can also call a hotline for a short report: 800-CALL-NYS.)
According to Scheffel, the progression of leaf change from green to red to orange and yellow, is not just random. It follows a pattern across the state.
So, if you start early, you can catch the colors in the Adirondacks and the Catskills, then, like a gently undulating wave, follow the changing season as it spreads out and down across the hills and valleys, generally reaching our area, southeastern New York, in late October to early November.
With peak brilliance averaging about four days, says Scheffel, the most dazzling colors last about two weeks in each area.
Whether you're on foot, pedaling a bike , driving a car, or yes, even catching the changing colors by boat, there are more than a few ways in our area to become an optimal peeper. Here's how:
The Long Path, Upper Nyack: You can access this trail from the parking lot at Nyack State Beach Park, but it's more of a hike than a stroll. The trail climbs to the top of Hook Mountain and offers expansive views across the river to Westchester, as well as some spectacular scenery on the Rockland side. Nyack Beach State Park, 845-268-3020.
Bear Mountain Parkway: This winding road can be tough to navigate, but you drive through dense trees all changing color at different rates, to come out on a sheer cliff that offers passengers (drivers should keep their eyes on the road) a gasp-inducing view of the Palisades, West Point and Bear Mountain across the Hudson River. Go through the traffic circle and head for Bear Mountain State Park. The top lookout of Perkins Memorial Drive in the park offers spectacular unobstructed 360-degree views south to New York City, east to Connecticut, north to Mount Beacon and west to the Shawangunks. Stop here: On the return trip, pull off at The Eagle's Nest rest stop so your driver can get a glimpse of the breathtaking view. It's also a great place to spot American bald eagles.
The Palisades Interstate Parkway: Go south to the George Washington Bridge on this meandering highway, which hugs the Hudson in the south and winds over and through some lovely hills, and for its length, you'll travel through abundantly changing foliage in shades of bright orange, red and yellow. Stop here: Take a break at the State Line lookout, the highest point along the Palisades. It has unparalleled views of the Hudson and Westchester, and on to Long Island Sound. As a bonus, there's the Lookout Inn, a snack bar and info center, built in 1937. The Lookout hosts an annual Fall Hawk Watch, too. Open weekends and holidays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., on weekdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; 201-768-1360
The Tallman Bike Path, Tallman State Park: This rustic park is full of spots to catch a view, from wooden benches perched atop the cliff looking out over Piermont to riverside vantage points, but for bikers, the upper trail cuts through the middle of a heavily wooded area bursting with color. Route 9W, Sparkill, 845-359-0544.
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