October 06, 2012

Fall is a wonderful time to hike in the Adirondacks. Biting insects are non-existent. Daytime weather is still relatively warm and the nights are crisp and cool. And the leaves offer a kaleidoscope of changing colors before your eyes. There are also still birds to enjoy while you are out, and summer crowds have thinned.

And while this past week has been rather rainy – correction, very rainy – overcast days offer some of the best opportunities for fall foliage photos. After all, leaf colors can get bleached out in bright light. So it is always a good time to go – regardless of the weather. And, while the past week's rain has hastened us past leaf peak, I find that the as the leaves fall, the ground becomes a mosaic of shape and color and I spend my time photographing what is under my feet as well as what I see on the surrounding hills.

Big-toothed aspen leaf
A big-toothed aspen leaf (the bright yellow leaf in the center) sticks out from the dark red of red maple leaves.

Some folks may shy away from long hikes, but is not necessary to take a long hike in order to enjoy the fall. Fall is all around us, meaning that even a short walk in the neighborhood could suffice if you have a time crunch. But if you want to really admire the hillsides still aglow with fall color, then you need to get out and perhaps go up for a better view. And while that could mean a hike in places like the High Peaks (always a good choice), there are plenty of easier options out there for those less inclined for a hard climb.

For instance, The Bloomingdale Bog Trail in Saranac Lake is a great flat walk through deciduous forest before reaching the bog. The Paul Smith's College VIC has a huge network of trails – all festooned in fall foliage finery. Baker Mountain in Saranac Lake is less than a mile long and grants excellent views of nearby lakes and the Village of Saranac Lake itself. West of Saranac Lake, Ampersand Mountain is more difficult climb of about 2.7 miles with a commanding view of the Saranac Lakes and the High Peaks at the summit. Down in Keene, Baxter Mountain is just 1.1 miles to the top from the trailhead on Route 9N, with the steepest portion of the trail near the top, where there is a very nice view. In Lake Placid, the Northville-Placid Trail on Averyville Road gives hikers an easy, rolling trail that winds them through a beautiful mixed-deciduous forest. And then there's the Jackrabbit Trail, with a number of trailheads in the area, the Copperas Pond Trail in Wilmington Notch, and even a short hike into Marcy Dam in the High Peaks.

Bloomingdale Bog Fall
The Bloomingdale Bog Trail is a great place for a fall walk with your best friend.

And those trails are only just the beginning. Fall hikes do not need to be long or difficult, but enjoying fall does require getting out. Pick any trail you want – you will not go wrong. After all, there may be no better place to enjoy fall than on the trail.

Big-toothed aspen leaf
A big-toothed aspen leaf (the bright yellow leaf in the center) sticks out from the dark red of red maple leaves.
Bloomingdale Bog Fall
The Bloomingdale Bog Trail is a great place for a fall walk with your best friend.

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