It’s no secret that New York’s hiking trails are most crowded during our summer months, leading many of us to hold off on taking our favorite hikes until fall rolls around. Not only do we have a higher chance of having our most beloved trails to ourselves, we also get to enjoy the perks of not having to deal with bugs, enjoying the crisp mountain air and most of all – enjoying the gorgeous foliage. Each region of our state has their own magical spot that’s best for viewing the fall colors, but there’s one right in the Capital Region that always seems to be a fan favorite around this time of year. Check it out!

With the region's fall foliage expected to peak on October 8th, heading to Thacher State Park in the next upcoming month is a perfect day trip to plan out.
Thacher State Park/Facebook
With over 2,000-acres of land, this park features a newly built visitors center and over 12-miles of hiking trails to explore.
AMarie56/TripAdvisor
But some of the best views in the park are ones that can simply be achieved from the side of the road, with plenty of overlooks beautiful showcasing the Helderberg Escarpment.
Travel2g/TripAdvisor
And on a nice and clear day, you can even see the Empire State Plaza from the main pull of parking lot in the park that also has coin-operated binoculars that you can use to get a better look at the colors.
Thacher State Park/Facebook

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With plenty of places to pull off and enjoy the views, you'll also find plenty of picnic tables and gazebos that you can relax at while exploring this marvelous state park.
julie248/TripAdvisor
Out of all the places to enjoy the foliage though, you'll find that many New Yorkers love to hike along the Indian Ladder Trail.
Shobeir Ansari/Flickr
Bringing you behind waterfalls, up staircases, and below the cliffs, the trail is one that most who hike it consider to be easy to moderate.
Mitchell Joyce/Flickr
So whether you're looking to stretch your legs and enjoy a great hike or simply want to take a scenic drive and enjoy the beautiful lookouts, there are so many ways to soak in the colorful views of our foliage at Thacher State Park.
trwdsd/Flickr
Open all year long from sunrise to sunset, come get the best seat in the house in New York to view our state's amazing fall foliage this year.
Caitee Smith/Flickr
To view a map of the hiking trails here and to learn more about Thacher State Park, click here.

Have you ever gone leaf peeping at Thacher Park? For other amazing adventures to take this season, read about how This Waterfall Cider Mill In New York That Only Gets Better With Age!

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