Kaaterskill Falls
Trail · New York
A roughly 1-mile trail from the Laurel House Road lot climbs to New York's tallest two-tiered waterfall, a 260-foot cascade on Spruce Creek that Thomas Cole and other Hudson River School painters made the visual shorthand for Catskills autumn. Roadside parking on Route 23A is enforced, so use the lot.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 13–October 17
Color builds from September 30 · mostly bare by November 6
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Kaaterskill Falls’s own coordinates and elevation (645 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Kaaterskill Falls on the map
More things to do in New York
Central Park
City parkPeak November 1
Olmsted's 843 acres turn late for the latitude, and the park's elms, maples, and oaks usually hold color into early November. The Mall's American elm cathedral and the wooded paths of the Ramble are the classic circuits.
Don’t miss: The Mall's elm canopy · The Ramble · Bow Bridge views
Prospect Park
City parkPeak November 2
Olmsted and Vaux considered Brooklyn's 526-acre park their masterpiece. The Long Meadow's tree lines, the Ravine's woodlands, and the shores of Prospect Park Lake give it some of the city's most varied late-October color.
Don’t miss: Long Meadow · The Ravine · Lullwater bridges
New York Botanical Garden
GardenPeak November 1
The Bronx's 250-acre garden wraps fall color around the Thain Family Forest, one of New York City's last stands of old-growth woodland, with maples, tulip trees, and oaks peaking from late October into November.
Don’t miss: Thain Family Forest · Azalea Garden maples
Fort Tryon Park
City parkPeak November 1
High on a ridge over the Hudson, Fort Tryon pairs foliage with river views: the Heather Garden's late perennials under turning oaks and maples, and the Cloisters framed in gold at the park's north end.
Don’t miss: Heather Garden · Hudson River overlooks · The Cloisters
Frequently asked
- When does Kaaterskill Falls peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 13–October 17 (best estimate October 15). Color starts around September 30 and is mostly bare by November 6.
- What is Kaaterskill Falls best for?
- The Catskills' classic waterfall hike.
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