Chasing Fall Foliage in New York State: Niagara Falls & the Finger Lakes

The first leg of our fall foliage trip through the Northeastern United States took us through stunning New York State, which quickly proved to us that there is so much more to it than just the bustling little island of Manhattan.

Our main goal was to see Niagara Falls, but on the way there and back, we passed through areas and parks that were absolutely breathtaking—largely thanks to the incredible autumn colors. I just knew I had to write a post covering them all!

As for why we chose to start our journey right here, I explained that in detail in my previous post: How to Plan a Fall Foliage Trip to the Northeast US with a Baby.

Niagara Falls: The Canadian vs. The American Side

What more can I tell you about Niagara Falls that you can’t already find on the internet? It’s common knowledge that these are massive waterfalls with insane water flow, making it one of the most impressive natural sights in North America. Seeing them from various angles was a fantastic, highly recommended experience—even if they are situated right next to rather tacky, ultra-touristic towns that feel a bit like Las Vegas meets Eilat in the 1990s.

We dedicated two days to this area. On the first evening, after a long drive, we arrived on the Canadian side just in time to see the falls illuminated at night. The next day, we walked along the promenade, took the boat tour right to the base of the falls, and headed down from the visitor center to get as close as possible to one of the rapids. On our final day, we drove a few minutes north to the Niagara Whirlpool, where you can see the river bending into a massive vortex, before crossing over to the US side to Goat Island for one last loop.

There are plenty of activities and attractions for the whole family here, and you can buy combo tickets for discounts on multiple sights. It’s definitely worth checking what’s available based on the season you’re visiting or asking at the visitor center. Since we arrived relatively late in the season, we didn’t need to book anything in advance; we just bought our tickets on the spot and walked right in.

Please note: Crossing the border between Canada and the US requires a passport, and the process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour, especially on weekends.

Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes consist of 11 narrow, elongated lakes in Upstate New York. Their relative proximity to Niagara Falls makes them a wonderful nature destination along the way, and it’s definitely worth dedicating at least two days to exploring the area.

If you enjoy a more urban vibe, you’ll love strolling through the city of Ithaca, home to Cornell University. Meanwhile, wine lovers will find a massive selection of wineries here, all overlooking the gorgeous lakes and offering tasting menus with a view.

For our trip, we stayed at a hotel in the town of Geneva, located right on the lakeshore, which served as our perfect base for exploring the area.

Watkins Glen State Park

Watkins Glen State Park is a delightful and fun place to visit, where a narrow gorge winds its way through towering stone walls and magical little waterfalls. Walking along the trail, you pass beautiful pools, bridges, and cascades—giving you endless opportunities to snap photos of this breathtaking scenery.

To head back, we took a dirt path through a forest that was at the absolute peak of its autumn colors, which was an incredible experience in itself. This little hike takes anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours. Afterward, we headed to Ithaca for lunch and topped off the afternoon with a visit to Ventosa Vineyards.

Letchworth State Park

This park is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Northeast, thanks to its incredibly deep and towering river gorge. A visit here begins with several stunning scenic overlooks peering down at the river from above, and from there, you can hit a lovely trail leading to some seriously impressive waterfalls.

The length of the hike is entirely up to you; there are quite a few beautiful spots along the trail, so you can easily choose how far you want to go before turning back (there are no loop trails here). We did this exact route, and navigation was an absolute breeze thanks to the excellent trail markings on-site.

Green Lakes State Park

While this isn’t officially part of the Finger Lakes, it’s relatively close by and is absolutely a spectacular sight. The lakes get their vivid green name from a specific type of algae living in the water, which gives them a stunning, greenish-turquoise hue. However, the real showstopper for us was the fall foliage and the way the colorful forest reflected off the water—it literally looked like a painting.

The park features two lakes with a fully stroller-accessible path wrapping around them, and walking the loop takes anywhere from one to two hours. At the northern end, there is also a swimming beach and a massive, fun playground that kids will love.

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

The very first destination of our trip was New Paltz, a small and picturesque town located just an hour and a half’s drive from Newark Airport and about twenty minutes away from a stunning nature reserve. We intentionally chose to start our journey here to refresh after the long flight and ease into the trip at a relaxed pace.

Awosting Falls

t’s about a one-hour short hike to a lovely waterfall inside a beautiful forest, returning along the same path. The trail allows you to view the waterfall both from above and from the pool into which it flows.

We did this hike using a baby carrier, but there’s a very good chance it’s also stroller-accessible. Either way, there were plenty of kids on the trail, making it incredibly family-friendly

Lake Minnewaska

The waterfall eventually flows into Lake Minnewaska, which is the most popular tourist spot in the area. The trail here is a loop around the lake, and to our delight, it was completely stroller-accessible! The entire hike is packed with gorgeous scenic overlooks of the lake and the surrounding mountains, making it an absolute highlight for the start of our Northeastern US adventure.