Chasing Color
Chasing Color: A Finger Lakes Fall Foliage Guide from Hickory Hill
There is a stretch of the year when the Finger Lakes quietly become one of the most beautiful places in the Northeast. The hillsides above the lakes turn gold, rust, and deep red, the vineyards glow, and the air finally has that first cool bite to it. If you time it right, a fall trip here is every bit as memorable as a summer one, and a lot quieter.
Hickory Hill Camping Resort in Bath, New York sits right in the middle of it. From your campsite you are a short drive from some of the best Finger Lakes fall foliage in the region, which makes the resort an easy, comfortable base camp for a weekend of leaf peeping.
When does fall foliage peak in the Finger Lakes?
The short version: aim for the middle of October. The first color usually shows up on the ridge tops in late September, then works its way down the slopes toward the water through the first two weeks of October. The second and third weeks of the month are typically the best window, when whole hillsides light up at once.
Like anything with the weather, it shifts a week or so in either direction each year, so it is worth checking a foliage report before you lock in dates. The Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance and local tourism sites post weekly color updates through the season, and they are the most reliable way to catch the peak.
The best leaf-peeping drives near Hickory Hill
You do not have to go far to find a view. A few favorites, all within easy reach of the resort:
● The Keuka Lake loop. Keuka is the crooked, Y-shaped lake just north of Bath, and the west side is the showstopper, where vineyard slopes run right down to the water and the road hugs the shoreline. Circle the lake on Routes 54A and 54 for one gorgeous overlook after another.
● Keuka Lake State Park & Bluff Point. Head out toward Bluff Point in the middle of the lake for panoramic views of color on both arms of Keuka at once. It is one of the best photo stops in the whole region.
● Hammondsport and the south end. The village at the foot of Keuka is worth a slow morning, and the drive down through the hills into town is lined with color and vineyards.
● The route toward Naples and Italy Valley. West of the resort, the back roads toward Naples wind through some of the most dramatic fall scenery around, with gorges and creeks tucked into the hills.
Many of these drives run right past the region's wineries, and harvest season is in full swing while the leaves turn, so it is easy to make a day of both. (More on that in our guide to the Keuka Lake Wine Trail.)
More than a drive: fall things to do
Foliage is the headliner, but fall in the Finger Lakes comes with a full supporting cast: apple orchards and harvest stands, winery tastings, and gorge trails that look incredible with color overhead (see our guide to Finger Lakes waterfalls and gorge trails). Back at the resort, our October themed weekends and Halloween fun give the kids plenty to do while the grown-ups soak up the season.
Why fall is the best-kept secret for camping here
Summer gets all the attention, but a lot of longtime campers will tell you fall is their favorite time at Hickory Hill. The crowds thin out, the nights are made for campfires, and the whole place feels a little more peaceful. Trade the pool for a hot cocoa and a hoodie, and you have got the kind of weekend that is hard to beat.
If tent camping in the cool nights is not your thing, this is the perfect time to book one of our cabins, cottages, or lodges. Many can be heated, so you get the crisp-morning views without the chilly wake-up. It is also a great season for a fall family reunion or group getaway, with the Activity Hall as a warm home base.
Make Hickory Hill your fall base camp
Peak color comes and goes fast, so the trick is to have your spot booked before the leaves turn. Pick your dates, choose a site or a cozy cabin, and let Hickory Hill be your home base for a Finger Lakes fall you will want to repeat. Browse every way to stay and reserve early, because fall weekends fill up quickly.