New England Fall Road Trip (Part 1 - New York)
In October 2021 we set off on a two week road trip through New York and New England to view and photograph the famous fall foliage.
Stick around for this four part journal series in which we recount our journey through the quaint villages and towns of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Part 1: New York
New York isn’t technically considered to be a part of New England. However, when planning this trip, we decided it would be worthwhile to include a few stops in the Adirondacks since we would be so close and the fall foliage here is just as famous as in New England.
Anybody will tell you that the trickiest part about fall foliage trips is getting your dates just right. Pair that with the increasing amount of hikes and parks needing reservations nowadays and, well, planning sometimes relies heavily on luck.
We had a hiking reservation in the Adirondacks that aligned with the initial color predictions for the season, but the leaves weren’t changing fast enough due to higher temperatures in the region. We pushed it out as far as we could but last minute changes meant a new reservation was nearly impossible to snag so we took what we could get: a reservation that was only a few days later than initially planned and still not in line with peak color.
It would have been ridiculous not to take advantage of the flexibility of having a truck camper so we decided to leave as originally planned and added some new stops at the beginning of the trip. It wasn’t going to be colorful but it was better than sitting at home, so we ended up at the Finger Lakes region of New York. It did not disappoint.
It’s funny how the last minute plans almost always end up being some of the best. We spent the first few days hiking in consistent rain and although it wasn’t fun being consistently wet, it did make for great waterfall and lake photography weather and a fantastic start to our trip. Like we said, this wasn’t in our original plans so our expectations weren’t that high to begin with.
After exploring various waterfalls and lakes, we found a camp spot as we waited for our hiking reservations.
This spot outside of Lake Placid, neighboring a quiet stream, might seem like a piece of paradise and, in its own way, it was. What you can’t see (or more accurately, can’t hear), is the main highway in and out of town just a few yards away.
It definitely gave a certain ambience to our stay, but given the proximity to town and the other sites we came to see, we couldn’t complain and made it a two night stay.
After a few days, we finally made it to our first big highlight of the trip and one of the most popular destinations for those seeking out fall foliage in the northeast. Our expectations were high for this one. This hike was 10 miles round-trip and every mile held beautiful fall color, creeks, bridges, and stunning views!
But as we already said, the rain hadn’t let up since we arrived and this day was no exception. We had centered our plans around this one hike thus far so we decided to go for it anyways and hoped for the best.
When we got to the top we were welcomed by heavy fog that had no plans of clearing. The fog was great for waterfalls, but not so much for a summit view.
The views at the top of a hike are always rewarding and why we set out on the hike in the first place, but we would do this hike all over again if we could (fog and all). What do they say… “It’s not the view it’s the experience.” (We just made that up but you get the point). We think the biggest takeaway here is how quickly plans can change and how important it is to be flexible when you travel. We didn’t let this ruin our day or the trip for that matter and believe us, it easily could have if we let it. This just means we have to go back another year.
If we had stopped at every mirror-like lake, rushing waterfall, or road that was hugged by colorful trees, we would have never made it out of the Adirondacks.
However, we had to continue on because we knew what other amazing locations were to come.
Visit Part 2 where we pick up in Vermont.
That’s it for now!
Catch ya in the next one.
Taylor and Seth
Hi, we’re Seth and Taylor and we love sharing all things related to outdoor adventure!
We love anything that gets us outside — hiking, biking, backpack, road tripping, and so much more! We love sharing our adventures and hope it helps YOU get out to see more.
Newsletter:
Be the first to know when we release something new and sign up for our Newsletter!
Other Reads:
This photo journal invites you to explore the vibrant heart of San Francisco, a city renowned for its iconic landmarks, diverse neighborhoods, and breathtaking vistas. From the majestic Golden Gate Bridge to the charming streets of Chinatown, each image captures the essence of a city that is both timeless and ever-evolving. As you wander through these images, let the unique character and beauty of San Francisco unfold before your eyes, offering a glimpse into the spirit and stories that make this city truly unforgettable.