This Map Will Point You to the Best Fall Foliage Around New York State

New York State's fall foliage reports start on Wednesday, including a map curated by more than 85 volunteer leaf spotters.

The spirit of fall is in the air now that pumpkin spice is on menus, apple orchards are ramping up, and New York State is debuting its annual Fall Foliage Report starting this Wednesday.

"Autumn in New York is such a beautiful time of year, especially at our state parks and historic sites,” State Senator José M. Serrano said in a release sent to Travel + Leisure. With breathtaking fall foliage colors all around, there truly is no better time to visit our parks and experience the great outdoors. The I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Reports are a great way to help visitors connect with nature during this wonderful time of year."

What makes the Empire State’s map so unique is that it’s long been curated by a team of volunteer leaf spotters spread out across its 11 regions, who provide boots-on-the-ground reporting about the status of the color change in their areas. This year’s team includes more than 85 New Yorkers, who will detail the dominant leaf colors, percentage of change, and amount of progress on its way to peak hues on a weekly basis.

Released every Wednesday starting Sept. 14, the report will also include an interactive map, tracking each week’s progress as well as the best places to experience the fall colors. This year’s version is also enhanced for the first time with the ability to filter the autumn attractions by categories, like food and drink or arts and culture. Among the highlighted activities are family-friendly breweries and cideries, cozy getaways, and train-accessible destinations.

Those interested can get the reports delivered to their inbox by signing up at iloveny.com/foliage.

New York State is also shining a light on its heritage during the fall foliage season with a Path Through History weekend Oct. 8 to 10, celebrated at more than 700 sites, including museums, historic sites, parks, and other cultural institutions.

"From colorful foliage and unparalleled natural landscapes to breathtaking historical sites and one-of-a-kind state parks, there's nothing like New York in the fall," Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "During this season, we invite travelers from New York and out-of-state to plan a perfect autumn adventure — whether it's climbing an Adirondack peak, visiting a Long Island winery, or walking along Buffalo's waterfront — and see what our great state has to offer."

New York isn’t the only state leaning into its fall colors. SmokyMountains.com has also put together a fall foliage map using a sophisticated algorithm to project peak leaf peeping season in every state.