Leaf-peeping season is upon us! And for busy New Yorkers who can’t spare the time for a nature-filled trip out of town, never fear: Autumn colors are also hitting their vibrant peak right here at home. According to the Ultimate Smoky Mountains Guide, which tracks the changing leaves all over the country every fall, New York City experienced peak foliage between October 19 and October 26 — but the colors will still be blazing for weeks to come. Here are five fantastic places to see fall foliage in NYC, no trek upstate required.
Central Park
(Getty Images)
A no-brainer. Central Park is stunning all year round, of course, but it’s particularly magical in the fall, when its 18,000 trees (yes, that many!) form a glorious riot of color. Guided foliage tours are already sold out for peak week, but not to worry: The Central Park Conservancy produces a highly detailed fall-foliage map of the entire park, complete with the types of trees in each area and the colors they turn. Follow the map, or just wander — and don’t forget your camera!
1BRs Near Central Park Under $1MArticle continues below
Upper West Side
146 West 82nd Street
$740,000
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1
Yorkville
401 East 86th Street
$745,000
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1
Manhattan Valley
510 West 110th Street
$750,000
1 |
1
Central Park South
106 Central Park South
$900,000
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1
Upper West Side
49 West 96th Street
$725,000
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1
Upper West Side
205 West 89th Street
$949,000
1 |
1
Yorkville
215 East 79th Street
$925,000
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1
Lenox Hill
220 East 67th Street
$995,000
1 |
1
Lincoln Square
20 West 72nd Street
$825,000
1 |
1
Yorkville
200 East 84th Street
$975,000
1 |
1
Upper West Side
33 Riverside Drive
$850,000
1 |
1
Lenox Hill
160 East 65th Street
$785,000
1 |
1
Prospect Park
(Getty Images)
It’s directly adjacent to the renowned Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a foliage wonderland to be sure, but the park itself is well worth a leaf-looking expedition this time of year. The Prospect Park Alliance is happy to help, with an array of fall events, foliage walks, and even an Instagram-inspired photo gallery dedicated to its autumnal beauty. Tag your own pics with #ProspectPark and they might get added!
1BRs Near Prospect Park Under $1MArticle continues below
Prospect Park South
15 East 19th Street
$599,000
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1
Prospect Heights
144 Saint Marks Avenue
$535,000
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1
Prospect Heights
55 Eastern Parkway
$695,000
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1
Park Slope
426 13th Street
$950,000
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1
Park Slope
186 Prospect Park West
$749,000
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1
Windsor Terrace
135 Prospect Park South West
$725,000
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1
Windsor Terrace
651 Vanderbilt Street
$799,000
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1
Prospect Park South
500 Ocean Avenue
$529,000
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1
Prospect Heights
521 Dean Street
$625,000
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1
Park Slope
302 2nd Street
$849,000
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1
Park Slope
575 Fourth Avenue
$995,000
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1
Park Slope
1 Plaza Street West
$925,000
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1
(Getty Images)
Green-Wood Cemetery
Autumn leaves don’t need a setting as dramatic as Green-Wood to be worth seeing, but it sure doesn’t hurt. This National Historic Landmark location, always a gorgeous green oasis, becomes absolutely enchanting when fall’s vibrant reds, oranges and yellows make their appearance. The grounds are home to 8,000 trees and shrubs, so look for a good range of colors mixed in with the history.
Fort Tryon Park
(Daniel Avila/NYC Parks)
Speaking of drama, this park near the northern tip of Manhattan – home to The Cloisters – combines fabulous foliage with sweeping views of the Hudson River and the Palisades. The combination is enough to take your breath away, especially when you consider that John D. Rockefeller, who donated this land to the city in 1931, also purchased the land directly across the river from it to preserve the spectacular views.
Van Cortlandt Park
(Friends of Van Cortlandt Park)
This 1,000-plus-acre gem in the Bronx has a robust schedule of fall events to help you enjoy all it has to offer this season, including foliage and mushroom-hunting hikes with park rangers. There are many nature trails to follow as you leaf-peep, including the National Historic Landmark Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, which travels the route of the city’s original water-supply aqueduct up into Westchester.