BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Up to 12 million people visit the Adirondack Park every year, and a great number of them come just to take in the view of the regions iconic fall foliage.
But while many of the most popular leaf peeping spots are passing their peak, there are still some lesser-known places you can get a good colorful look.
“In the higher elevations, closer to Lake Placid, in the mountainous regions, peak probably passed about three weeks ago, but right now, we’re in the Champlain region. Because it’s a lower elevation, the lake really moderates the temperature and you have probably another couple of weeks to go,” said Jane Hooper from the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism.
Tourism officials like Hooper say Belfry Mountain is an easy hike with big rewards. It features one of the 25 fire towers in the Adirondacks.
Visitors like Jess Tallman and her boyfriend Kieran Brenneman of Albany came to love the Belfry Mountain trail.
It was the first place they took Jess’s sister Nicole when she flew in to visit from North Carolina. it was nice to be able to make this trip and see the fall again, since North Carolina doesn’t get the fall that I’m used to,” said Nicole Tallman.
Not only do they enjoy the views, but they say the peacefulness is priceless.
“I feel like it’s common for people to go to the more popular spots, the more popular hikes, but I think the entire park is worth visiting and exploring, it’s not just one little hike or one area that’s the beautiful place for people to go. I think people should give the whole park a chance,” said Jess Tallman.
Tourism officials say, not only are less popular spots exciting to walk through, but it helps protect the Adirondack park’s nature.
“It really benefits everyone when we can spread people across the park. That way not any one area is overused. It makes for a much more sustainable adventure when you can access different areas of the Park,” said Hooper.