Fall foliage reports begin for NY | News, Sports, Jobs

In a nutshell, ROOST says the fall colors are just beginning.

“Cool mornings have been giving way to warm days the past couple of weeks, and the Adirondacks have been enjoying a glorious early September!” The newsletter states. “Small pops of red and orange are starting to appear here and there along roadsides and in the mountains.”

Similar to the I Love NY Fall Foliage Reports, which officially began on Thursday, the ROOST reports are predictions of what the fall foliage will be for the upcoming week, especially the weekends when visitors are likely to be out on the road looking for the various colors of leaves on deciduous trees.

Lake Placid Region

Heart Lake at the Adirondak Loj property outside the village of Lake Placid is a popular place to see the fall foliage.
(Enterprise photo — Andy Flynn)

The Sept. 14-15 weekend prediction is that 10% the trees’ leaves are expected to have changed color, with the brilliance being average. The predominating colors will still be green with hints of red and bright yellows.

Saranac Lake Region

Weekend prediction: 15%

Percent of trees predicted to have changed: 15%

Brilliance: Dull

Predominating colors: Still green with subtle undertones of color, and pops of bright red and yellow on a handful of trees

Whiteface Region

(AuSable Forks, Jay, Upper Jay, Wilmington)

Weekend prediction: 10%

Percent of trees predicted to have changed: 10% or more

Brilliance: Dull

Predominating colors: Deep reds and purples with oranges and yellows starting to pop in places

Adirondack Hub Region

(Minerva, Newcomb, North Hudson, Schroon Lake)

Weekend prediction: 7%

Percent of trees predicted to have changed: 8%

Brilliance: Dull for beginning stages of turning

Predominating colors: Still green, there’s a touch of red and orange

Experience Our Adirondacks Region

(Hamilton County)

Weekend prediction: 5%

Percent of trees predicted to have changed: 5%

Brilliance: Dull

Predominating colors: Much green with a spotting of red and orange tips

Lake Champlain Region

Weekend prediction: 5%

Percent of trees predicted to have changed: 5%

Brilliance: Dull

Predominating colors: Still predominantly green, with touches of gold tones and occasional rust

Tupper Lake Region

Weekend prediction: 5%

Percent of trees predicted to have changed: 10%

Brilliance: Dull

Predominating colors: Still green with a touch of deep reds and dull golds

Sign up

The reports are expected to continue through mid-to late October. Those wishing to sign up for the weekly emails can do so by visiting: www.adirondacksusa.com/foliage-email.

ROOST is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, the Whiteface Region and Lake Placid, all located within the Adirondacks in New York state.

I Love NY report

I Love NY issued its first 2024 Fall Foliage Report for the state on Thursday. Reports are obtained from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend.

“The first signs of the spectacular seasonal colors to come appearing in several Upstate New York regions,” the reports stated. “The Adirondacks, Catskills, Thousand Island-Seaway, Capital-Saratoga, Central New York, Finger Lakes and Greater Niagara regions are all beginning to show indication of autumn’s brilliant palette, according to the field reports from volunteer observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.”

Some of the predictions for the Adirondacks are slightly different than the ROOST report. For example, in Saranac Lake, I Love NY anticipated “25% change with some pops of bright red and yellow,” whereas ROOST predicted a 15% change.

Below are the predictions for the rest of the state, according to I Love NY.

Herkimer County

Spotters in Old Forge predict up to 25% foliage change this weekend, with splashes of deep red, burgundy and muted orange. Yellow shades are also emerging, mostly along the waterways. In Clinton County, Plattsburgh is hovering around 10% change with primarily red and yellow leaves. Hamilton County spotters in Lake Pleasant and Long Lake spotters anticipate 10% transition by the weekend, with some pockets of color within the canopies of maple trees. In Lewis County, reports from Lowville predict nearly 15% leaf change, with some bright orange and red leaves on the soft maples.

Warren County

Around Lake George, spotters expect about 5% change, with hints of red and yellow leaves. Reports from Queensbury also show about 5% color and a few isolated trees showing muted green-yellow leaves.

Catskills

Delaware County volunteers in Hamden and Bloomville predict 10% transition, with some orange and yellow leaves. Reports from Colchester and Roscoe predict about 10% color change by the weekend, with some emerging reds and yellows.

Greene County spotters in Catskill predict 10% foliage change by the weekend with wisps of seasonal colors. Spotters reporting from Windham expect 5% transition, as some maples have started changing and are displaying muted shades of red. In Sullivan County, reports from Liberty project that foliage will be up to 10% changed with some pops of bright reds and vibrant yellows. Forestburgh, about 20 miles from Port Jervis, should see less than 10% change, with some muted autumnal colors. In western Ulster County, spotters at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount anticipate 5% change this weekend with emerging bright touches of red leaves.

Hudson Valley

Ulster County reports from Kingston expect around 15% foliage change with yellow and red leaves of average brilliance.

Thousand Islands-Seaway region

St. Lawrence County spotters in Wanakena predict up to 15% foliage change by the weekend with shades of deep purple and burnt red emerging from the green. Spotters at the Seaway Visitors Center at Eisenhower Lock in Massena predict 10% or more foliage change, with mostly green leaves of muted brilliance. In Jefferson County, up to 10% change is expected in Alexandria Bay, with some yellow and orange leaves. Oswego County spotters predict an average of 10% change across the county, with bright purple and red leaves. The southwestern portion of the county is still green, while areas to the north and east are experiencing a colorful start to fall.

Capital-Saratoga region

Albany County spotters in Voorheesville at WildPlay Thacher in Thacher State Park anticipate about 10% leaf change with some yellow leaves, along with a few hints of orange and brown, with trees throughout the park changing faster than the ones at WildPlay. In Fulton County, volunteers in Northville predict 10% change, with shades of red, orange and yellow emerging. Reports from Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center in Northville expect up to 5% transition.

In Rensselaer County, Troy spotters reporting from Burden Pond predict 10% change by the weekend, with hints of rust and gold and some changes to leaf margins appearing. Trees in drier, higher locations are starting to exhibit more yellowing. In Saratoga County, Saratoga Springs volunteers at Saratoga Lake expect 5% transition, as trees are still mostly green with occasional pops of red and gold. Trees between Northway Exits 12 and 16 are just beginning to show some changes. In Schenectady County, observers at Maple Ski Ridge in Schenectady expect 5% foliage change.

Central New York

Chenango County spotters in Norwich, Preston, and Oxford expect 15% leaf change this weekend, with muted to average hues of red, gold, and yellow. In Oneida County, reports from Utica predict up to 15% leaf change with red-orange and yellow leaves appearing. Middleburgh spotters in Schoharie County expect 15% change, showcasing bright red leaves. In Otsego County, Cherry Valley should be around 10% transition, while Cooperstown is slightly lower at 5% with pops of red and orange. In Broome County, foliage change in the Binghamton area is expected to be slightly more than 5% by the weekend.

Finger Lakes

Seasonal change is just beginning in the Brighton neighborhood or Rochester, with at least 8% transition and with green-yellow leaves appearing on silver maple and sycamore trees; touches of red on the furthermost branches of maple trees; and some dogwood and burning bushes beginning to show red. Tioga County volunteers in Owego predict 5% foliage change with some orange leaves appearing.

Greater Niagara region

Foliage is expected to be around 5% in Niagara County around Niagara Falls, with some seasonal colors developing on the green leaves.

Foliage change in other areas of the state will be 5% or less.

Volunteer foliage spotters

The I Love NY team of volunteer foliage spotters, located throughout the state’s 11 vacation regions, are tasked with keeping track of the color change in their area as leaves progress each week. The information is then used for fall foliage reports, which are posted online each week, featuring a detailed map of color change throughout New York state, vantage points for viewing spectacular foliage and suggested autumn getaways.

More information

The weekly foliage report, a detailed map charting fall color progress, vantage points for viewing spectacular foliage, suggested autumn getaways and weekly event listings are available by visiting the I Love NY website at www.iloveny.com/foliage.

Reports are also available by dialing toll-free at 800-225-5697 from anywhere in the U.S., its territories and Canada.