{"id":11349,"date":"2022-10-20T09:41:39","date_gmt":"2022-10-20T13:41:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/v2.mappyhour.org\/blog\/?p=11349"},"modified":"2022-11-23T16:07:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-23T21:07:00","slug":"the-best-outdoorsy-spots-to-find-fall-foliage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/the-best-outdoorsy-spots-to-find-fall-foliage\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Outdoorsy Spots to Find Fall Foliage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Connecting New York City and its northern suburbs, <a href=\"https:\/\/new.mta.info\/agency\/metro-north-railroad\">Metro-North Railroad<\/a> provides a wide variety of outdoor locations to explore not too far from the heart of the city. The surrounding mountains of the upstate area allow for numerous hiking trails and bike paths, which only get better in the autumn months, boasting breathtaking views of foliage that can\u2019t normally be seen in Manhattan. Here are some of the best places to observe fall foliage via Metro-North.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beacon Fire Tower Hike<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Beacon-Fire-Tower-1.jpeg\" alt=\"View from Beacon Fire Tower\" class=\"wp-image-11374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Beacon-Fire-Tower-1.jpeg 512w, https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Beacon-Fire-Tower-1-400x300.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Beacon-Fire-Tower-1-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Beacon-Fire-Tower-1-80x60.jpeg 80w, https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Beacon-Fire-Tower-1-265x198.jpeg 265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Beacon Mountain is a bit of a strenuous hike, but the views will be worth it. You\u2019ll go just a bit further along the Hudson Line, this time getting off at Beacon Station. From there, it\u2019s a 1.5 mile walk to the trailhead. You\u2019ll be hiking along the Casino Trail and Breakneck Ridge Trail on your way up the mountain, passing by the historic remains of the Mount Beacon Incline Railway. It\u2019s a three mile hike to the summit, and you\u2019ll be traveling mostly uphill throughout, so be prepared. Your main destination is the Beacon Fire Tower, which stands high on the summit of Beacon Mountain, 1,610 feet above sea level. From there, you can enjoy stunning views of the multicolored trees that line the Hudson Valley, the Catskills Mountains, the Southern Hudson Highlands, and, if you\u2019re lucky, even New York City!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can either go down the way you came if you\u2019re too tired for more, but if you\u2019re not, you can hike through more colorful woods along other trails that will take you down the mountain a different way. Whatever you do, though, you\u2019ll end up at the same trailhead that you started your journey at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Journey time: 1 hour 40 minutes<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.gaiagps.com\/public\/YJYf8Wkr9PQ6jUOelqkyGlYy?embed=True\" style=\"border:none; overflow-y: hidden; background-color:white; min-width: 320px; max-width:420px; width:100%; height: 420px;\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"seamless\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hvrt.org\/\">Harlem Valley Rail Trail<\/a> <\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Harlem-Valley-Rail-Trail.jpeg\" alt=\"Harlem Valley Rail Trail\" class=\"wp-image-11375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Harlem-Valley-Rail-Trail.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Harlem-Valley-Rail-Trail-400x300.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Harlem-Valley-Rail-Trail-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Harlem-Valley-Rail-Trail-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Harlem-Valley-Rail-Trail-696x522.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Harlem-Valley-Rail-Trail-560x420.jpeg 560w, https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Harlem-Valley-Rail-Trail-80x60.jpeg 80w, https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Harlem-Valley-Rail-Trail-265x198.jpeg 265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>This is the only biking entry on our list, although you technically can still hike there. The Harlem Valley Rail Trail is a rail trail that has been under development from the mid 1980\u2019s, opening in 1996 and sections being added in further years. The current trail stretches almost 27 miles, with a further twenty miles currently being planned. The trail begins at Wassaic Station, accessible by Metro-North\u2019s Harlem line, and ends in Taconic State Park. It\u2019s a great trail to bike for twenty odd miles, enjoying the foliage that surrounds the road. Metro-North allows bicycles on trains under certain conditions, which you can find out <a href=\"https:\/\/new.mta.info\/guides\/bikes\/bike-permit-regulations-mnr\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll have to plan a round trip, though, since the train doesn\u2019t serve Taconic State Park; this trip will need to be an out and back ride to Taconic and back to Wassaic. Also, Wassaic station is only served by select trains. Check the <a href=\"http:\/\/web.mta.info\/mnr\/html\/planning\/schedules\/schedules.htm\">schedule<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Journey time: 2 hours 12 minutes. Cost: $40.50 Round trip<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/appalachiantrail.org\/explore\/\">Appalachian Trail&nbsp;<\/a><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>The Appalachian Trail is one of the longest hiking-only footpath in the world stretching over 2000 miles long and traversing 14 states. While you definitely won\u2019t be hiking the entire length of the trail, you\u2019re still going to be treated to some amazing views. Naturally surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains, the trail is teeming with trees chock full of beautifully colored leaves as far as the eye can see. Even just a day\u2019s worth of hiking will provide you with sights that will last you the entire week, if not a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trail is easily accessible by Metro-North\u2019s aptly named Appalachian Trail station on the Harlem line. At first glance, the station won\u2019t really look like much of a station, with just one side platform wide enough to accommodate one train door. But it\u2019s the quickest way to get to the trail itself, which crosses the track a bit south of the station. From there, it\u2019s a three-mile hike toCat Rocks, one of the most popular destinations for day hikers from New York. It\u2019s a prominent lookout onto the trail, and you\u2019ll be treated to excellent views throughout the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trains only serve the Appalachian Trail station on weekends and holidays, so plan accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Journey Time: Just under 2 hours $35 round trip&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Best Places for Fall Foliage near New York City<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":11376,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[917,914,2],"yst_prominent_words":[681,474,685],"class_list":{"0":"post-11349","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-adventures","8":"tag-gaia","9":"tag-map-of-the-month","10":"tag-new-york-city"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v14.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Best Places for Fall Foliage near New York City\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/the-best-outdoorsy-spots-to-find-fall-foliage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Best Outdoorsy Spots to Find Fall Foliage - Mappy Hour Archive\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Best Places for Fall Foliage near New York City\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/the-best-outdoorsy-spots-to-find-fall-foliage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Mappy Hour Archive\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-10-20T13:41:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-11-23T21:07:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Header.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"384\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Mappy Hour Archive\",\"description\":\"Live in the city, love the outdoors\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/the-best-outdoorsy-spots-to-find-fall-foliage\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Header.jpeg\",\"width\":512,\"height\":384,\"caption\":\"View from Beacon\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/the-best-outdoorsy-spots-to-find-fall-foliage\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/the-best-outdoorsy-spots-to-find-fall-foliage\/\",\"name\":\"The Best Outdoorsy Spots to Find Fall Foliage - Mappy Hour Archive\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/the-best-outdoorsy-spots-to-find-fall-foliage\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-10-20T13:41:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-11-23T21:07:00+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/36858918f7e4772a55208cdce3aa1df0\"},\"description\":\"The Best Places for Fall Foliage near New York City\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/2022\/10\/the-best-outdoorsy-spots-to-find-fall-foliage\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":[\"Person\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/36858918f7e4772a55208cdce3aa1df0\",\"name\":\"Teddy Son\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/mappyhour.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Teddy-SOn-rotated-96x96.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Teddy Son\"},\"description\":\"Teddy Son is a writer who's dabbled in a variety of different fields; local news, museum exhibits, luxury establishments, sports, and so on. 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