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 19–October 23
Color builds from October 10 · mostly bare by November 12
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 4 days earlier. How the forecast works
When to go to Bear Mountain State Park
Good color holds through about October 30, giving you roughly 20 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 19–October 23 (best estimate October 21). Color starts around October 10 and is mostly bare by November 12.
- 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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