Visitors enjoy the foliage on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid in 2015. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

LAKE PLACID — The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is debuting its newly developed weekly foliage report on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

The report, emailed weekly to those who request it, will provide information about fall foliage in the Adirondacks. The report will indicate which areas are beginning to experience color change, which are in transition, and which are approaching peak color.

Generally speaking, the timing of peak fall foliage follows the landscape, with trees at higher elevations showcasing their bright colors first. The most abundant color begins in September throughout the higher elevations, with the lower elevation mountains and valleys in the Adirondack Park reaching peak sometime in mid-October.

“We wanted to put together something that provides really good visual representation in as close to real-time as possible,” said Jane Hooper, who serves as ROOST’s communications manager.

Hooper said ROOST decided to create the report, as it is one of the most common questions the office fields.

Heart Lake outside the village of Lake Placid is seen in early October 2023. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

“One of the most often-asked questions we receive is about the timing of peak fall foliage. This report provides easy access to that information each week so that travelers can plan their visit to coincide with the incredible fall scenery,” she explained.

The Adirondacks are typically the first area in New York to see leaves change color. The Adirondack Park is located within a day’s drive of 25% of the entire North American population, including the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec and the U.S. Northeast megalopolis, making it a popular fall destination for hiking, paddling, leaf-peeping excursions or other outdoor activities.

“While it is challenging to predict, we often say, ‘fall begins in the Adirondacks,’ with the colorful display typically beginning in late summer and early fall, due to the region’s high elevation and cool temperatures,” Hooper said.

ROOST’s fall foliage report, based on data gathered throughout the Adirondacks, is assembled and delivered directly to those who have requested the weekly update. Many tourism-focused organizations across New York provide similar accounts each week to the state, tracking peak foliage throughout the state. ROOST’s weekly foliage report uses the same reporting method while focusing on the Adirondack region, specifically.

While this is the first year ROOST is providing a direct email report, Hooper noted that assembling foliage information is nothing new for the office.

Some of the High Peaks, including Algonquin and Wright, are seen here from the Adirondack Loj Road outside the village of Lake Placid. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

“For many, many years, ROOST has been supplying our fall foliage leaf report to the group that assembles the ‘I Love NY’ report,” she said.

To gather the information, ROOST relies on a network of leaf peepers throughout Essex and Hamilton counties, as well as Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake in southern Franklin County. Hooper explained that between eight and 10 individuals each travel to multiple towns and villages throughout the area.

“Each week they submit what they’re seeing in their areas in terms of (color) percentage change, and send photos whenever possible,” said Hooper. ROOST then analyzes and compares the data to create maps showing how far along foliage is throughout the region.

Hooper said ROOST has not yet decided on an exact date for the first report, but subscribers should expect it to be released sometime in the second week of September.

The reports are expected to continue through mid-to late October. Those wishing to sign up for the weekly emails can do so by visiting: www.adirondacksusa.com/foliage-email.

“We anticipate people who receive the report will be enthusiastic, given we field so many calls about it. This is going to be a bit of a pilot year, and we are going to try to have this in our arsenal going forward,” Hooper said.

ROOST is the destination marketing and management organization for Hamilton and Essex counties, Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, the Whiteface Region and Lake Placid, all located within the Adirondacks in New York state.