Blog

Foliage update for the Adirondacks and the rest of the state

09/28/2012

In Franklin County, foliage spotters based in the Tupper Lake and Mt. Arab areas expect peak conditions this weekend, with 90-95 percent color change and brilliant autumn hues of crimson, copper, bronze, burgundy, scarlet, goldenrod, pumpkin, mustard and canary.

Check out the great views at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, and the fire observation tower about five miles to the west in Mt. Arab.

Foliage spotters in Saranac Lake Village report 35-50 percent leaf change, depending on the mix of hardwoods and the size of the body of water near the trees. Colors are muted reds, oranges and yellows, along with some scattered patches of vibrant red.

Along the Saranac River and in the wetlands on the eastern and northern edges of town color change is much higher due to the maples and alders, which are expected to be around 70-90 percent changed.

In Paul Smiths the leaves will be between 75 and nearly 100 percent changed and brilliant. Birches have not changed much anywhere, nor have the silver maples. Look for vivid reds with oranges, contrasting nicely against the evergreens.

In Herkimer County, Old Forge-based color observers are predicting 95-100 percent leaf change by weekend, with bright and beautiful peak reds, russets, oranges and golds contrasting beautifully with the evergreens.

In Essex County, foliage observers reporting from the Lake Placid/High Peaks/Whiteface areas expect peak by the weekend, if not a little before, in the very highest elevations surrounding Lake Placid. Predominate red leaves are complimented by an assortment of orange, gold, yellow and burgundy leaves.

The Whiteface region surrounding the eastern base of Whiteface Mountain is somewhat behind the High Peaks, averaging around 50 percent change with golds, yellows and oranges predominating at this point.

The Schroon Lake area is about 30 percent turned; the area is just starting to get some overall color.

The Lake Champlain area of the county is still just in the beginning stages of color change, between 5 and 15 percent.

Color has also come on strong in Hamilton County over the past week. Look for up to 80 percent color change and near peak to peak conditions in the northern portion of the county, including the towns of Indian Lake, Inlet and Long Lake.

Foliage spotters in Speculator, Piseco and Wells predict color change between 50 and 80 percent by the weekend. Look for a blend of muted to brilliant leaves of yellow, red, gold and purple.

Color change also varies greatly in Warren County, depending on the latitude and elevation.

North Creek and Blue Mountain Lake spotters expect around 70 percent color change above 2,000 ft., with bright red, orange and yellow leaves. As you travel further southwest in the county, foliage change drops to about 10-20 percent maximum.

Near peak foliage will arrive in the Catskills region by the weekend. In Delaware County, look for midpoint to near-peak conditions with 60 percent color change and yellow, red and orange leaves of average brilliance. In Ulster County, Saugerties-based leaf peepers expect 50 percent color change with bright and colorful shades of gold, yellow, red and orange. Also look for 50 percent color transition in Highmount, home of Belleayre Mountain. Look for reds and yellows of average brilliance.

In the areas around Kingston, Woodstock and Phoenicia color change will be around 30 percent with bright pale-yellow and gold leaves, along with splashes of orange and some bright red just beginning to pop.

Sullivan County spotters in Monticello predict 20 percent color change with a bright green accented with bursts of burgundy and bronze.

In the Capital-Saratoga region, foliage will be at midpoint of color change in and around the Fulton County towns of Northville and Benson. Look for 40-50 percent change with average to bright fall shades of yellow, gold and red.

In Rensselaer County, look for 20-30 percent color change this weekend. More color is showing in the eastern and northern parts of the county, and in the higher elevations some foliage is closer to midpoint of change. Look for a brilliant mix of shades of orange, yellow, red and green.

In Albany County, spotters in Voorheesville near Thacher Park expect 20-25 percent color change with bright yellows and touches of red. Saratoga and Schenectady counties expect around 20 percent color change.

In Saratoga County, look for fall colors of red, yellow and orange; in Schenectady County yellow is the predominate fall color emerging, with some splashes of red and some purple.

Color change is also progressing in the Central New York region. In Chenango County, spotters in Norwich expect 60-65 percent change with muted yellow and orange leaves and near peak conditions.

In Otsego County, Cooperstown observers expect 50 percent color change with orange and yellow leaves of average brilliance. Look for conditions at midpoint in the higher elevations.

Binghamton foliage spotters in Broome County expect about 30 percent change for the weekend, with the colors described as at midpoint to near peak of change.

In Oneida County, 40 percent color change is expected by the weekend in the Utica area, with somewhat muted shades of orange, gold, bronze and amber appearing. Northern Oneida County is showing more rapid change, with orange, golds and reds predominating. In southern Herkimer County, foliage change will be around 30 percent.

Color transition is also underway in Madison County, where about 25 percent of the foliage should be change by the weekend. Look for the most change along US Route 20 as many oranges and reds from the maples are starting to show. The southern hills of the county are further ahead and offer the best places for leaf peeping this week.

In Schoharie County, the Village of Schoharie expects about 10 percent change for the weekend.

Colors at midpoint of change, along with some areas of near peak conditions will be found throughout the Chautauqua-Allegheny region this weekend.

In Cattaraugus County, Little Valley observers expect 45 percent change and some near peak conditions with muted fall colors of yellow and bronze.

At Allegany State Park in Cattaraugus County, the trees have started to quickly change this week. Look for 50 percent color change and fall colors of yellow and orange. Chautauqua County is also looking toward 50 percent color change with some orange and rust leaves set to overtake the mostly green backdrop. In Allegheny County, Belmont spotters are calling for 40 percent color change with dull red, yellow, brown and orange leaves.

In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, Jefferson County spotters based in Alexandria Bay expect 25 percent color change with orange and yellow leaves of average brilliance.

In Oswego County, expect 15 percent color change by this weekend. From along Lake Ontario to the north and the Oswego River to the south, Oswego County oaks, maples and hickories are showing areas of rust and bronze, with a few spots of red and orange and pops of golden yellow.

In the St. Lawrence Valley of St. Lawrence County expect around 20 percent color change with some yellow, orange and red beginning to emerge. Around the Piercefield area, in the Adirondacks, look for 40 percent change with fall colors of orange, yellow and red. Some spots between Star Lake and Piercefield are near peak, some spots are just beginning and some spots are already at peak.

Finger Lakes foliage change is accelerating in Seneca County, with 40 percent of the leaves expected to have changed by the weekend. Look for average shades of yellow with a touch of red.

Cortland County is expecting 40 percent color change with red leaves of average brilliance.

Tioga County is also predicting 40 percent change with yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance.

Fall colors are continuing to emerge in Ontario County, where it's estimated that 30 percent of the leaves will have changed by the weekend. Some leaves are showing shades of purple and burgundy while others are just starting to turn with hues of orange and gold.

Chemung County foliage spotters project 20-25 percent leaf change. The landscape remains overwhelmingly green but more and more bright yellows, reds and occasional oranges are beginning to appear.

In Livingston, Cayuga County spotters based in Auburn predict 20 percent change with touches of red and gold leaves of average brilliance.

In Onondaga County, look for up to 20 percent change in the Syracuse area where it's still mostly green with some yellows and red accents of average brilliance.

Leaf peepers in Monroe County and the Rochester area are reporting leaves for the weekend to be from 10 to 25 percent changed. Fall colors are mostly shades of yellow (on locust trees), along with some splashes of red/orange (on maples) and russet (white ash).

In Tompkins County, Ithaca-based leaf peepers are expecting 15 percent change by the weekend, with leaves of mostly average brilliance, although there are some spots of exceptionally bright color.

Wayne County travelers will also experience about 15 percent color change, while visitors to Steuben County can expect 10-15 percent change with yellow and orange leaves. Schuyler County expects just over 10 percent color change, Livingston County, 5 percent.

Foliage change is still in the beginning stages in the Greater Niagara region. Spotters in Niagara County, in Lewiston, expect 20 percent change with duller than average leaves of green, yellow and some red and orange.

In Orleans County, look for 15 percent change and increasing shades of yellow.

Erie County can expect 10-15 percent color change with small patches of golden yellows and deep reds and purples starting to appear.

In Wyoming County, look for 10 percent change; in Genesee County look for 5 percent change.

In the Hudson Valley region, color change is still in the early stages. Spotters in the City of Hudson in Columbia County project 15-25 percent change, depending on the elevation, with pale yellow and gold leaves of average brilliance, along with touches of deep red.

Westchester County expects about 15 percent color change with some shades of yellow and gold appearing.

Ten percent color change is expected in Rockland County at Bear Mountain State Park.