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NYC’s autumn foliage will be a fall feast this year
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 6, 2026
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Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 6, 2026
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New York City could get an extended and especially vibrant fall foliage season.
According to the city parks dept, this year’s super El Nino will make fall leaves brighter and last longer. The peak is predicted to come mid to late October this year, lasting through November.
“This year we're expecting to have a potentially longer and more intense fall foliage season as a result of the extra rainfall that we've seen this year coming from the El Niño weather pattern,” said Benjamin Osbourne, assistant commissioner of forestry and horticulture at the New York City Deptartment of Parks and Recreation.
While the forecast suggests an extended season of autumn colors, Osbourne noted that the prediction depends on the weather over the next few weeks. A cold snap could hasten the color change and cause leaves to fall from the trees sooner.
He noted that the bigger parks have more diversity and trees, which means a more impressive display of colors. His recommendations include Van Cortlandt Park, Pelham Bay Park, Inwood Park, Forest Park and Silver Lake Park.
“It's sweater weather,” Osbourne said. “It's just a really great time to enjoy the outdoors, to enjoy our parks, to enjoy our forests.”
The leaves have already begun to change with the yellowing of honey locust trees, which can be found across the city.
The maple trees are also among the city’s first to change color to golds and oranges. Multiple varieties of maples are common in botanical gardens and larger municipal parks such as Prospect Park, Fort Tryon and Central Park.
After that, the star-pointed leaves of sweetgums transform into a fiery bouquet of scarlet, yellow, purple and orange. Alongside them, the cherry trees turn a similar mix of hues while the hickories take on a deep gold shade.
“We're really lucky in New York City because we're at the very top of the range of sweetgums, which I think have some of the best fall foliage,” said Melissa Finley, senior curator of woody plants at the New York Botanical Gardens. “I highly recommend doing so with a cup of coffee and maybe a donut.”
The last trees to turn are the golden ginkgos and the oaks, which can transform into a range of colors including purple, brown burgundy, red and yellow. The city has mapped out all of its trees for color hunters to track the different species, including street trees.
The New York Botanical Gardens and the city parks department host fall events such as hikes, crafts and educational programs to celebrate fall. Arborists said a self-guided walk can also be a great option and suggest appreciating the street trees on the way to one of the city’s parks.
“The experience of stepping on nice crunchy leaves is such a lovely sense memory,” Finley said. “You get the sound, the texture, and the sensory. It reminds me of being a kid.”
New York City is usually late to the autumn foliage game compared to surrounding areas. The reason for that is the urban heat island effect, which makes for warmer temperatures. About 100 miles north in the Catskills, the fall colors are already at their peak, according to the statewide foliage tracker.
For an immediate rush of fall colors, New Yorkers can take Metro-North to Cold Spring or Beacon. Amtrak also has a daily train that departs from New York City and chugs through the Adirondacks, amidst the canopy of dense forests along Lake Champlain with full views of Vermont’s russet and ochre shades, and terminating in Montreal, Canada.
Tagged
Health and Science
new york city
Rosemary Misdary
Rosemary is health & science reporter. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 646-544-9524.
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