9 Least-Crowded Towns In New York To Catch Fall Foliage

New York, a nearly perfect destination and the second most popular state in the US to visit last year, is overrun with worldwide summer vacationers seeking a bite of the Big Apple and iconic landmarks. The scenic fall in this northern state completes a fantastic visit for first-time tourists and city dwellers alike seeking a nature-ridden small-town escape. Thankfully, it is easy to find what you seek in the Empire States on a quick getaway, complete with pumpkins, hot drinks, cozy sweaters, and the foliage you've been dreaming about!

With breathtaking autumnal shows year after year, Mother Nature goes all out, painting the lush New York landscape through forests, state parks, and up the foothills to the peaking mountains. It vibrantly decorates the outdoors along the riverbanks and lakefronts—your favorite landscapes for any style getaway! You would never guess how quaint and picturesque New York small towns can be until you experience the dry and wet adventures in the postcard scenery for yourself! All dressed up with nature and festivities; these nine towns are the crème de la crème of NY towns for fall foliage without crowds!

Andes

Just three hours from New York City in Delaware County, historic Andes is the "Catskills Front Porch." Hidden in the heart of the northwestern Catskills, a place of natural beauty and spectacular fall foliage, the small town high up flies under the radar as an affordable destination for leaf peeping and fun attractions for any group! With vast outdoors to unwind and unplug, you can recharge post-nature on the culinary creations of the Catskills region at local restaurants and taverns with the freshest locally sourced ingredients. Attentive small businesses like eclectic shops, boutiques, and galleries welcome visitors along the Main.

From fishing and kayaking to miles of scenic hiking trails that turn into snowmobile routes, the unspoiled landscape is dotted with ponds and rivers, while the nearby golf courses, Liddle Brook and Trember Kill, offer nature at the doorstep. The Andes Rail Trail is perfect for foliage seekers, with easy and few difficult sections through a sparse deciduous forest with yellowing birches, birding opportunities, and open foothill views. From craft brews and spirits to locally produced cider at the highly rated Wayside Cider, Dragonfly 55 Epicurean Coffee Bistro serves fresh baked goods.

Callicoon

This Catskills town, bordering Pennsylvania along the immense Delaware River and Delaware Creek, is a summertime watersports paradise. Turning quiet in the fall, the lush riverbanks, green spaces, and waterfront Callicoon NY River Access welcome the leaf-peepers. The Wild Turkey Sculpture Garden and Museum is an epic garden with trails, memorable sculptures, and riverside seating areas. Dine and taste at the Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery, just north, with grand windows for the best landscape views before sundown. An hour away from the highest peaks, Callicoon offers the same magnificent sunrises, sunsets, and enchanting falltime Catskills from its own foliage-ridden Delaware River banks.

In between art galleries and antiquing, the unspoiled backroads beckon with local wildlife for your favorite dry pursuits, while boating and fishing are still on the agenda before the first snow. From flea markets and Sunday's Callicoon Farmers’ Market for local produce, wine, and cheeses to five immediate golf courses, Litt Home & Book is a spellbinding vintage goods store. For after-dinner entertainment at Peppinos, a favorite Italian restaurant by the Creek, there is the old-timey charming 1940s Callicoon Theater, Villa Roma Resort's Sopranos-themed murder mystery over the last weekend in October, or Bethel Woods Center, 15 miles away!

Ellicottville

Nestled among the picturesque hills of Western New York, this 19th-century charming town transforms into an enchanting falltime wonderland. Catch the changing leaves in the northern part at the famous Nannen Arboretum along Elk Creek—a relaxing retreat amid unique trees and shrubs, with the popular Ellicottville Village Park just across the street. A hand's reach away from the aptly named Great Valley Creek, one-square-mile Ellicottville Downtown welcomes down-to-earth hospitality for unique shopping and local festivities amid fine restaurants, a microbrewery, intriguing galleries, and historical landmarks.

With cool places like Gado Gado's Indonesian imports, Kazoo II, natural products at Nature's Remedy, as well as Alexandra and Purple Doorknob socks shops, you can find gifts for everyone! Cozy accommodations await among preserved homes and historic buildings along the quiet, tree-lined streets. You can pick pumpkins and see how cider is made at Pumpkinville until October 31 in gorgeous fall foliage to toast with Pumpkinville ale. Holiday Valley, the skiing destination here, rings in autumn with Fall Foliage weekend chairlift rides through October 30, while the Holiday Valley Beer and Wine Festival Weekend in November showcases the region's best craft brewers, wineries, and cideries with live entertainment.

Hammondsport

The Finger Lakes region is known for its fall foliage reflecting from the trail-lined banks in the bright blue waters under the clear skies in the crisp autumn breeze. At the epicenter of this scenery, the unassuming town of Hammondsport on the southern tip of the Y-shaped Keuka Lake attracts water sports enthusiasts in the summer but stays quiet in the fall. The idyllic town, a leisure travel destination since the mid-1800s with under 1,000 locals and voted the "Coolest Small Town in America," welcomes visitors along the most distinctive of all Finger Lakes, with majestic panoramas and vineyards along its steep slopes.

Paddleboarding, seaplane rides, and fishing are still relevant in the breathtaking fall time outdoors, a hop away from the charming town square and a veterans memorial. The chill downtown has something for everyone to unwind, like wine and specialty shops, cafes, and several fine restaurants, while the Glenn Curtiss Aviation Museum is just a mile outside. Pleasant Valley Wine Company from 1860, the region's first and first-bonded winery in the country, sits where the first grapes in the region were first planted in 1829. Hammondsport is where winemaking was revolutionized, and seaplanes were invented, so try both!

Hudson

Just a few miles from the Catskills and Berkshire mountains, Hudson is at the epicenter of the pristine, picture-perfect Hudson Valley. The upstate town on the beautiful Hudson River blends rustic charm with autumnal foliage of crimson, gold, and orange. Hudson Downtown is ridden with attractions in a quaint atmosphere to unwind in between leaf-peeping, like the unique Olana State Historic Site just outside or the LGBTQ-friendly cafe, Lil’ Deb’s Oasis. Hudson makes for a great day trip, with everything you seek right in town at Riverfront Park, like fall foliage along waterfront paths and boating from the docks.

For a weekend escape, consider The Wick boutique hotel, the new Piaule Catskill, closer to nature, or Hudson Milliner Guesthouse with characterful rooms. The colorful hills come alive under the clear skies for a sunny day picnic to lounge and get the most out of the fall scene with your loved ones. Catch the sunset at the riverfront and make a day of perusing Warren Street with antique shops and high-end collectible stores among friendly townsfolk. The Spotty Dog Books and Ale is a cool former 1889 C.H. Evans firehouse for books and brews, named after the Dalmatian fire dog.

Lewiston

Lewiston, the tiny town 15 minutes from Niagara Falls on the Niagara Gorge and the Niagara River, is a tranquil destination in the fall. The immense Niagara Falls State Park around the falls offers 400 acres of lush terrain with cascades, gardens, protected wildlife, and all-level hiking trails with fun attractions for the leaf-peepers. Spectacular in the autumnal embrace, leave the town's eateries, specialty shops, boutiques, and Marble Orchard Ghost Walks for after. Choose from wet and dry experiences, like the Observation Tower's stunning panoramic views and the Three Sisters Islands and Luna Island—stunningly close to the Upper Rapids.

The Cave of the Winds Gorge offers a close-up of the Bridal Veil Falls, while more foliage awaits over Whirlpool State Park and Devil's Hole State Park in the River Region, overlooking Niagara Gorge. Youngstown, along the parkway, is a great day trip, with an 18th-century Old Fort Niagara, the Haunted Fortress, and the River Region Scarecrow Expo along Center Street in October. Find Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls, USA, and Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel right in the Falls Region, while the illuminated Falls bathed in a rainbow of colors are a must-see after dinner at The Brickyard BBQ & Pub.

Olean

This largest town in Cattaraugus County, with only 14,000 people on the Allegheny River, is legendary during the peak fall season. Near the Pennsylvania border, you can enjoy easy access to the "Enchanted Mountains"—the hills surrounding the valley, many parks, and state forests nearby. Replete with greenspaces, the outdoors is at your doorstep at Allegany River Park and waterfront Gargoyle Park with trails and disc courses, while the beautiful Nine Mile Creek State Forest is just a short drive northeast. For more spectacular leaf peeping, the pet-friendly Windfall Creek State Forest and the renowned Allegany State Park are under 25 minutes away!

From the south bounding river, return to the favorite lineup of shops, dining spots, and landmarks downtown, which calls itself "cosmopolitan mixed with rural ambiance." Olean's time-worthy pursuits include the Olean Pointe Museum and Fannie Bartlett House from 1881. There are plentiful fine restaurants, cafes, and pubs for each day and evening, while the nearby campus of St. Bonaventure University adds a lively vibe to the quaint town in the fall. Just across College Street, Fred Handler Park offers a breathtaking view of the colorful hills, just a stroll away to catch the sunset riverside.

Phoenicia

Phoenicia, a real NY charmer in the fall, is a Catskills destination for leaf-peeping, with attractions you won't find anywhere else in the state. Rail Explorers offers bike rentals to explore along the beautiful, tree-laden old Ulster and Delaware Railroad parallel to the Esopus Creek. The Grand Bellevue Meal Train is a memorable and convenient fancy-themed dinner train to share your impressions after. There are plentiful sights to cover via surrounding trails for strolls, hiking, running, or biking to the Giant Ledge, Kaaterskill Falls, and Overlook Mountain.

With the best foliage from the end of September into the first half of October, make it a weekend escape to enjoy all the notable foodie spots in between that will keep you energized, like the iconic Phoenicia Diner and Brio’s for pizza. You can stay at Urban Cowboy Lodge, a boutique hotel with modern vibes and signature in-room clawfoot tubs. Woodstock Brewing is great for drinks, while the Public House at Urban Cowboy Lodge is helmed by chef Jon Adair, serving a locally sourced and vegetarian menu.

Poughkeepsie

Poughkeepsie, the only town with a footbridge across the Hudson River, is a blissful Hudson Valley destination in the fall. The world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge at Hudson State Historic Park connects to Highland over a 1.28-mile walkway with 360-degree views over the Hudson River landscape draped in autumnal scenery. With a Welcome Center on both ends and a glass-enclosed elevator, the best time to catch the colors is from October through November. The park's paths transform during Walktoberfest in October, an exciting festival with over 100 vendors to warm up with cider, farm-fresh products, and themed family fun in the crisp air.

The Locust Grove Estate, an Italianate villa from 1851, boasts a stunning nature preserve and an on-site museum. Away from the impressive Hudson River in the colorful hills, find the FDR residence in Hyde Park and the Vanderbilt Mansion just down the road. For culture, the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center on the Vassar campus and the Barrett Art Center offer permanent collections and rotating exhibits, while Main Mall Row peaks through the foliage with historical storefronts. Wings Castle stands out among other cozy B&Bs as a complement to a Halloween stay in a spooky castle.

Exploring New York State's Fall Foliage Getaways

The year-round urban paradise of New York State wakes up in the fall with peaking foliage views in October. These perfect seasonal getaway small towns are a hop away for the foliage hunters into fantastic autumnal displays! With foliage embracing landmarks like Niagara Falls and downtown streets laden with attractions under a canopy of red and yellow foliage, the crisp air, a reprieve after the summer heat, is wondrous to explore nature by day and cozy up in the evening at a cultural venue or a cafe.

From the spectacular Hudson State Historic Park in Poughkeepsie and many glorious rivers meandering through the state, you can access the lush waterside trails in the fallen leaves through the changing colors reflecting in the water from your doorstep. Botanical gardens, parks, and other green spaces stretch onto the foothills through state parks and forests and up the Catskill Mountains.