Photo: Bald Mountain © Kurt Gardner Photography
Ready for Nature’s Fall Festival of Color? How about a doubleheader in upstate New York? Stretching from the Mohawk Valley to the Adirondack Mountains, historic Herkimer County offers autumn adventures from outdoor recreation to leisurely leaf-peeping tours. Plus, foliage season is almost a month earlier in the northern mountains than in the southern valley region. “Peak Foliage” season lasts longer in Herkimer County.
A County Shaped by History
Herkimer County was long the home of Mohawk Native tribes before the Revolutionary War, and a popular Herkimer village still bears the Mohawk name. Many battle sites and historic landmarks dot the farmlands there. The county was named for General Nicholas Herkimer, who led American troops in the 1777 Battle of Oriskany. The Mohawk tribal legacy laid the foundation for tourism deeply connected to woods and waters, especially in the Adirondacks. The allure is summed up in three words: “It’s Our Nature.”
By 1830, the Erie Canal traversed southern Herkimer along what would become the New York State Thruway. Herkimer history was being written anew by sportsmen traveling from southern Herkimer to the North Country. The Adirondack Park, established in 1892, included northern Herkimer.
The vast six million-acre Adirondack Park, with thousands of lakes and mountains, soon became world-famous. The Vanderbilt family and their counterparts built luxurious “Great Camps” there, and also railroads to access their vacation homes. The northern Herkimer town of Old Forge, at the foot of the Fulton Chain of Lakes, became a major gateway to the Adirondacks.
From the Erie Canal to Herkimer Diamonds
Residents and visitors are writing new chapters of Herkimer County history, enjoying historical icons in new ways, such as the Erie Canalway Trail from Frankfort to Little Falls. Erie Canal Cruises in Herkimer offers tours on the canal, where passengers pass through historic locks. A little farther north is Herkimer Diamond Mines, where modern-day “miners” of all ages can collect the quartz crystals formed millions of years ago.
Adventures Along the Way
Herkimer County roads wind northward along the West Canada Creek, a gold medal fishery, and the Moose River, tumbling out of the mountains. Towns along the way offer unique histories of their own, while serving modern travelers.
Old Forge and neighboring communities of Eagle Bay, Big Moose, Stillwater, and Beaver River are also served by the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. Here, family-friendly hiking is king in autumn. A favorite hike is Bald Mountain, with its historic fire watch tower. McCauley Mountain’s scenic chairlift provides the best fall views all the way to Lake Placid.
Herkimer County, NY. Natural, unhurried, traditional.
Whether you’re following the changing leaves, exploring local history, or heading into the Adirondacks for an outdoor adventure, Herkimer County offers plenty of reasons to make the journey.
Explore all the options and plan your fall trip online at ExperienceHerkimerCounty.com
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Historic Herkimer County is New York State’s tallest county, with its feet in the Mohawk Valley and its head in the Adirondack Mountains.