Peak leaf season has crested in the Adirondacks. The new I LOVE NY fall foliage report — covering October 7 through 13 — puts color percentages up nearly everywhere from last week, with Tupper Lake at 90–95% and Mt. Arab, Lake Pleasant, and Long Lake all at 100%. But the phase has shifted: most northern and interior spots are now just past peak rather than approaching it.
If you haven’t gotten your leaf-peeping drive in yet, don’t wait — but there’s still good color to be had if you pick your spots.
Where the color is right now
The headline numbers from this week’s report:
- Tupper Lake (Franklin County): 90–95%, just past peak
- Mt. Arab (St. Lawrence County): 100%, just past peak
- Old Forge (Herkimer County): 85–90%, peak to just past peak
- Whiteface Mountain: ~85%, just past peak · Wilmington: 95%, still at peak
- Lake Pleasant: 100%, past peak · Long Lake: 100%, just past peak
- Saranac Lake: 95%, still at peak
And the local angle: Wanakena, in St. Lawrence County, is at 85% and just past peak — but Star Lake and Cranberry Lake should hit peak this weekend, right in the tri-county’s backyard. Closer to home, Glenfield in Lewis County is at 75% and near peak, and Potsdam is at 75% too. The High Peaks may be fading, but the tri-county still has color ahead.
What to know before you go
The peak has passed up north — but the season isn’t over. Saranac Lake and Wilmington are still at full peak, Benson is at 90% and peaking, and Star Lake/Cranberry Lake should peak this coming weekend. Aim for those.
Peak doesn’t happen everywhere at once. The most advanced color was concentrated in the northern and interior Adirondacks; areas farther south and at lower elevations still have most of their show ahead. This isn’t a one-weekend affair — but the northern zones are now on the back side.
Weekends draw crowds. Like the salmon run down in Pulaski, peak foliage weekends bring traffic to the popular corridors. An early start or a weekday trip makes for a much calmer drive.
For the full regional breakdown, the I LOVE NY foliage report is updated weekly with observer reports from across the state.
Planning a drive? Our Chasing Fall Color in the Adirondacks guide covers the routes and overlooks worth your time.