9 great places to go leaf-peeping if you don’t have a car

Published Oct 15, 2023 at 9:01 a.m. ET

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Published Oct 15, 2023 at 9:01 a.m. ET

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One of the year’s greatest pleasures for local nature lovers has returned: fall foliage season. As the weather cools and the days shorten, trees lose their chlorophyll and deliver a visual feast of yellows, oranges, reds and browns. But for the many New Yorkers without cars, taking in the beauty of, say, the Adirondacks may not be a practical option.

The good news? There are plenty of places within New York City and nearby that boast good views and are accessible via public transit. Besides, the world doesn’t need more masses of Instagrammers forcing small towns to shut down scenic roads. There’s plenty of fall to go around.

While the year’s heavy rains may slightly mute the colors, fall 2023 still promises to deliver. But wherever you decide to go, make sure to do so in the next few weeks: Last year’s NYC foliage peak arrived on Nov. 5.

Here are nine scenic spots that don’t require you to rent a car.

Who needs the Adirondacks? Go leaf-peeping in Fort Tryon Park.

Most New Yorkers know Fort Tryon Park as the location of the Cloisters, but when fall arrives, it’s the perfect place to see leaves on both banks of the Hudson. You can take in the colors amid the Cloisters’ medieval vibe before hitting the Heather Garden, which is bordered by perennial trees that should be in full autumn mode. J.D. Rockefeller bought up the land that would become Fort Tryon Park in the early 1900s specifically because of its unparalleled views of the Hudson and the New Jersey Palisades, and the beauty has scarcely changed in the century since.

How to get there: Take the A train to 190th Street or the 1 train to Dyckman Street.

Adventurous foliage chasers don’t have to limit themselves to New York City parks. Just north of the Bronx, along the Hudson River in Yonkers, lies Untermyer Gardens Conservancy. The free public park features meticulously manicured gardens surrounded by perennial trees. Be sure to check out the Persian Pool, and after a long day of leaf peeping in the wilds of Yonkers, you can grab a drink at Yonkers Brewing Company – right next to the train station – while you wait for your ride back to the city.

How to get there: take the 1 train to 242nd Street in the Bronx, then catch the northbound No. 2 Westchester Bee Line bus on Broadway. The Bee Line accepts cash and MetroCards.

Forest Park in Queens has “forest” right there in the name!

With more than 165 acres of trees, Forest Park is sure to satisfy your foliage cravings. It’s also one of the few places in the city where you can rent a horse to explore Forest Park’s bridle paths, which is truly a unique way to take in the fall colors. To complete the autumn experience and create your own mini-Oktoberfest, you can take a walk down Myrtle Avenue to Zum Stammtisch, a restaurant serving traditional German fare and beer.

Forest Park is accessible via several city bus lines, and it’s also about a mile walk from the J train stop at the 111th Street stop.

While it’s still technically part of New York City, Hunter Island feels about as far away from Times Square as Montana. Part of Pelham Bay Park, the city’s largest park, Hunter Island is a 220-acre sanctuary that features oaks, hickories, and black birch, among others. To experience the fullness of the island’s lush forest, try following the Kazimiroff Nature Trail. This trek requires a bit more walking (about 1.5 miles from the bus stop), since you’ll be disembarking at City Island, but after a long day of autumn foliage viewing you can check out one of City Island’s many seafood restaurants, such as the City Island Lobster House.

How to get there: Take the 6 train to Pelham Bay Park, then hop on the Bx29 bus to City Island Ave/Kilroe Street.

Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, is a day trip away from the city.

"Country Living" named Mountain Lakes one of the nation's best towns for leaf peeping. Once you get off at the NJ Transit Mountain Lakes station, it’s only about a half-mile walk to Mountain Lake, where you can gaze at the foliage lining the shores. Halsey Frederick Park is also within walking distance; before you go, check out the extensive hiking and walking trails in the area to make the most of your outdoor experience.

How to get there: Take NJ Transit’s Montclair-Boonton Line to Mountain Lakes. A one-way trip from Midtown takes about two hours.

The 24-acre enclave in Bay Ridge more than compensates for its small size with incredible views. The Manhattan skyline and Verrazzano Bridge provide the backdrop for the foliage on display, and another highlight is the remarkable S-shaped tulip poplar, which the parks department claims “defies gravity.” If you’re feeling ambitious, you can make the approximately two-and-a-half-mile walk from Owl’s Head Park along the shoreline promenade to the Verrazano Bridge, taking in the trees along the way.

How to get there: Several MTA buses have stops near the park; you can also take the R train to Bay Ridge Avenue; from there it’s about a half-mile walk.

Staten Island has scenic views of fall foliage at Clove Lakes Park.

Even Staten Island deserves to claim a piece of fall’s abundance. There’s no better place to find it than at Clove Lakes Park, which, as the name suggests, features three small lakes (including Clove Lake) that create an idyllic setting on an otherwise bustling island. Clove Lakes Park is also home to what NYC Parks calls “Staten Island’s largest living thing,” an enormous tulip tree that’s more than 300 years old. If the flora fails to satisfy you, the Staten Island Zoo sits just off the northern border of the park, so you can add fauna to your journey as well.

How to get there: Several express buses head to Clove Lakes Park from Downtown Manhattan. The trip takes under an hour.

The train station drops you close enough to downtown to explore shops and walk along Mystic River, but if you’re dead set on fall leaves and only fall leaves, you can take a car service to Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. And, of course, while you’re there you might as well stop in for a slice at Mystic Pizza, the little pizza shop that made Julia Roberts famous.

How to get there: Take Amtrak’s Northeast Regional to Mystic. A one-way trip from Midtown takes about three hours.

Cold Spring is just a 90-minute train ride away from Manhattan.

The foliage tracker shows that colors are heating up in the Hudson Valley. While there are a seemingly infinite number of quaint towns and pristine views on New York’s longest river, Cold Spring is a great option for its ease of access: Once you get off the train in Cold Spring, you can walk about a mile to the Washburn Trail, or even less to the Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Refuge. The latter has fewer actual trees, but you’ll get a beautiful look up and down the Hudson. Seasoned hikers might also want to take the Hudson Line one extra stop to Breakneck Ridge. That can get crowded, so if you go that route, leave early to beat the crowds.

How to get there: Take Amtrak’s Hudson Line to Cold Spring. The trip takes about 1.5 hours from Grand Central Terminal.

If you’re looking for even more information, you can stay up to date with this year’s fall foliage progression by regularly checking the Fall Foliage Report, published by the New York State Division of Tourism office. You can also find city-specific foliage reports by following @nycparks on Twitter and by checking the hashtag #FallforNYC. Those traveling the nation in search of the most beautiful autumn backdrops can keep track of trends via the Smoky Mountains’ Fall Foliage Prediction Map.

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