From Hudson River views and wooded hiking trails to arboretums and neighborhood parks, these are some of our favorite places to experience the best (and brightest) of the season
Fall is one of the best times to explore the suburbs. The weather is perfect for walking, hiking, and spending a few hours outside, and by October, many of the parks, preserves, and trails in the NYC suburbs are at their very best. That’s why, if you’re planning a town tour, build one or more of these leaf-peeping spots into your day. Pick up coffee before a walk, grab lunch downtown afterward, or use a hike as an excuse to explore a part of town you might not otherwise see. Beyond the foliage, you’ll get a look at the parks and outdoor spaces residents have access to year-round.
Here are 15 spots to add to your fall list.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY
#1. Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park
Running through several Westchester communities, including Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Tarrytown, Ossining, and Croton-on-Hudson, the Old Croton Aqueduct is an easy way to take in the fall colors while exploring the Rivertowns. The 26.2-mile state historic park follows the route of New York City’s original water supply system, with a mostly level trail that passes through wooded areas, residential neighborhoods, historic sites, and village centers.
You don’t have to tackle anything close to the full trail. Pick a section near a town you’re considering and spend an hour walking before heading downtown for lunch or coffee.
#2. Kingsland Point Park, Sleepy Hollow
If you’re spending a fall day in Sleepy Hollow, head toward the Hudson. Kingsland Point Park sits directly on the river, giving you views across the water toward the Palisades and the changing trees on the opposite shore.
It’s an easy stop to work into a larger Sleepy Hollow or Tarrytown visit, especially during October when the entire area is busy with Halloween events. Walk along the waterfront, take in the views, and then head back into town to keep exploring.
#3. Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville
Rockefeller State Park Preserve deserves its own spot on the list. Its network of historic carriage roads winds through forests, fields, wetlands, and around Swan Lake, giving you plenty of options whether you’re looking for a short walk or want to spend a few hours outside.
For fall views, Eagle Hill is a favorite. The climb is manageable, and the higher elevation gives you a broader look at the surrounding landscape. With so many trails to choose from, this is also the kind of place nearby families can return to again and again.
#4. Marshlands Conservancy, Rye
Fall doesn’t have to mean a hike through dense woods. At Marshlands Conservancy in Rye, trails move through forest, meadow, and salt marsh, creating a landscape that looks very different from many of Westchester’s other preserves.
There are roughly three miles of trails, making this an easy outing with kids or a good stop to add to a larger day exploring Rye. The mix of habitats also makes Marshlands a popular spot for birding and wildlife watching, so keep an eye out as you walk.
#5. Bronx River Parkway Reservation
One of the things we love about the Bronx River Parkway Reservation is how integrated it is into everyday life. The park follows the Bronx River through communities including Bronxville, Tuckahoe, Eastchester, Scarsdale, and White Plains, with paths that pass ponds, wooded areas, bridges, and waterfalls.
If Bronxville is on your list, for example, you can walk part of the reservation and then head directly into the village. It’s a good way to see how access to green space can become part of a regular weekend rather than requiring a big excursion.
#6. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Pound Ridge
If you’re looking for a real fall hike, head to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. At more than 4,300 acres, it’s Westchester County’s largest park, with an extensive trail network through woods, streams, rock formations, and overlooks.
There are routes for a range of abilities, so you can keep things relatively easy with kids or make a full morning of it. If Pound Ridge, Bedford, or one of the surrounding communities is on your suburban shortlist, the reservation also gives you a good sense of just how much open space is accessible in this part of Westchester.
LONG ISLAND, NY
#7. Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park, Oyster Bay
Planting Fields is one of those places that’s worth visiting in every season, but its 409 acres are especially good for a fall walk. The former Gold Coast estate includes specimen trees, woodland paths, formal gardens, greenhouses, and the historic Coe Hall.
Because there’s so much to see beyond the foliage, this is an easy place to spend a few hours. Pair it with lunch in Oyster Bay or continue exploring the surrounding North Shore communities afterward.
#8. Sands Point Preserve, Sands Point
The former Guggenheim estate covers 216 acres on the Port Washington peninsula, with marked trails running through woods, meadows, and down toward the Long Island Sound.
The combination of historic buildings, mature trees, and waterfront makes this one of the more varied fall walks on the North Shore. If Port Washington or Sands Point is on your list, spend some time at the Preserve and then head into Port Washington to see what the rest of your Saturday might look like if you lived nearby.
#9. Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, Lloyd Harbor
Caumsett gives you plenty of room to explore, with woodland, meadows, historic estate grounds, and views of Long Island Sound spread across the former Marshall Field estate.
Walk, hike, or bike through the property and you’ll see a very different side of Long Island than you get from driving between downtowns and neighborhoods. It’s particularly worth adding to a visit if you’re considering Huntington and the surrounding North Shore communities, where access to beaches, preserves, and open space is a big part of the lifestyle.
NEW JERSEY
#10. South Mountain Reservation, Maplewood, Millburn & West Orange
If you’re exploring Maplewood, Millburn, or the surrounding Essex County suburbs, South Mountain Reservation is hard to miss. The reservation covers more than 2,000 acres and includes wooded trails, carriage roads, overlooks, streams, and waterfalls.
Hemlock Falls is a popular destination, while families with younger kids may also want to look for the tiny houses tucked along the reservation’s Fairy Trail. You can spend a full morning hiking here or take a shorter walk before heading into Maplewood Village or downtown Millburn.
#11. Palisades Interstate Park, Alpine
For dramatic fall scenery close to New York City, it’s tough to beat the Palisades. The New Jersey section of Palisades Interstate Park follows roughly 12 miles of the Hudson River and includes more than 30 miles of hiking and ski trails across its 2,500 acres.
There are routes for different ability levels, along with overlooks where you can take in the Hudson and the changing trees across the river. Because trail and road closures can affect access, especially following recent rockslides, check current park conditions before choosing your route.
#12. Watchung Reservation, Union County
Watchung Reservation is a great stop if you’re exploring suburbs in and around Union County. The large wooded preserve has miles of trails, streams, a lake, picnic areas, and plenty of space to get outside without traveling particularly far from the surrounding towns.
Families can choose a shorter walk or make more of a day of it, and the Trailside Nature & Science Center gives you another reason to visit with kids. If you’re touring nearby communities, this is a good reminder that access to substantial green space doesn’t necessarily require moving far from New York City.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT
#13. Greenwich Audubon Center, Greenwich
The Greenwich Audubon Center’s Main Sanctuary covers 285 acres, with seven miles of trails through hardwood forest, meadows, wetlands, streams, and around Mead Lake. In fall, that variety makes for a great weekend walk, especially if you want something that feels removed from town without actually traveling very far.
There are several trail options depending on how much time you have. Keep in mind that pets and bicycles aren’t permitted on the sanctuary trails. If Greenwich is on your list, this is also a good opportunity to explore the more wooded, spacious backcountry side of town.
#14. Irwin Park & GreenLink Trail, New Canaan
Irwin Park is just minutes from downtown New Canaan, which makes it especially easy to incorporate into a town visit. The 36-acre property has open lawns, an apple orchard, mature trees, and a walking trail, but you can also keep going.
The GreenLink Trail connects Irwin Park to the New Canaan Nature Center, creating a longer route through wooded and wetland areas. Start with breakfast or coffee downtown, head to the park for a walk, and you’ll have a pretty good fall morning in New Canaan without having to manufacture an itinerary.
#15. Mianus River Park, Stamford
On the Stamford-Greenwich border, Mianus River Park offers nearly 400 acres of woods, wetlands, rock formations, and trails along the Mianus River. It’s popular with hikers, mountain bikers, runners, and dog walkers, and in fall, the heavily wooded landscape delivers plenty of color.
If you’re considering Stamford, it’s also worth visiting because it shows a side of the city you may not see on an initial tour of downtown, Harbor Point, or the neighborhoods closer to Metro-North. Stamford can feel urban in one part of town and surprisingly wooded in another, and Mianus River Park is a good example of that range.
Make These Outdoor Spots Part of Your Tour
If you’re already heading to the suburbs this fall, don’t think of these as separate sightseeing trips. Work one into a town you’re planning to explore.
Walk the Old Croton Aqueduct and then spend time in one of the Rivertowns. Hike South Mountain Reservation before lunch in Maplewood or Millburn. Visit Planting Fields while you’re exploring Oyster Bay. Start in downtown New Canaan and walk from Irwin Park toward the Nature Center.
It’s another way to see what living in a town might actually look like. If spending Saturday morning on a trail, walking the dog through a preserve, or getting outside with your kids is important to you, access to those things should be part of your suburban search, too.
Your Suburban Jungle Strategist can help you think through those lifestyle priorities and identify the towns where the things you actually want to do are part of everyday life.
For more insights, visit SJ’s New York City suburbs section and the New York City blog page on our website.
Ready to start exploring? Schedule your free initial strategy call today.