What kind of weather can we expect? Temperatures can fluctuate dramatically between day and night with variances as great as 50°. If you are going out early, bear in mind that it may warm up to 75° or even 80° at mid-day and, likewise, if you go out during the heat of the day, when the sun goes down, the temperature may plummet amazingly fast and you don't want to be caught out on a hike without warm clothes. Dress in layers and keep extras in the car or your knapsack. Most likely the days will be temperate, about 60 – 70 degrees but the nights will be cool, dropping quickly to 30 and 40 degrees. Foliage Season generally begins in early to mid-September and ends in mid-to-late October. Peak color in some areas often coincides with Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving weekend (October 9-12, 2009). Beginning in early September, the Visitors Bureau provides weekly Foliage Reports that are updated on Wednesday’s. Color Stage Description Percent Color No Change Still green 0% Just Starting Some but low color change Up to 25% change Mid-Point Moderate but lots of color Up to 50% change Near Peak High, bright color Up to 75% change Peak Color Brilliant, full color 100% Change Past Peak Spotty conditions, dropping Finished The map displayed below indicates the approximate order that Fall Foliage occurs throughout the region and may be at its best in a particular area. Complete Foliage change in a locale typically occurs over several weeks. The Lake Placid/High Peaks Region usually begins color change early to mid-September and generally peaks near the end of September or beginning of October. Progression of color change moves steadily southward and down in elevation until mid to late October with along Lake Champlain generally being the last to change. For early foliage, start in the higher elevations such as the Lake Placid/High Peaks and Whiteface Regions. These higher elevation locations may have some trees with peak color in mid to late September. Lower elevation areas along Lake Champlain may not begin color change until a week or two later than higher elevations as indicated on the map. The lower and mid-level elevations in the Schroon Lake Region in southern and western Essex County may have some color throughout the season but may not reach peak color until early to mid-October. The Foliage Report is updated by Wednesday afternoon each week. So, bookmark this page and keep up to date on the color change of the leaves! Click on an area of the map below to receive a Foliage Report for that area:

Lake Placid | Saranac Lake Keene/Keene Valley | Lake Champlain Newcomb | Schroon Lake | Wilmington/Whiteface

Final Fall Foliage Report 2009 Wednesday, October 21 through 31, 2009 Lake Placid/High Peaks Percent of trees changed: 100% Color level: Little color...leaves have fallen. Predominant colors: A few yellow, gold and rust leaves. Rating: Past peak. Comments/Best Viewing Locations: Along roadways, still some color between Lake Placid and Wilmington. Events: Keene/Keene Valley Percent of trees changed: 98-100%+ Color level: Dull, little color remaining. Predominant colors: Mostly gold, yellow and browns. Rating: Past Peak. Comments/Best Viewing Locations: Events: Lake Champlain Percent of trees changed: 100% Color level: Patches of brilliant color. Predominant colors: Variety of red, yellow and orange. Rating: Peak to past peak. Comments/Best Viewing Locations: Events: Newcomb Percent of trees changed: 100% Color level: Not much color, trees mostly bare or dull. Predominant colors: What remains is yellow, tan, brown, although larches are starting to turn golden now, and they should be quite nice in a week or so. Rating: Past peak. Comments/Best Viewing Locations:   Events: Saranac Lake Percent of trees changed: 100% Color level: Few leaves remain...mostly fallen. Predominant colors: Some yellow, gold, rusts, and browns. Rating: Past peak. Comments/Best Viewing Locations: Events: Schroon Lake Percent of trees changed: 100% Color level: Some color left, average with some bright splashes of color. A few trees are brilliant red. Predominant colors: Some red splashes, mostly orange, golden, yellow and rust, muted colors but beautiful! Rating: Past peak. Comments/Best Viewing Locations: -at Schroon Lake Town Beach overlooking our lake and mountains -I-87 - the Northway southbound overlook at rest area between Exits 28 & 27 -I-87 - the Northway northbound at rest area near Exit 27 -I-87 - the Northway northbound rest area - High Peaks in North Hudson area north of Exit 29 -I-87 - the Northway southbound rest area - High Peaks in North Hudson area south of Exit 30 -Blue Ridge Road from North Hudson to Newcomb - scenic country road -stop at Blue Ridge Falls -stop at Adirondack Buffalo Farm to view the fall foliage, see the buffalo, visit their vegetable & baked goods stand Comments: Some beautiful colors left especially at Schroon Lake Town Beach overlooking our lake and mountains. Visit our bandstand in the town park by the lake and view the colors across the lake and enjoy the views of the mountains in their colorful array. Events: Wilmington/Whiteface: Percent of trees changed: 100% Color level: Average to dull. Predominant colors: Brown, golds and yellows. Rating: Past peak. Comments/Best Viewing Locations: still some nice spots looking up towards Whiteface, along the Ausable between Wilmington and Lake Placid. Events: