Reading the I LOVE NY fall foliage report for the Adirondacks is like scanning a description of fine wine. Take, for instance, this line: “Look for a lush kaleidoscope of dandelion, goldenrod, ginger, russet, orange crush, scarlet, raspberry, claret, and merlot leaves of above-average brilliance.” Curious to see those brilliant colors in action?
Here are some Ideas for short/easy hikes in the Adirondacks to best view the fall foliage and the brilliant colors this season:
- Cooper Kiln Pond: In Wilmington, a one-way hike from Franklin Falls Road (County 18) to Bonnieview Road (5.9 miles OW) showcases fall’s splendor off the beaten path.
- Anthony’s Nose Preserve (Putnam): Fall is the perfect time to try this short hike (.8 miles OW) with great views of Lake George. From “12 Short Hikes on Preserves Near Lake George” by Mike Lynch, multimedia reporter for the Adirondack Explorer. Lynch selected a dozen hikes in the vicinity of Lake George that can be done in a few hours.
- St. Regis Mountain (Paul Smith’s): Recommended in all seasons, with views of the St. Regis Canoe Area. The hike is about 3 miles long with a 1,235-foot vertical rise.
- Moxham Mountain (Minerva): This 2.7-mile trail was constructed in 2012. Starting on a dirt road on the north side of the mountain, the trail goes up a narrow ridge to Moxham’s 2,361-foot summit, with plenty of scenic vistas.
- Remsen Falls (Old Forge): From the Explorer’s “12 Short Hikes Near Old Forge” guidebook, a 0.7-mile walk to Remsen Falls on the South Branch of the Moose River. If you are looking for more to to, try Woodhull Mountain.
Leaf-peeping hot spots
Not up for hoofing it to get to the leaves? Here are some suggestions for scenic fall drives:
- Route 30: The corridor between Tupper Lake and Malone has plenty of color this time of year.
- Old Forge/Inlet: You can’t go wrong with spending some time in this part of the park in fall.
- Newcomb/Blue Ridge Road: The town sets up a fun photo frame you can take pictures through and is also running a photo contest right now.
What else would you add? Leave your ideas in the comments section!
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I am often negative regarding some articles because like many people that have been in a particular area all their lives, have seen the changes that change our lives also. I also understand where your articles are coming from and why. I get a lot of back lash from many people who want to enjoy ‘the Park’ also and resent my attitude. Change is difficult for some of us that have to wait for the off season and not the best weather to go to places that were in our back yards for decades. So many places seem to be off limits to us much of the time now. Who wants to hike to Copperas Pond and so many other places with 60 or more other people? Not me. On free days, I used to hike to the pond and almost always see no one. Often on my way out I’d say ‘Hello’ to Henry who was on his way in at about 3p.m. on a hot summer day. You see, Henry, in his 80s, liked to hike in for a swim (skinny-dip). I thought that was the greatest. My children and later my grandchildren, would jump off the ‘Big Rock’ with me. As time went on we couldn’t jump and swim there because so many people were there also. I think you may often hear similar stories from small town people. In some small towns, ‘Mum’ is the word for favorite swimming holes and special places. I don’t think I could be on a vacation and impose on the ‘locals’ at their special gathering spots. But tourism is what it’s all about now. It is our industry. It doesn’t cause air pollution which I am so grateful for. There are many reports of other types of pollution though. I wish there was a happy medium but there doesn’t seem to be. The local businesses tell tourists what would be fun for them to do because they want their guests to be happy, return the next year, tell their friends, and ultimately keep the businesses ‘in business’. They have mortgages and taxes to pay. This year, especially, we saw the onslaught of people from all over our country. I understand why they came here and to so many other more rural areas. Their fears brought more fear to us and we sigh in relief that we made it through almost unscathed. I hope it stays that way as I look forward to some quiet outings in the near future. — Also, thank you for stating ‘Cooper Kiln’ instead of ‘Cooper Kill’. I don’t know why DEC felt the need to change the name.