Autumn watch: where to see New York’s most beautiful fall foliage
This article is part of a guide to New York from FT Globetrotter
Autumn is perhaps the ideal time to be in New York. It’s not only a reprieve from sweltering summer weather — and a moment of mercy before the chill of winter takes hold — but for nature lovers, it’s the annual opportunity to see the trees across the state burst into colour. Such is their delight that the term “leaf peeping” has been coined to describe the activity of travelling to view and photograph autumn foliage.
This week, New York is due to reach prime leaf-peeping time, with native trees and other planted varieties starting to turn and expected to fully colour in the coming days and weeks.
Autumn highlights along the Appalachian Trail, a 2,180-mile public footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine, include the New York hamlet of Wingdale . . .
. . . where the famed path winds through towering trees and the woods are awash with gold.
Nuclear Lake
This 55-acre pond in the Hudson Valley earned its name following a 1972 chemical explosion at a now-defunct research lab on its shores. Following extensive testing and cleaning, it was declared safe decades ago and has become a popular spot for fishing, hiking and, of course, autumn-watching.
The peaceful, secluded lake is said to be one of the prettiest bodies of water along the whole of the Appalachian Trail.
Nuclear Lake is located near Pawling, NY, a quaint village set amid colourful country vistas and bucolic farmland.
The area has a long history of maple farming . . .
. . . and some farms even host maple syrup-themed weekends for visitors keen to learn how the sticky stuff is produced
Dover Stone Church
An ancient cavern used by Native Americans as a hideout in the 17th century, Dover Stone Church can be found on foot from the town of Dover Plains. Autumn colours are pictured here through Dover Stone Church’s cathedral window.
From Dover Plains, the walk to the famous church is about 0.3 miles and takes less than 10 minutes
En route you’ll spy colourful vines creeping up old cedars
Innisfree Garden
This beautiful 185-acre garden is expected to reach peak autumn colour this week. It’s open to the public on weekends . . .
. . . and is one of the best places to view the native sugar maple (acer saccharum) — the state tree of New York — as it takes on fall colour.
Other highlights include the weeping hemlock, another native tree, which was discovered in Dutchess County, where Innisfree is located
At the heart of the garden you’ll find its vast lake and a pretty walking route around the perimeter
The landscaping at Innisfree has been largely influenced by Chinese and Japanese design principles since work began on the site in the late 1920s
A core principle at Innisfree is to work with nature to attain design goals. It has long been heralded for its environmentally sensitive garden design
Cattails, for example, are an invasive species, but were planted to the garden as they provide food and cover for birds, and clean soil and water
In 2019, Innisfree was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, noting its ‘exceptional significance’ in landscape architecture
How to get there
This story originally appeared on: Financial Times - Author:Hannah Brenchley
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