This is peak fall foliage season in New York City, through early November.
Parks and gardens in all five boroughs have geared up with ways for visitors to find the best technicolor displays, including FREE guided walks by Urban Park rangers, and special color cams that track the ever-changing oranges and reds.
Here’s where to find the best fall foliage, alphabetically, by borough.
Where to see fall foliage in Bronx
The New York Botanical Garden
The 250-acre Bronx garden has introduced a Fall Color Cam, where you can follow the changing of the leaves from the comfort of your home.
There also are guided walks of the 50-acre Thain Family Forest for two weekends in November and a private 90-minute tour of the garden via golf carts called Gram the Garden Tour.
- photo of fall foliage courtesy New York Botanical Garden
Wave Hill
On November 3 and 7, Wave Hill’s horticultural interpreter, Charles Day, will lead a fall foliage walk through the park and talk about his favorite trees and shrubs throughout the 28-acre public garden.
Best NYC sightseeing tours for visitors
Where to see fall foliage in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Check this guide for what to look for this season, which includes the Katsura Tree, one of the oldest in the garden; the scarlet oaks flanking the Cherry Esplanade; and the Hybrid Tea Roses in the Cranford Rose Garden.
Prospect Park
Urban ranger from the city’s Parks Department lead a fall foliage hikes of about 90 minutes, explaining why leaves change color, and about the variety of trees throughout the park and the 30,000 acres of parkland in New York City.
The Prospect Park Alliance, the steward organization of the park, also offers suggested fall foliage walks, a guide to foliage change colors, and weekly family nature programs.
Where to see fall foliage in Manhattan
See our posting on best fall foliage in Manhattan, including Central Park, Riverside Park and Inwood Hill Park
Where to see fall foliage in Queens
Queens Botanical Garden
Artist Chemin Hsiao will ask attendees to take inspiration from the colors of the changing fall foliage for a class on October 20 called Watercolor Workshop: Autumn Color. Hsiao will uses changing colors to teach the basic techniques of watercolor painting at the garden itself.
Where to see fall foliage in Staten Island
Greenbelt
This natural treasure in the heart of Staten Island has some 35 miles of walking trails along the crest of the Serpentine Ridge and through one of the last undisturbed forests in New York City. You’ll see a wide variety of native trees, as well as a rare species of fern, glacial ponds, and a 16-acre lake. Keep your eyes peeled for any animals and birds making their home in the forest. Trees to see are oak, hickory, beech, maple, sweetgum, and tulip trees.
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