Fall Foliage in Chemung County
In Chemung County, fall arrives in brilliant color across the hills and river valleys — take a glider ride over the Finger Lakes, paddle the Susquehanna, or follow the Mark Twain trail through Elmira.
Chemung County is a great place in the Finger Lakes to watch fall arrive, with hills and river valleys turning red, orange, and gold from late September through October.
For the best vantage point, head to Harris Hill Soaring Corp. in Elmira, NY. Take a glider ride and you'll see several Finger Lakes at once on a clear day, with the whole valley changing color underneath you. It's quiet up there too, just wind and the view. Once you land, walk next door to the National Soaring Museum, home to the world's largest collection of sailplanes and gliders!
Prefer to stay on the ground? The Catharine Valley Trail and Lackawanna Rail Trail both cut through wooded stretches that turn especially bright this time of year, good for a hike or bike ride either way. Newtown Battlefield State Park adds Revolutionary War history to the mix, with trails that open up to wide valley views.
For a different pace, the New York Susquehanna Basin Water Trail offers guided paddle routes along the Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers, plus information on fishing, bird watching, and river conditions. Paddling the Chemung in autumn puts you right at eye level with the changing riverbanks!
After a day outdoors, save room for dinner at Hill Top Inn, overlooking the same Chemung River Valley that once inspired Mark Twain. The menu sources local, farm-fresh ingredients, with a special fall menu built around the season's harvest.
However you want to spend the day, fall in Chemung County is worth getting outside for, in a glider, on a trail, on the water, or at the table.