Finding Foliage on the Mohawk Towpath

Updated Sep 7, 2012 in Get Outdoors! For Fall Fun

Reminiscent of hay rides, apple pie, and a dazzling change from summer greens to warmer shades of red, orange, and yellow, fall on New York’s Mohawk Towpath Byway evokes happy memories of past years and invites you to take advantage of this glorious, colorful season.

A mere 20 minutes from Albany, the City of Schenectady serves as the western terminus for the byway and is an excellent place to soak in the autumn atmosphere. Walk beneath the noble red maples surrounding Iroquois Lake in Schenectady’s Central Park in early October--the first trees of the season to display their magnificent transition. Stroll through town in mid-October and see a flash of red on the ivy-covered walls in the urban areas. You’ll also see Union College, which houses the 160-year-old Jackson’s Garden, where more than 90 species of trees and shrubs line the ancient brick walkways. Enjoy a pervading sense of calm as you walk these paths in the shade of these historic trees, which peak in magnificent color during the second or third weeks of October, or hear the gentle crunch of leaves under your feet throughout the 8.5-acre garden.

In the true spirit of the season, each year in mid-October the City of Schenectady celebrates Farm and Foliage Day at locations throughout the Schenactady area. On upper Union Street, witness “a bit of country in the city” as ponies and baby farm animals entertain children, music fills the air, and booths filled with food, produce, and amusing trinkets line the street between Lakewood and Palmer Avenues. At Mabee Farm, a colonial farmhouse on the banks of the Mohawk River, enjoy the savory aroma of fresh-baked, homemade pie as you peruse the quilts and other items available for sale, or watch a live band while the kids stuff scarecrows and paint pumpkins. Finally, at Maple Ski Ridge, watch a tractor parade or lawn-mower pull, or kick up your heels with other festival-goers at the barn dance.

Want to take a more adventurous approach to the byway’s fall scenery? Just follow the Mohawk River. Drive the byway a few miles northeast of Schenectady to the Rexford aqueduct and climb into a canoe or kayak near the 610-foot structure. From the water, perhaps you’ll notice that the foliage on the north side of the river takes a little longer to peak than the south, caused by the moderating effect of sunlight on the southerly facing slopes. Relax under the gentle influence of the current as it carries you east beneath the shimmering gold of the cottonwood and ash along the river, a scene that brushes with perfection at sunset.

If you’d rather keep your feet on dry land, the Mohawk/Hudson Bike and Hike trail parallels the byway and offers excellent views from the south side of the river. As you make the 20-mile journey toward Cohoes from Schenectady, take a moment to stop at the various parks along the way and snap a few pictures from river overlooks. At the eastern end of the byway, stop at the Peebles Island State Park in Waterford. Take a hike around the island’s perimeter and see captivating views of the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers as well as plenty of shoreline foliage.

Unleash your competitive spirit at the byway's annual duathlon, held in the town of Halfmoon the Sunday after Columbus Day weekend. Test your personal limits or challenge other athletic types in the three-part race, which consists of a 2.2-mile run, a 16-mile bike ride, and another 2.2-mile run to the finish along scenic roads lined with striking hues of orange, yellow, and red that loop along the Mohawk River in Clifton Park and Halfmoon.

Whether you seek the quiet solace of an afternoon walk down a tree-lined path, a chance to mingle with the local flavor, or simply a few great additions to your photo album, no time is better than fall to visit the Mohawk Towpath Byway.

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