Ask an Agent: Prime Spots for Leaf-Peeping in the Northeast
by Grace Cassidy
October 2025
According to this year’s edition of Explore Fall’s Foliage Map, this first week of October marks the beginning of peak leaf-peeping season in the northeast of the U.S. To find out the best places to enjoy a glorious blaze of autumnal color in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, we reached out to our experts on the ground: the Douglas Elliman agents who live and work in those communities.
Massachusetts
Mohawk Trail — North Adams, Mass.
“The Mohawk Trail is incredible,” says Wellesley, Mass.-based agent Erin Abraham, of this Western Massachusetts scenic byway—the first scenic road in all of New England, opening in 1914 and stretching 75 miles through Massachusetts and New York.
With over 50,000 acres of state parks and forests in its surroundings, the Mohawk Trail offers endless places to enjoy along the route.
“The burst of fall colors along the scenic winding roads takes you through quaint towns with coffee shops, great restaurants, adorable inns, and my favorite – a classic country store,” Abraham says. “There are also so many places to hike and historic spots to explore.”
Bald Hill Conservation Area — Andover, Mass.
Situated just north of Boston, Bald Hill Conservation Area is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and return to nature. The park spans 2,267 acres and offers over 25 miles of dog-friendly trails. Visitors can enjoy hiking, bird watching, mountain biking, and much more.
Rocky Mountain Park — Greenfield, Mass.
Comprised of five contiguous parcels, Rocky Mountain Park offers miles of hiking trails and the iconic Poet’s Seat Tower. The tower was built in 1912 to replace a wooden tower that burned down and was named to honor the many poets who frequented the area, such as Frederick Goddard Tuckerman. Today, the park is a popular destination for its stunning views over the surrounding landscape.
Connecticut
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat — Essex, Conn.
If you’re looking for beautiful views but don’t want to go hiking to see them, consider a steam train or riverboat ride instead.
“The Essex Steam Train offers a unique foliage ride along the Connecticut River,” Greenwich-based agent Maria Bardelli suggests. As the only steam train and riverboat connection in the country with two operating steam locomotives, this is a great family friendly activity that everyone can enjoy.
Lucius Pond Ordway-Devil’s Den Preserve — Weston and Redding, Conn.
Spanning 1,800 acres in size, this woodland preserve is the largest tract of protected land in Fairfield County, an otherwise very densely developed and populated area of Connecticut. There are 20 miles of trails for hiking, running, birding, and other passive outdoor recreation activities. Plus, there are over 500 different types of trees and wildflowers in the park, as well as over 140 bird species and other great wildlife to observe.
“This is a large, forested preserve with prime viewing,” Bardelli says. “It offers a mix of hiking trails and panoramic vistas that are perfect for enjoying Connecticut’s spectacular autumn foliage.
Haystack Tower — Norfolk, Conn.
Located inside Haystack Mountain State Park, this iconic Connecticut landmark was built in 1929. Reaching 34 feet high, the tower has incredible views over the Berkshires, New York, and Vermont’s Green Mountains, making it an ideal place to witness the incredible fall foliage of the northeast.
Hudson River Valley, New York
Poet’s Walk Park — Red Hook, NY
The Hudson Valley was named the top leaf-peeping destination for 2025 by Travel + Leisure, so if you’re in the area you’ll want to make sure to stop by some of local agent Jillian Pajer’s favorite locations for witnessing the region’s fall foliage—including Poet’s Walk Park.
This beautiful Red Hook park is a great place to go dog walking, enjoy picnics, or partake in bird watching. It features outdoor “rooms” that were created by two neighboring land owners in the mid-1800s, each enclosed by trees and stone walls. The park earned its name for being a favorite spot for writers such as Washington Irving, whose Rip Van Winkle is rumored to have been inspired by the views of the Catskill Mountains from Poet’s Walk Park.
Mount Beacon Park — Beacon, NY
Another one of Jillian Pajer’s favorite spots for leaf peeping is the top of Mount Beacon. This 15-acre park offers a hike that starts on a staircase before reaching the top of the mountain with panoramic vistas spanning the Hudson Highlands out to the Catskill Mountains. There’s also a 60-foot-high fire tower with views that can reach Manhattan and Albany on a clear day.
Storm King — New Windsor, NY
This 500-acre outdoor museum is one of the best places to enjoy not only beautiful fall foliage but also spectacular sculptures and rotating art exhibitions. Fall is the busy season for this local destination, so the museum suggests purchasing tickets in advance to guarantee admission and parking.
Vermont
Killington Resort & Pico Mountain Gondola Rides — Killington, Vt.
For truly one-of-a-kind views of fall foliage in New England, nothing beats the Killington Resort gondola rides. Killington Peak— at over 4,000 feet, Vermont’s second tallest and highest lift-serviced peak—offers unique views over the mountains and incredible vistas over the forests awash in reds and oranges during the fall.
Mount Tom, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park — Woodstock, Vt.
“Mount Tom is a modest but beloved peak just behind Woodstock,” says Vermont agent Mia Parsons. “There are a variety of trails for different abilities, some historic carriage roads, and town-maintained paths. When you get to the top, you have the perfect view of Woodstock village and the surrounding Green Mountains.”
One of Parsons’s favorite features of Mount Tom is the Mount Tom Star, located high on the mountain’s south peak. Originally erected in 1942 by the Woodstock Electric Company, the star served as a welcoming beacon for returning World War II servicemen. It recently underwent a rebuilding after years of deterioration.
“My dad was one of the key players in fundraising for this iconic symbol of our town,” Parsons adds.
Kancamagus Scenic Byway — New Hampshire
In nearby New Hampshire, the 35-mile Kancamagus Scenic Byway takes drivers through the White Mountain National Forest, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
“Driving the Kancamagus Highway in fall is truly spectacular,” says Erin Abraham. “You’re surrounded by mountains ablaze with color. No gas stations, no hotels, just the beauty of the changing leaves. It’s dramatic yet peaceful.”
New Jersey
Hacklebarney State Park — Long Valley, NJ
Once an iron ore mine site, Hacklebarney State Park is now a favorite for locals and visitors to hike, bird watch, and witness the change in leaves during the fall. Hikers will appreciate the freshwater Black River, which cuts right through the park, as well as tributaries, dark green hemlocks, and beautiful wildlife.
Hartshorne Woods Park — Highlands, NJ
Fair Haven-based agent Melissa Poterala suggests heading to Hartshorne Woods Park, a 831-acre expanse that overlooks the Navesink River and offers one of the highest elevations along the Atlantic Coast. This quality made it a perfect coastal defense site back in the day, but today it serves the community as a local park for hiking, scenic views, bird watching, and even horseback riding.
Garret Mountain Reservation — Woodland Park, NJ
Another recommendation from Poterala is Garret Mountain Reservation, a 568-acre park on First Watchung Mountain in Paterson and Woodland Park. Visitors love hiking, bird watching, picnicking, and taking in the nature that the park has to offer. There are miles of trails, a beautiful pond, picnic areas, basketball courts, and an equestrian center offering horseback riding lessons.
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