The Catskill Mountain Railroad provides a Fall Foliage Special, an hour-and-a-half, 12-mile jaunt along scenic Esopus Creek. The train, which can be boarded in Mt. Tremper, New York, chugs along though the autumn spectacle of the Catskills, stopping in Phoenicia, where you can explore the historic Phoenicia depot as well as the Empire State Railway Museum. The train then departs for Cold Brook station and returns to Mt. Tremper through the colorful woods.
In North Creek, N.Y., the Upper Hudson River Railroad operates a fall foliage tour along the Hudson River through the Adirondacks. During this two-hour, 8.5-mile trek, the train pauses for a 30-minute layover at the quaint Riverside station where you can visit the gift shop and purchase refreshments before returning to North Creek Village.
From New York City, those looking for views of autumn color can hop on the Hudson Line of the MTA Metro North at Grand Central Station. This route runs north along the Hudson River to Poughkeepsie. Sitting on the left side of the train will give you panoramic views of the vivid foliage of upstate New York. Trains run every 30 to 60 minutes.
