There is a place where the leaves are always turning, and it’s not in New England. It’s in the Hudson Valley of New York State. For many years, people have been coming worldwide to see the beautiful colors that only autumn can bring. From Albany to Kingston, there are so many things to do and places to go this time of year that you won’t ever want to leave! Here are the best things to do in the Hudson Valley in the Fall.
Hudson Valley Fall Foliage at a Glance
Typical foliage season: Late September through early November
Most likely peak: Mid-October, although the timing changes every year
Recommended time: One day for a small area or two to three days for a Hudson Valley weekend
Best Overall Foliage Views
Minnewaska State Park Preserve
Best Easy Walk
Walkway Over the Hudson
Best Historic Estate
Olana State Historic Site
Best View from the Water
A Hudson River sightseeing cruise
Best Family Fall Event
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Best Day Trip from New York City
Bear Mountain or Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow
Important: Fall color reaches the northern Hudson Valley and higher elevations first, then gradually moves south. Check the weekly New York foliage report before finalizing your trip.
Where is the Hudson Valley?
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The Hudson Valley follows the Hudson River north from Westchester County to the Albany area. Because it covers such a large part of New York, it is generally divided into the Lower, Mid and Upper Hudson Valley.
The region includes Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer and Albany counties. The main cities in this valley are Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Albany, New Paltz, and more.
If seeing fall color is the main reason for your visit, these are some of the best places to start:
Minnewaska State Park Preserve: The combination of brilliant leaves, white cliffs and Lake Minnewaska makes this one of the most spectacular fall destinations in the Hudson Valley.
Walkway Over the Hudson: This pedestrian bridge gives you wide-open views of the Hudson River and the colorful hills on both sides.
Bear Mountain State Park: Drive to Perkins Memorial Tower or explore one of the park’s trails for sweeping views across the Hudson Highlands.
Storm King Mountain: The roads and overlooks around Storm King offer beautiful views of the river surrounded by steep, forested mountains.
Olana State Historic Site: The hilltop grounds provide panoramic views across the Hudson River toward the Catskill Mountains.
Planning tip: The Hudson Valley covers a large area, so don’t try to visit all of these in one day. Choose two or three places that are close together and leave time to enjoy the views.
Here are the very best things to do in the Hudson Valley this fall:
Visit The Olana Museum
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The Olana Museum was established by painter Frederic Church who was one of the leading Hudson River School artists. He made sure that his house had many paintings and sculptures that showed Hudson Valley’s landscape as it looked from 1852 to 1860 when he moved to this house. Today, you can visit this museum to see how the arts were practiced back then!
The tour is part historic home tour, part garden tour, and part museum. If you are interested in early American painters, you absolutely must visit!
Plan on 2 hours.
Hyde Park- Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Hyde Park is a huge part of American history. It was the home and political center of one of America’s greatest presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The house has been preserved in all its glory and houses many family heirlooms like his presidential seal.
Visitors are welcome to walk through the beautiful expanse of the property to see FDR’s library and first-class bedroom. The grounds are beautiful, and there is plenty of space to play. The home has been converted into a museum for visitors, and it offers many educational programs that discuss the period in which FDR lived and his political views.
Check the website to see when certain kid-friendly events are happening.
Eleanor Roosevelt Historic Home Site
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While you are visiting FDR’s home, you can also visit Eleanor Roosevelt’s home. It is located just minutes away and served as her private retreat before becoming her permanent home after Franklin Roosevelt’s death. The home gives visitors a glimpse into the life of Eleanor Roosevelt from childhood to adulthood.
The property is preserved in its natural state, so you will be able to see things like gardens with her favorite flowers that she planted, as well as hammocks where she would read books during relaxing summer days.
Visit the Culinary Institute of America
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For those who love cooking and great food, the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) might be just the place. It is one of the most prestigious culinary schools on the planet and was founded in 1946 by Frances Roth and Katharine Angell with the mission to train world-class chefs and restaurateurs through an intensive curriculum.
CIA’s campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities like five working restaurants where students learn real-life skills while serving quality food prepared by master chefs; they also offer continuing programs for those looking to become a chef or for people looking to gain experience in food service management.
Their campus is located on the Hudson River, where you can enjoy breathtaking river views while learning to cook up a storm. If you book early you can eat at one of the restaurants on the campus, but generally, you need to book over a month early! If you go during the week, you can peek in at some of the best up-and-coming chefs!
Take a tour of West Point
West Point has been training America’s future military leaders for 200+ years and prides itself in academics, athletics, and a strong sense of duty. If you want to see how cadets train or want to tour the grounds, this fall is your chance to visit one of America’s oldest military academies!
The tour takes you through the beautiful campus, and you will learn about West Point’s history. You will see their famous chapel, library, and barracks while learning how these buildings have trained future leaders for decades.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is an incredible art exhibit with more than 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins with magical creations inside them all along a mile-long trail. This Halloween event will be taking place at Van Cortland Estate and is the highlight of the Fall season in the Hudson Valley.
This is an absolute must-see event!! We have gone over ten times and still are wowed.
Every year, the dates are extended to earlier and later in the year, but as of this writing, the dates are mid-September to Thanksgiving. Later tickets are easier to get, and weeknights are easier as well!
Minnewaska State Park Preserve is one of the country’s finest destinations for hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing. New York State purchased the original property in 1987, and the preserve has since expanded to more than 24,000 acres.
The land includes Minnewaska Mountain, which contains an old-growth forest with over 200 species of plants. There are many amazing attractions to explore, including waterfalls, cliffs, lakes, and trails that are excellent for rock climbing. This is one of the best Hudson Valley Hikes.
If you want to see a panorama of beautiful fall foliage, this should be on your Hudson Valley in the Fall list!
Mohonk Mountain House
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Another great place to visit is Mohonk Mountain House, a destination since 1869. Visitors come from around the world to enjoy the natural beauty, stunning waterfalls on the property, and stunning views. I have stayed here twice and I can’t explain how beautiful it is. The mountains with the lake and all the beautifully landscaped gardens. It might be my favorite weekend getaway.
Mohonk Mountain House has a rich history, and more famous people have stayed here than you would believe, including William Taft, Booker T. Washington, Rutherford B. Hayes, Andrew Carnegie, and so many more.
It also holds many different types of architecture with its Victorian style as well as its medieval revival architecture. People enjoy visiting Mohonk for their amazing spa services, hiking trails, relaxing inns, and various buildings on the property.
You can get a hiking day pass to spend some time on the beautiful trails. It does not include access to the house however.
Visit Kykuit, one of the historic Rockefeller mansions home to 4 generations of Rockefellers. Kykuit means “lookout” in Dutch.
Kykuit is open for tours and is located about 30 miles north of New York City in Pocantico Hills. The mansion is perfectly preserved and allows visitors to see what life was like at that time period by exploring its plentiful 800 acres. The gardens have been meticulously maintained and have some fine sculptures in them.
The tour is more expensive than many historic home tours, but the tour is truly worth it. The garden tour alone is worth it!
Tips: We have taken our children to Kykuit, and I don’t think I would do it again. They were completely bored. If you have older children or ones who are better behaved than mine, you might want to try.
Note: Kykuit tours are on hiatus for 2026 and are expected to resume under new management in 2027.
Vanderbilt Mansion
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Visit the Vanderbilt Mansion, and you will get to admire the architecture of this home. It has been a National Historic Landmark since 1940; it is one of the most important historical landmarks in America, and you can spend several hours walking around the estate, which features pathways, lawns, and immaculate gardens.
Unlike the mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park is much simpler in design and function. (Not that it isn’t spectacular in its own way!)
There are always many events at the historic Vanderbilt Mansion, so inquire about what seasonal dates and activities they have for you.
Bannerman Castle
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Want an awesome place to check out with your friends? Then visit Bannerman Castle! This castle was built by Francis Bannerman VI, who owned Bannerman’s military surplus in New York. He built it at the turn of the century to hold all his weapons. It is on a small island in the Hudson River.
A guided walking tour takes you past the castle ruins, restored gardens and the Bannerman family residence.
Bannerman Island is open to the public as a historic site for tours and because it hosts events such as weddings on weekends during the summer. They also offer movie nights, theatrical experiences and more!
Take a Fall Foliage Train Ride
If you want to enjoy the leaves without doing any hiking, take a fall train ride on the Catskill Mountain Railroad. The trains leave from Kingston and travel through the colorful landscape of the Hudson Valley and Catskills.
The railroad offers its Fall Foliage Adventure Train on select dates in late September and October. Families can also look for the Pumpkin Express later in the season. Fall rides are popular, so check the current schedule and purchase tickets in advance.
One-Day Hudson Valley Fall Foliage Itinerary
If you only have one day, begin at Bear Mountain State Park and drive to the top of Perkins Memorial Drive for views across the Hudson Highlands. The road is generally open during fall, weather permitting.
Continue north to Storm King Art Center, where you can see enormous outdoor sculptures surrounded by fall color. Afterward, drive to the Highland entrance of Walkway Over the Hudson and walk as much of the bridge as you would like.
Finish your day in New Paltz, where you can have dinner or stop for cider and apple cider donuts. This route gives you mountain views, fall foliage along the Hudson River and one of the prettiest small towns in the area without trying to cover the entire Hudson Valley in one day.
Fall Festivals in Hudson Valley, NY
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Hudson Valley in New York is also known as one of the best places to visit this time of year because it has an abundance of fun fall festivals.
Popular options include the Bethel Woods Harvest Festival and several autumn events at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, including the New York State Sheep & Wool Festival.
Pick apples in Hudson Valley this Fall at one of the dozens of pick-your-own orchards in the area. Most offer great prices for pick-your-own baked goods, cider donuts, pumpkins, and even hay mazes.
Take a Hudson River Sightseeing Cruise and see some of the most spectacular leaves on either side of you as you cruise up and down the Hudson River. These cruises are super popular in the fall, so book as soon as possible to be able to enjoy the beauty of the Hudson Valley in the Fall.
Peak foliage in the Hudson Valley usually occurs around the middle of October. Higher elevations and northern areas generally change first, while the lower Hudson Valley may remain colorful into late October or early November. Check New York’s weekly foliage report before your trip because timing varies each year.
Is October a good time to visit the Hudson Valley?
October is one of the best times to visit. The weather is generally comfortable for walking and hiking, fall events are underway and the foliage is usually at its most colorful. Weekends can be extremely busy, so visit during the week if possible.
Can you visit the Hudson Valley without a car?
You can reach towns such as Tarrytown, Peekskill, Cold Spring, Beacon and Poughkeepsie using Metro-North. However, many parks, orchards and historic estates are difficult to reach without a car. A car is the easiest option if you want to visit several places in one trip.
How many days do you need in the Hudson Valley?
You can enjoy one part of the Hudson Valley on a day trip, but two or three days will give you time to see the foliage, visit a historic site and enjoy a fall activity without spending the entire trip driving.
No matter which items you choose to see and experience in the Hudson Valley, you are in for a treat if you do it during Fall Foliage Season. I hope you enjoy it and let me know what you did and what you thought!
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