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Krissy Navrat
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Explore Tupper Lake's fall colors by trail, water, and rail

Fall in the Adirondacks unfolds in stages. One week the maples along Route 30 are still holding onto summer green, and the next the whole valley has turned over into rust and gold. Tupper Lake sits at the center of that shift, surrounded by water, low mountains, and open river corridors that all show off the season a little differently. The best way to see it depends on how you want to move through it: by rail, by foot, or by paddle.

A couple sitting at a fall summit.

From the train

Scenic train rides and rail experiences operating out of the Tupper Lake Station at 37 Depot Street are provided by the Adirondack Railroad. The Tupper Lake Explorer offers a 1.5-hour round trip south toward Sabattis, crossing the historic Underwood Bridge over the Raquette River and offering views of Piercefield Flow and Mount Arab. Other options include themed evening and sunset rides, the High Peaks Limited, the Adirondack Mountaineer, and self-pedaled Adirondack Railbike Adventures. In fall, these excursions offer an especially accessible way to experience foliage, with expansive views of colorful forests, waterways, and wetlands without hiking to a summit or reaching remote shorelines.

The Adirondack Mountaineer is the only train excursion featured here with a 4.5-hour layover in Tupper Lake, giving passengers time to explore Main Street, grab lunch, or visit local attractions before returning by train. Check the Adirondack Railroad for current schedules and excursion details.

A family sitting at the train station.

From the trail

For a closer look, the Tupper Lake Hiking Triad puts three summit hikes within a short drive of town: Mount Arab, Coney Mountain, and Goodman Mountain. Each offers a manageable way to gain elevation and take in fall color without the commitment of a High Peak. Mount Arab is a 2-mile round-trip hike with 750 feet of elevation gain, reaching a 2,525-foot summit and a restored 1918 fire tower with views stretching across the Raquette River valley toward the High Peaks. Coney Mountain covers 2 miles round trip with 560 feet of elevation gain to a 2,267-foot summit, where a short, rocky climb rewards hikers with expansive foliage views. Goodman Mountain, named for civil rights activist Andrew Goodman, is a 3-mile round-trip hike with 615 feet of elevation gain, climbing to a 2,178-foot summit with views over Tupper Lake and Raquette Pond. Hike all three, and you can register for the Triad patch, though the real reward is a day spent moving between summits as the landscape shifts into fall color.

Prefer to stay on level ground? The Wild Center offers nature trails and forest walks included with a day pass, providing an easy way to experience the season without a summit hike. You can also meet the trolls and explore the Trolls exhibit, featuring larger-than-life sculptures that bring a touch of folklore to the Adirondack landscape. The Adirondack Rail Trail is another option, with a mostly flat route that's ideal for walking or biking while taking in the fall scenery.

The Mt Arab fire tower in the fall.The Wild Center in the fall.The Rail Trail in the fall.

From the water

Tupper Lake's rivers slow down in the fall, and that slowness is the whole point. The Tupper Lake Paddling Triad lays out three routes built for exactly this kind of trip: Stony Creek Pond to Axton Landing, the Raquette River from the Crusher boat launch to the Tupper Lake boat launch, and Raquette Pond to Setting Pole Dam. The middle route, the longest of the three at just under eight miles, follows the Raquette River's oxbows and bends past The Wild Center before opening into Simon Pond, with pull-offs along the way for lunch or a break. Raquette River Outfitters, based by the Route 30 bridge, rents canoes, kayaks, and SUPs and can help paddlers choose a route that fits their time and experience.

For a deeper backcountry experience, the Whitney Wilderness offers multi-day paddling and camping opportunities, with easy overnight access at Little Tupper Lake and Lake Lila. Lake Lila does require a roughly 0.3-mile carry to the water, but both destinations provide access to a larger network of backcountry routes for paddlers ready to spend several days on the water. Camping also makes it easy to turn a fall outing into a full weekend in the woods. On the water, the foliage isn't just overhead. It's reflected on the surface too, doubled in the current, which is reason enough to trade the trail for a paddle at least once this season.

Fall paddling in Tupper Lake.

Make the most of fall

Whichever way you choose to see it, fall foliage in Tupper Lake rewards slowing down. Pick one adventure, or string together several for a weekend that lets you experience the region from every angle. As you explore, practice Leave No Trace principles and help keep these special places beautiful for the next season of color. And keep an eye out for our fall foliage reports for the latest scoop on when and where peak color is unfolding across the Adirondacks.