I don't know about you, but there might be no more beautiful place for fall foliage than the Catskills. These mountains, which are a popular summer vacation spot and turn into a top ski destination when the snow starts to fall, are in their "Goldilocks Zone" right now - there are still people coming, but the crowds are much smaller, and that means there's plenty of space to enjoy the fall colors. That's good, because this area is home to the best fall foliage hike in New York - if you can call it a hike! The Catskill Scenic Trail is a whopping 25.7-mile trail on what used to be a railroad, taking you all the way from Bloomville to Roxbury and past some of the most beautiful forests, farms, and small towns in the state. You can take just a small part of it, or if you have a bike and a lot of fortitude, embark on the best fall journey in Central New York.

The fall foliage in the Catskills is truly unparalleled, and there's a spectacular way to see it on the Catskill Scenic Trail. This 25.7-mile trail is one of New York's most famous hikes, and it gets a moderate rating from AllTrails. Many areas of it are highly accessible to beginner hikers.

The area used to be a railroad, so many areas of the trail are paved, with small bridges to make it easy to pass over water features. This gives it the feeling of a peaceful boardwalk hike - one that keeps going and going!

If you do want to take on the whole hike, though, you should be prepared for some more out-of-the-way destinations. This is a very popular biking trail, which is a lot easier than walking or running it - unless you're a marathon-runner! Dogs are welcome on the trail as long as they're on a leash.

One of the best things about the Catskill Scenic Trail is that it goes on so long that you'll come across not just nature, but small-town charm. You never know when you'll pass by a farm's pumpkin patch...

Or pass through a small town in the Catskills! This doesn't need to be a one-day adventure either - you can plan stops along the way, spend a night in a charming small town with a great restaurant and a cute motel, and then continue on your way down the best fall foliage trail in New York.

Have you taken the Catskill Scenic Trail before? Whether you've only seen a small part or conquered the whole thing, let us know about your adventure in the comments section! You can learn more about the trail on the Catskill Scenic Trail website, or see more pictures on the AllTrails trail listing. With a trail this long, a subscription to AllTrails + can help you keep on the right path with downloadable trail maps that work even if cell phone service is spotty in the region. And if you make it all the way to Roxbury, consider rewarding yourself with a night at the quirky Roxbury Motel.