Fall Guide

Whether you’re visiting the Park in person (socially distanced, of course) or enjoying it from afar, our OFFICIAL Central Park Conservancy Fall Guide will help you make the most of this new season in the Park.

Each fall, many of Central Park’s approximately 18,000 trees transform into vibrant shades of yellow, orange, red, and more. It’s one of the Park’s most photogenic times of year! If you’re looking for a self-guided adventure to find the Park’s most amazing autumn colors, don’t miss the following landscapes.

Before you go, bookmark these handy resources: Our alerts and closures page contains the latest on major disruptions and scheduled closures in Central Park. You can also follow us on Twitter for the latest on Park happenings.

Why do leaves change color?

Each fall, trees shut down their food-making process, called photosynthesis, and begin to store energy for the season ahead. Once a tree’s trunk has filled with the necessary moisture and sugar to survive the winter, chlorophyll (a bright green chemical) starts to break down. Leaves turn various shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple as the colors of other always-present chemicals come to the forefront.

While temperature and moisture play a big role in when this process happens, so does light. Trees detect the upcoming winter not only from colder temperatures, but by the angle at which the sun hits its leaves. Because Central Park’s trees are often obscured by shadows of surrounding buildings, they can have a distorted sense of the seasons. This often results in a later—though no less beautiful—foliage turn than other parts of New York.

The Conservancy's team of designers, planners, architects, and more work with the public to continually improve Central Park. Here are a few locations closed for construction this fall—discover how we're improving these landmarks for Park visitors.