Fall Is Showing Off in the Adirondacks

The In Good Taste Newsletter

October 2, 2026

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Paddler on Blue Mountain Lake in the Central Adirondacks.

Blue Mountain Lake in the Central Adirondacks. Photo courtesy ROOST.

Greetings.

October has arrived in the Adirondacks looking suspiciously perfect. The hills are turning red and gold, mornings have that unmistakable fall snap, and gorgeous scenery in places like Blue Mountain Lake is making it very difficult to get anything productive done.

Of course, real Adirondack life is rarely quite as serene as the photographs suggest. This week at our house, we discovered that several hundred—possibly several thousand—wasps had apparently decided to move in. Fall magic comes in many forms.

The best of the Adirondacks, handpicked every week.

Beyond the bees, this week we're tracking where the color is brightest in our latest foliage report, sharing another surprising Loon Fact, and revisiting two places worth a detour: Brunetto's in Warrensburg and Dartbrook Rustic Goods in Keene.

On ADK Talks, we're chatting with the Adirondack Dancing Witches where we discuss what Germany, broomsticks, the Rolling Stones and a group of women ages 45 to 85 have in common. More than you'd think.

And our weekend guide is particularly packed, because October in the Adirondacks doesn't believe in easing into anything.

The foliage season goes quickly. The wasps, apparently, needed considerably more encouragement to leave.

See you out there,

Jane

Trail Tested. ADK Taste Approved.

New York State fall foliage map for September 30, 2026 showing peak and near-peak fall color across parts of the Adirondacks, with less advanced foliage around Lake George and Lake Champlain.

Peak Color Has Arrived

Peak fall foliage has arrived in parts of the Adirondacks. Lake Placid and Tupper Lake are at peak; Old Forge and Whiteface are near peak — while Lake George is still only about 25% changed. Our weekly Adirondack Fall Foliage Report shows where the color is now — and where there's still plenty to come.

See this week’s foliage report.

The Dancing Witches: From the Harz Mountains to the Adirondacks

They’re 45 to 85. They dance to classic rock. They travel with broomsticks. And Adirondack crowds can’t seem to get enough of them. Meet the women behind the Dancing Witches on the ADK Talks podcast.

Get swept up.

Illustration of Adirondack Loon in flight during seasonal migration.

Protecting Adirondack Loons: The Science, the Threats, and the Hope

Loons are one of the Adirondacks’ most unmistakable sounds—but how much do we really know about them? Our latest Loon Fact offers an unexpected surprise, and our conversation about protecting Adirondack loons goes further.

Listen: Protecting Adirondack Loons.

Filet mignon with mashed potatoes and beans at Brunetto's in Warrensburg.

Brunetto’s Restaurant Near Warrensburg: A Dinner Worth the Detour

A dinner worth taking the long way for? Brunetto’s, north of Lake George village just outside of Warrensburg, pairs a cozy dining room with a menu that keeps visitors guessing. ADK Taste revisits the Route 9 restaurant and shares what to look for when booking a table.

Keeping it fresh in Warrensburg.

Fort Ticonderoga Heritage, Harvest and Horse Festival

October Comes Out Swinging in the Adirondacks

This weekend brings world-class mountain biking in Lake Placid, Oktoberfests in Malone and Old Forge, FallFest at ADKX, horses and harvest at Fort Ticonderoga—and yes, the Warrensburg garage-sale phenomenon. It’s a big weekend across the Park. ADK Taste has sorted through the calendar and pulled together the events worth knowing about.

October has plans. So should you.

Dartbrook rustic furniture in Keene, NY, in the Adirondacks

Dartbrook Rustic Goods Brings Adirondack Great Camp Style Home in Keene

Rustic ambitions? Dartbrook Rustic Goods in Keene brings Adirondack Great Camp style home with locally handcrafted furniture, distinctive decor, and two stores worth browsing. Our refreshed guide explains what to look for—and what to know before buying.

Take a peek inside Dartbrook.

Long-sleeved t-shirt featuring a kayaker on an Adirondack Lake with "I'd Paddle That" written on in it.

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