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Every fall, my Catskills Fall Foliage Report is updated weekly, direct from the Catskills—and Adirondacks!
Hi, I’m Sean. I live in the Catskills and provide on-the-ground reporting every fall foliage season.
Mid-September to mid-October is typically when it all goes down but, each year, the exact timing is a little different (and over the past few years it’s been trending a little earlier).
The Hudson Valley offers a trio of outstanding destinations for leaf-peeping locals and visitors. The Catskills, Adirondacks and Shawangunks are the crown jewels of New York’s fall foliage spectacle.
Scroll down for everything you need to know about this year’s fall foliage in the Catskills, with fresh photos direct from the hills each week.
Catskills Fall Foliage Reports 2025
Week 8: October 29-Nov 5
October 25 / Saturday — Fall foliage is definitely over in the Adirondacks, though the tamaracks/larches are hanging on gorgeously…
What Now?
If you’re still in the area, or headed here, don’t despair—there’s still lots to see and do. Check out this list of the 10 Best waterfalls in the Catskills or check this list of easy hikes.
Week 7: October 22-28
October 22 / Wednesday — Catskills fall foliage continues to bloom. This weekend should be a good one. But, overall, things do seem to be winding down.
Week 6: October 15-21
October 19 / Sunday — Today, I hiked the Central Catskills where the fall foliage is just kicking into high gear. Down low near Route 28, here’s how things were looking today…
And these photos are from Ticetonyk Mountain which is a fantastic short hike with a banger view into the Central Catskills high peaks and the Ashokan Reservoir.
Still lots of foliage to turn too…
And I took a quick spin around the Ashokan Reservoir…
Week 6 is looking good, and week 7 is on the way. Should be a good one.
Week 5: October 8-14
October 11 / Saturday — Today, I hiked Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks and, this year, once again, fall foliage is patchy up there too; at least, at elevation—down in the foothills, it’s gorgeous.
October 10 / Friday — Ahead of the weekend, I hit Kaaterskill Falls early Friday morning and found that fall foliage has progressed only a little since last week. Good stuff. Still lots of foliage left to turn. Despite the recent rain, the falls are not exactly gushing, but still beautiful to see; and more rain is on the way next week.
Week 4: October 1-7
October 8 / Wednesday — It rained pretty hard last night so, this weekend, Catskills waterfalls should be flowing well: Kaaterskill Falls, Plattekill Falls, Vernooy Falls, Buttermilk Falls, and Diamond Notch Falls.
Complicating things is a severe freeze warning Thursday night into Friday morning; we’ll have to see how that affects things. If you have fall foliage plans for anywhere in the northeast, getting there sooner rather than later would be a good call.
October 5 / Sunday — Today, to follow up on yesterday’s notes, I took a drive through both of the eastern cloves to check on the leaves. And, as expected, fall foliage is only just beginning in both.
- Kaaterskill Clove is 90% green and yellowing, 10% defoliated
- Platte Clove is similarly only at the earliest stages of yellowing
This bodes well for the next two weeks, even if other areas of the Catskills peaked this weekend. Kaaterskill Falls will be a super-busy destination this weekend; you’ll want to go and avoid the long lines, you’ll want to get there before 9am.
October 4 / Saturday — Like last year, this year’s fall foliage is a little muted and very patchy. It matters greatly exactly where you are, not just in terms of elevation but for specific areas, and even which side of a mountain you’re on. To characterize the fall foliage all over right now, I would estimate in ranges…
- Still green: 30-40+%
- Fall colors: 20-40+%
- Defoliated: 20-30+%
Up high, of course, things are further along…
Down low, the trees are mostly still quite green but with high variability from place to place, and even within the same local area.
Fall Foliage Forecast for this weekend
It’s still gorgeous out there, and the weather will remain relatively stable for the coming week. We’re running a week ahead of previous years so don’t delay your leaf peeping plans. I think we may be done by October 19 this year.
Where does Catskills fall foliage hang on the longest?
Usually in the cloves, which are more protected from the elements. That means hikes like…
- Platte Clove
- Kaaterskill Clove
For more updates, follow me on Instagram @TotalCatskills.
Looking for somewhere to stay in the Catskills?
Check out mountain-stays.com.
Plan your Catskills fall foliage hike with these helpful guides…
- Read › Best Fall Foliage Hikes in The Catskills
- Read › Hike Giant Ledge
- Read › Amazing Western Catskills Hikes
- Read › 6 Incredible Adirondack Fall Foliage Hikes
Week 3: September 24-30
September 25 / Thursday — We had very heavy rains last night and it rained hard for much of Thursday. Great for our mountains, it was badly needed. Great for our streams and waterfalls, too. They’ll be flowing beautifully over the next few days. Perfect!
September 24 / Wednesday — This is the state of play on my road in Cairo, NY this morning.
Week 2: September 17-23
September 21 / Sunday — Fall foliage is starting to bloom. It’s time to get to the Catskills. The next two weekends are gonna be the main show. It’s already looking stunning out there.
See more photos from Windham, NY here.
Looking for a place to stay while you visit? Check out mountain-stays.com/catskills/
September 20 / Saturday — I hit the Adirondacks, where fall foliage is also just kicking off. This was the view from Wright Peak…
Note: the big parking lot at High Peaks Information Center was almost full by 6:15 am. For the next few weeks, if you want a spot that’s not roadside parking, I’d advise getting there before 6:00 am.
Week 1: September 10-16
At the weekend, some friends and I bushwhacked up the side of Panther Mountain in the Catskills, and then walked out over Giant Ledge. Spectacular day. It’s the very beginning of fall foliage season.
Judging on what I’ve been seeing down low, I was worried the mountains would be further along, but they’re only starting to turn.
Here’s a view of Olana from the Rip Van Winkle Bridge that spans the Hudson River…
This weekend I’ll be in the Catskills and the Adirondacks, so I’ll have photos to share from both locations soon.
Early September
September 10 — Many websites over-report fall foliage activity. Here, I try to keep a cool head. However, this year, it does feel like we’re starting one full week early.
We’re nowhere near peak. Peak typically happens the last week of September through the first week of October, but I’ll be keeping an eye on things because, this year, it does feel different. I’ll be hiking on Sunday (9/14) and that’ll give me a sense of what’s happening at all elevations.
Down low, currently, I’m seeing some dry leaves on the ground, and some trees are starting to turn. Sumac is always the first to go off—super intense red!—as well as a few maples. These early start vibes can be put down to drought stress from this year’s overall patchy rainfall.
August 21 — It’s too early right now, but this page is already starting to pick up search traffic for the season, so I want to welcome you to the best on-the-ground Catskills fall foliage reporting direct from the Hudson Valley! Last year’s fall colors were low key mellow. Fingers crossed, this year we’ll have a banger season.
Frequently Asked Questions about Catskills Fall Foliage
When is the best time to see fall foliage in the Catskills?
Catskills foliage typically begins to peak toward the end of September and usually runs until the last week of October. However, it’s different every year — so keep an eye on this page for the latest intel and photography.
When can you see fall colors in upstate NY?
Late September and early October. But bookmark this page and check back because it’s a little different every year.
Does the Catskills have foliage in October?
Absolutely. The first two weeks of October is usually a pretty solid bet. Sometimes we get lucky and the foliage stays on the trees all month long. Every year is different.
How long does Catskills fall foliage last?
In 2021, it wound down around the end of October.
In 2022, the show was largely over by Oct 25 — though, if you knew where to look, there was still amazing foliage to be seen in some magical patches.
In 2023, it also lasted until near the end of the month.
In 2024, the mountains were just about barren by October 21.
Where is the best place to see fall foliage in upstate New York?
The great views are in the mountains. Plan on visiting the Catskills, the Adirondacks, and the Gunks.
Where’s the best place to stay for fall foliage in the Catskills?
Check out these incredible Catskills vacation rentals for an amazing stay in our world-famous mountains.
Can I see Catskills fall foliage reports from previous years?
You bet! Here they are…
- Catskills Fall Foliage Reports 2024
- Catskills Fall Foliage Reports 2023
- Catskills Fall Foliage Reports 2022
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This was great! Thank you for taking time and writing this.
Glad you liked it! Hope you can get out there to enjoy some of those amazing hikes we have!