Bear Mountain State Park
State park · New York
The Hudson Highlands' oak and hickory forests peak in mid-to-late October. Drive or hike to Bear Mountain's summit for the view over the river's S-curve, or walk the loop around Hessian Lake under the ridgeline.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 22–October 26
Color builds from October 9 · mostly bare by November 15
Sampled at Bear Mountain State Park’s own coordinates and elevation (350 m) rather than a regional average.
This window comes from 27 weather points across New York, nudged 2 days later to match 2 published peak dates from smokymountains.com and almanac.com. Against New York's own climatology, the 2026 weather puts the peak 1 day earlier. How the forecast works
When to go to Bear Mountain State Park
Good color holds through about November 2, giving you roughly 24 days from the first turn to past peak. That is about 9 days later than New York as a whole. The 1,148 ft elevation accounts for most of the difference.
It is roughly 42 mi out of New York City.
Bear Mountain State Park on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of New York, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in New York
Leaves & views
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Frequently asked
- When does Bear Mountain State Park peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 22–October 26 (best estimate October 24). Color starts around October 9 and is mostly bare by November 15.
- How do I get to Bear Mountain State Park?
- The closest city is New York City, about 42 mi away. It's part of New York's fall lineup.
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