New York's Woodsy Hiking Trail Is Full Of Gorgeous Fall Foliage And Waterfall Views

The Catskills and Adirondacks in Upstate New York are overcrowded with leaf peepers every fall. But if you keep heading west, you'll find the Oak Rim Trail on the Tug Hill Plateau. The ridge trail looks down into a deep ravine full of colorful leaves. If you extend the hike, you can see a 100-foot waterfall tumbling into it, as well.

Tug Hill is a huge region — bigger than the states of Delaware or Rhode Island — in the North Country of New York State. Tug Hill State Forest sits in the northern part of the plateau. Its Oak Rim Trail begins in the tiny town of Rodman. The moderate, out-and-back trail is scenic and fairly short. Depending on where you park and enter the trail, it is either 2.2 or 3.1 miles long. Either way, the rugged path climbs to the top of the Inman Gulf. The deep gorge drops straight into a hardwood forest and is more than 300 feet deep at times. The view, heightened by the vibrant orange, red, and yellow foliage, is impressive.

You'll need a car to explore this remote area. The closest airport, Watertown International Airport (ART), is small and 20 miles away. It only receives daily flights from Philadelphia. For more flexibility, fly into the larger Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), which has nonstop service to 29, mostly East Coast, destinations. From Syracuse, the snowiest city in America, it's just over an hour's drive to the state forest.

After reaching the top of the gorge, follow the Oak Rim Trail along the edge of the Inman Gulf. The trail overlooks the Gulf Stream and also passes Cascade Falls. There are numerous benches, allowing you to rest with a view along the way. The trail eventually connects with the John Young's and Inman Glide Trails. Though together, this trail becomes a 9.2-mile hike, the extra mileage is worth it for the view of Rainbow Falls.

Rainbow Falls spills about 100 feet down a sheer rock face on the north side of the Inman Gulf. Its name comes from the rainbow that appears when the sun hits the mist at the bottom of the waterfall. Since streams fill the waterfall, its volume grows when there is more water in the streams, typically during autumn and early spring. In the winter, Rainbow Falls looks like a sheet of ice. Regardless of the time of year, there are, shockingly, no crowds elbowing for a view of the waterfall. 

You might not see anyone at all around this natural wonder because Tug Hill's 2,100 square miles of land are located in a scarcely populated area between Lake Ontario and the Adirondacks, a mountain range that hides some dangerous hiking trails. The state forest, which covers more than 12,200 acres, is famous for its harsh winters and abundant snowfall. Before the snow arrives, its trails offer gorgeous views of the fall foliage.

After taking in the sight of Rainbow Falls surrounded by brilliant fall foliage, you will probably be eager to continue hiking in solitude around the Tug Hill Plateau. There are a lot of short, wooded trails in Tug Hill State Forest. The Home Run Trail goes through a northern hardwood forest. The Electric Loop passes groves of red pines, white pines, and white spruces. You will find Japanese larches as you climb the steep hills on the Linkup Trail. All of these trails become cross-country skiing tracks in the winter.

On the eastern edge of the Tug Hill Plateau, less than 25 miles to the southeast, Whetstone Gulf State Park has another majestic gorge. This one, carved out of Whetstone Creek, is 3 miles long and nearly 400 feet deep. It provides one of the most impressive natural views east of the Rocky Mountains. This underrated New York state park has scenic camping, stunning landscapes, and fall foliage. Its Gorge and Rim Trails, with their soaring cliffs and panoramic vantage points, are particularly gorgeous in fall. Once again, there are typically no crowds.

When you are looking for a spot to rest in between hikes, you can head to Lowville. The small New York town along Mill Creek is known for its rural charm and locally owned diners. Lloyd's of Lowville and the Elm are both casual spots that serve comfort food. Enjoy the break; there is more hiking ahead of you.