If you’re looking for picturesque autumn scenery, these locations offer stunning fall foliage and unique landscapes. Set your sites on a sunny day to truly highlight the colors. In the Finger Lakes region, due to our proximity to the lakes, the two weeks on either side of Halloween (late October through early November) are perfect for witnessing peak fall foliage changes or plant senescence. With diminishing daylight and temperature, the trees hasten their colorful leaf transitions before losing them altogether.
Harriet Hollister Spencer
Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreational Area is located on Canadice Hill, six miles south of Honeoye Lake. It offers one of the best scenic views of the lake. If mobility is a challenge, you can also take in the view from your car.
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Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area
Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area is a New York State Park located in the hills six miles south of Honeoye Lake.
Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery is a special place all year round, but there’s something about fall that turns it into a virtual painting. Learn about the arboretum during the late-October Autumn Foliage at Mount Hope tour.
Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park spans 14,350 acres along the Genesee River. It takes 30 minutes to drive the 16-mile Park Road from the Mount Morris entrance to the Glen Iris. Be sure to stop and enjoy the unique views at each overlook.
The Jump-Off
The Jump-Off Trail in Ontario County Park is ADA-accessible and affords one of the most beautiful scenic views in the Finger Lakes Region. CR-33 West Hollow Road is below, making an incredibly scenic drive, especially when heading to the Naples Grape Festival.
Durand Eastman Arboretum
Though you can enjoy a drive through Durand Eastman Park, stopping at several small parking lots along the way, it is best explored on a bike (paved roads only) or on foot. Three main foot trails take you around the park’s largest lakes.
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Durand Eastman Park’s 977 acres include an arboretum, hiking trails around Durand and Eastman Lakes, and a swimming beach on Lake Ontario.
Explore The Lake Ontario Seaway Trail
The Lake Ontario Seaway Trail runs along the southern Lake Ontario shoreline, from Fort Niagara in Youngstown to Fort Ontario in Oswego.
Genesee Valley Park
Genesee Valley Park is a Frederick Law Olmsted-designed park located at the intersection of the Erie Canal, Red Creek, and Genesee River. The foliage along the river, canal, and stone bridges makes for a visually stimulating walk or bike ride.
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Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1888, find Genesee Valley Park where the Erie Canal, Red Creek, and Genesee River intersect.
Rochester’s Olmsted-Designed Parks
Rochester is fortunate to be one of a handful of American cities with a park system comprised of Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks.
Highland Park
Highland Park offers a more intimate way to appreciate the fall foliage and other seasonal changes, with unique structures and plant life to admire.
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Highland Park has been described as a museum of exotic trees, many of which are the tallest of their species in the state, though few are native.
A Range of Possibilities: Exploring Rochester’s Pinnacle Hills
The Pinnacle Range along Rochester’s southern border is a glacial moraine created by the retreating Wisconsin Glacier 12,000 years ago.
🍎 Apple Everything! Rochester’s Best Ciders, Fry Cakes, Fritters, Pies, and More
Come September, we begin to crave all things apple: cider, donuts, fritters, hard cider, pie, and warm cinnamon fry cakes.
🎃 Pumpkin Patches & Farms Around Rochester
Experience the perfect autumn day at our Rochester-area pumpkin farms with wagon rides, fresh apple cider and donuts, and corn mazes.
22 Fabulous Fall Hikes in Monroe County
My favorite fall hikes offer a variety of landscapes and scenic views, including rivers, forests, and peaceful surroundings.
Scenic train rides, leaf-peeping, bird migrations, and ghost walks happen only in autumn in Rochester—take advantage of them while you can!
Rochester in Bloom: Where and When to Experience The Flower City’s Seasonal Beauty
Rochester in Bloom is a comprehensive guide to Rochester’s bold botanicals, offering information on what blooms, when, and where to find them.
🧟 Paranormal Activities: Our Favorite Haunts for 2024
There is something about October that piques our interest in paranormal activities. Explore the other side of Rochester!
These day trips are filled with carefully chosen options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as memorable experiences and events.
Geologic History of the Rochester Area
These day trips into Rochester’s geologic history will remind you just how amazing our corner of the Earth is.
Where are your favorite places to observe the fall foliage changes around Rochester?
Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.
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People often ask me if I get free access to places while exploring. The answer is no unless I’m invited to previews or granted behind-the-scenes access as part of my media role. Generally, I don’t mention my project, Day Trips Around Rochester, NY, because I want the same experience you would have. I create and share content simply because it brings me joy.
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Enjoy the Journey Together!
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Any info on bus tours or train rides to see fall foliage?
It may be too soon for companies to announce any, with the uncertainty as the pandemic evolves. I took a quick look at Arcade & Attica RR and they have their autumn schedule up: https://www.aarailroad.com/train-rides/