The Best 2-Day New York Fall Foliage Getaway: The Genesee Region
- Stephen Garber
- Oct 16
- 7 min read
It’s official — the promise of autumn’s leaves is here. The crisp air, the golden light, and those rolling hillsides bathed in orange and fiery red make this the most magical time of year in New York. Just a few hours from New York City, the Genesee Region transforms into one of the state’s most breathtaking fall foliage destinations. With its beautiful hikes, scenic drives, and small-town charm, it’s the perfect place to slow down, breathe in the season, and feel like the main character in your very own Hallmark movie.
Whether you are planning a spontaneous weekend escape (like I did) or a carefully mapped-out road trip, this 2-day New York fall foliage itinerary through the Genesee region highlights the best places to soak up the season - from dramatic waterfalls and colorful gorges to picturesque Main Street and country roads painted in autumn's brightest hues.
Ready to go leaf-peepin'? Here is how to make the most of two perfect days exploring the Genesee Valley - one of New York's most underrated fall foliage getaways!
Day 1: Letchworth State Park & Corning, New York
Letchworth State Park
We started our trip from Painted Post, NY (where we chose to stay the night) which is a little over an hour's drive to Letchworth State Park, but don't let that scare you! This will put you in a perfect position for Day 2. Rise and shine should be somewhere around 08:00 AM EST and try to hit the road by 08:30 AM.
While you are on your way, I urge you to stop for breakfast at Ella's Acre's in Corning, NY. When I say we were shocked by how good the food was, we were shocked - and I consider myself a bit of a 'breakfast snob.' Ella's prides themselves in operating farm to table. Just about everything on the menu was sourced locally and the the pride really shows in the flavor. They have options to fit everyone and their dietary restrictions; offering gluten-free and vegan options. I promise you, this is worth the stop. After breakfast you will head out on I-86 and I-390 which offer you stunning views of the hills and tress changing color. You won't even notice that you have been driving for an hour by the time you arrive at Letchworth State Park
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Arriving and parking at the park is VERY easy! Keep in mind that you will have to pay a $10 fee for a day permit at the park. You'll find ample parking throughout the park, but I recommend driving all the way down to the Upper Falls parking area. Once you are there, throw that car in park, grab your gear and get walking! The walk from the parking lot to the Upper Falls is pretty easy, it is all paved and very accessible as far as trails go.
Be sure to take your time at Letchworth State Park, it is voted the #1 State Park in the country for a reason. The main attraction here is the waterfall of the Genesee River. The river itself bisects the park and has created a deep, 17-mile gorge. It is truly breathtaking. When you enter the park, you will be given a map that shows all the trails and viewpoints throughout the park, Keep in mind that while the trail key shows distances, they are only one-way distances. So, if you want to hike the entire Gorge Trail, remember that it is 7 miles to the end and 7 miles back. The park does offer shuttle services on select weekends. However, if you plan to use this service, I would do your homework on what weekends it is available. The most-enjoyed parts of the park will be the Upper Falls, Middle Falls, Lower Falls and Inspiration Point (which you will walk into if you walk the trail from Upper to Lower). You can expect some pretty heavy foot traffic in these areas, so be patient and plan ahead if you want to get some great pictures of the waterfall.
The park has an incredible amount of amenities for a State Park (at least as far as I am used to). Inside the park you will find restrooms at just about every trail head, concessions that serve a variety of food, drinks and those little sweet treats we all want on a road trip. It is safe to say that once you are in the park, the only reason you will have to leave is that it got dark outside.
Corning, New York
A big reason that we decided to stay in Painted Post, New York for the night was to comfortably spend the evening in Corning. This small town looks like it was taken right out of your favorite seasonal movie. Even though it is a small town, that doesn't mean that it doesn't have a ton to offer. Here you will find shops, bars, restaurants, the Corning Museum of Glass and even the Smithsonian-affiliated Rockwell Museum!
On the evening of Day 1, I recommend having dinner at Atlas Pizza on East Market Street. This pizza was to die for. If you enjoy a NY-style brick oven pizza loaded with cheese and toppings, this is your place. Their menu offerings are very dynamic from a build-your-own to house specialties. Maybe you also want to have a cold Miller Lite with your pizza, reward yourself for a good day of trekking; lucky for you they have alcohol available, too! The shop is situated conveniently in the center of the downtown plaza, which makes it a great option to do a little walking around to help burn off those carbs.
Day 2: Watkins Glen State Park & The Village of Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen State Park
If you were impressed with Day 1, strap in because I think Day 2 has it beat! You'll want to leave your accommodations at close to the same time as you did yesterday. If you stayed in the Corning area, you'll only be about 25 minutes from the park. However, this park can be very busy at this time of year, so the earlier start you can get the better chance you have to beat the crowds! For this reason, we didn't really stop for breakfast. We settled for running through a nearby Starbucks for breakfast sandwiches and coffee.
Arriving at the park is important. Again, you will have to pay the $10 entrance fee and get your car parked. It is very important that you enter the park through the South entrance (3528 Route 419, Watkins Glen, NY 14891) to get the best experience out of Watkins Glen. The entrance to the Gorge Trail from this side of the park takes you up the scenic route, the picturesque facing way.
The Gorge trail itself is only 1.5 miles (one way), but it is a little slippery and can be very crowded so it will take you a little bit of time. Stopping for photos along the way, it took me a little more than an hour and a half to make the walk. Be sure to take your time, Watkins Glen has 19 waterfalls for you to see, so be sure not to miss any of them! At the end of the trail, you will come across a stair climb known as "Jacob's Ladder." This is a pretty steep incline, so if you have trouble with stairs, this might be a good spot for you to turn around if you wish. After finishing the ladder, you can take the North Rim Trail (1.1 miles) to the Visitor Center and gift shop. There is a long run of stairs at the end of this trail to reach the center, so consider this if you wish to take this route. If you are a bit worn out after the hike, there is a shuttle service that runs until 05:30 PM that costs $6 per person and will take you back to your car.
One thing worth noting about your visit to Watkins Glen - dress accordingly! This is more of a tip than it is a rule, by any means, but Watkins Glen can be a very wet and slippery environment. I would recommend wearing waterproof shoes and bringing your rain jacket; at the very least, I would wear some shoes you don't care about (like your grass-cutting shoes) and an extra pair of socks. You won't be restricted by your choice of footwear, but there are some large puddles and a fair bit of mud on the Gorge Trail; I saw a lot of folks ruin their bright-white sneakers on this trip.
Letchworth State Park is beautiful and rather large, but Watkins Glen is something out of another world. It feels like you were cast in a Lord of the Rings movie. I try to save Watkins Glen for last because I will think about it the entire 5 hour drive back to Northeast Ohio -- so I can imagine it may change my perspective on other places. I've included a couple shots that I really enjoy, but I don't think a photograph can do this gorge justice.
The fun of Watkins Glen, New York doesn't end at the park. By taking the trail to the visitor center, it puts you in a prime position to grab lunch in town and hang around North Franklin Street. My go-to recommendation after a morning spent walking in the gorge has to be Nickel's Pit Barbeque! They have a large menu of all those classic BBQ staples; brisket, pulled pork, wings - you name it. They have their own host of proprietary sauces, conveniently located at every table for your sampling. If you are going for the weekend and end up here on Sunday, they have plenty of televisions to watch your favorite team!
After lunch, you can cap off your trip by strolling the Village streets, checking out local business or stroll through a couple of galleries. The Village of Watkins Glen is also situated at the southern end of Seneca Lake. There are plenty of spaces for you to sit down to enjoy the view and the sail boats coasting across the water. Once you've had your fill, it's time to pack up the car and head on home. Unfortunately, you will have to return the real world, BUT at least you can think about how beautiful this trip Monday through Friday!
There is a lot more that Upstate New York has to offer, if you wish to extend your trip. Buttermilk Falls State Park, Taughannock Falls State Park, vineyards and much more within an hour's drive from either of these locations. For a weekend getaway, I think this itinerary is great. You get a nice mix of in-town life and nature, while not trying to pack too much activities into 2 days that you rush through it, or get home exhausted.
Now that you've got a plan, there is nothing stopping you from getting out there! I hope you do, it is absolutely stunning right now. I'd love to see some pictures that you take while you are out on the trails, you can find and tag me on Instagram: @stephens_trails_and_tales.
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