NEWSLETTER
Early Notable Color Changes Reported in Several Regions
Albany, NY – This is the first 2023 I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report for New York State. Reports are obtained from volunteer field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. Reports are issued every Wednesday afternoon.
New York State’s 2023 fall foliage season is underway, with the first signs of the spectacular seasonal colors to come appearing in several regions, including the Adirondacks, Thousand Islands-Seaway, Catskills, and Chautauqua-Allegheny. This is according to the field reports from volunteer observers for the Empire State Development Division of Tourism’s I LOVE NY program.
In the Adirondacks, Franklin County spotters in Saranac Lake are predicting up to 20% leaf change by the weekend, with a muted mix of green and yellow, and some isolated pops of red. Areas along water will have changed slightly more than others. Spotters in Tupper Lake and Mt. Arab predict up to 20% transition as the cool, crisp evenings, unseasonably warm days, and an abundance of summer rain act as the catalyst for spectacular fall brilliance. Ample summer rains have fueled good tree health, leaf retention and vivid color production. The bright summer greens are quickly fading to Army green, and emerging colors include burgundy, claret, rhubarb, maize, copper, and bronze with a rosy glow. In the northern portion of the county, spotters in the Malone area predict a little less than 10% change, with a few muted red and orange leaves appearing over the mostly green landscape.
In Herkimer County, look for up to 20% change in Old Forge. Shades of golden yellow are the most dominant of the emerging colors, with burgundy and some shades of green and dark red. In Hamilton County, spotters in Lake Pleasant expect up to 15% leaf change with some oranges and reds popping through. In Lewis County, spotters in Lowville predict less than 10% foliage change, with emerging touches of yellow and orange.
In Essex County, foliage spotters in Lake Placid are anticipating 10% leaf color change, with a few reds and golden yellows. In Wilmington, reports from Whiteface Mountain Ski Area project up to 10% foliage change this weekend with bright, mostly green leaves dotted by some emerging red and yellow. Spotters reporting from the communities around Whiteface Mountain, including Wilmington, Jay, Upper Jay, and Au Sable Forks, also predict 10% change, with muted deep purples, plus shades of red and orange. In Newcomb, foliage spotters are predicting as much as 10% color change, with muted to average shades of red and orange beginning to peek through the green.
In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, St. Lawrence County observers in Madrid expect up to 10% color change this weekend, with muted shades of yellow, orange, and red.
Fall colors are just beginning to appear in the Catskills, in Delaware County. Spotters in Delhi predict 5-15% color change this weekend, with some orange and yellow leaves or varying brilliance. Spotters in the communities of Bloomville and Hamden also predict up to 15% color change, with some yellow and orange leaves.
In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, leaves are just beginning to change in Chautauqua County, and up to 10% color change is predicted for some areas by the weekend. At Chautauqua Institution, travelers will find slight color changes with some orange, red, and yellow leaves of average brilliance. Similar changes will also be found in Jamestown and in the northern portion of the county along Lake Erie, as well as in the Amish communities of Sherman and Findley Lake.
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.
About Fall Foliage
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 web site at www.iloveny.com/foliage. Reports are also available by dialing, toll-free, 800/CALL-NYS (800/225-5697) from anywhere in the U.S., its territories and Canada.
MEDIA: If you would like to directly receive I LOVE NY fall foliage reports along with a high-resolution version of the weekly color progression map, contact Eric Scheffel at eric.scheffel@esd.ny.gov.
Press releases and other media assets can be found online in the press room or on X (formerly Twitter).
About New York State
New York State is a premier vacation destination with world-class attractions, picturesque natural beauty, locally sourced cuisine and a booming craft beverage scene, an array of accommodations, and iconic, year-round festivals and events. Its 11 diverse vacation regions feature some of the world’s top ranked beaches; two out of America’s top three favorite state parks; breathtaking Niagara Falls; more ski areas than any other state; one of the nation’s longest foliage seasons; multiple Halls of Fame; the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States; and the country’s longest multi-use trail. Add in the state’s unique museums, historic landmarks, cultural sites, charming small towns and urban playgrounds, and it’s no wonder New York has been consistently chosen as a top getaway by travel publications and experts.
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Contact:
Eric Scheffel
Empire State Development
(518) 292-5274
Helen Ames
Finn Partners
(212) 715-1646
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New York State’s 2023 fall foliage season is underway, with the first signs of the spectacular seasonal colors to come appearing in several regions, including the Adirondacks, Thousand Islands-Seaway, Catskills, and Chautauqua-Allegheny.
To view supporting documents and/or photos, go to www.enr-corp.com/pressroom and enter Release ID: 443437