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I was lucky enough to live in Manhattan, New York City, for a little more than 12 years, ten of which were spent living just a block from Central Park, in both upper east and west sides. I used to enjoy the Park almost every day both for leisure and work. I acquired a deep knowledge of this very special place, which is a real green lung for New Yorkers and tourists alike to enjoy.

Walking in Central Park makes you feel like you’re out of town, and it is so big and so diverse, that it’s easy to miss out on the most amazing spots it has to offer. It is 843 acres big, has a ton of paths here and there, some of them little known but oh so spectacular, and it’s rather easy to get lost in the greenery maze of this huge park. It’s better to go there with someone who knows his way around and lead you to the great places, famous or little known, for sure. If you want to explore the wonders of fall in Central Park, refrain to do it by bike, as walking around is the best way to discover the small wonders like the rays of light playing with the leaves, the cracks of dry leaves under your feet, the winding little paths under the yellowing trees leading you to almost unknown views. Let me guide you through the 13 most amazing places and experience it for yourself!

Be warned though, there are literally hundreds of places to discover in central park, and you can’t do ’em all in just one day. This is just an impossible task. You won’t enjoy the park. I will only focus on places that I find are the most suited to witness the marvel of fall foliage in this post. You’ll discover amazing places in other posts I will undoubtedly do about this magic place.

Find your way around in Central Park this fall

Visitor Centers: Fall | Winter | Spring Open from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day)
– Belvedere Castle; Mid-Park at 79th Street. (212) 772-0288
– Charles A. Dana Discovery Center; Inside Central Park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues. (347) 443-0656
– Chess & Checkers House; Mid-Park at 64th Street. (646) 254-2147
– Columbus Circle Information Kiosk; West 59th Street at Central Park West.
– Dairy Visitor Center; Mid-Park between 64th and 65th Street. (212) 794-6563

Here are a few maps you can download:

Central Park Map
Central Park Access Map, A guide for all users
Central Park Map as a downloadable PDF

You might want to pick up this other PDF along with you, to learn about the different trees you’re going to find in Central Park! Central Park Fall Foliage_2023.pdf

13 great spots to enjoy fall foliage in Central Park

Now, let’s dive deep into the 18,000 and more trees that are changing colors in fall in beautiful Central Park! Enjoy!

1- The Pond and Gastow Bridge

https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/the-pond

https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/gapstow-bridge

2- Hallet Nature Sanctuary

The smallest of the 3 woodlands of Central Park can be found here: https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/hallett-naturesanctuary

3- Wollman Rink

Definitely worth the view!

4- The Mall and Literary Walk

You can’t miss the only intentional straight line of the park, with American Elm trees planted on each side: https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/the-mall-literarywalk

5- Bethesda Terrace

https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/bethesda-terrace

6- The Lake

https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/the-lake

7- Bow Bridge

The Bow Bridge is the perfect entrance to the Rambles, a photo shoot favorite… https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/bow-bridge

8- The Ramble

A 36 acres woodland with winding paths and rustic bridges such as the Ramble Stone Arch: https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/ramble-stone-arch

9- The Reservoir

https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/reservoir

10- North Meadow

More secluded than the Great Lawn to the South, you’ll find the North Meadow here: https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/north-meadow

11- The Pool

With rustic bridges, streams and cascade, it’s definitely a great place to experience Fall foliage! https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/the-pool

12- Conservatory Garden

With 6 acres, it’s one of the park’s formal gardens, along with the French-style North Garden, the Italianate Center Garden, and the English-style South Garden.
https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/conservatory-garden

13- The North Woods

The wildest and most secluded place of the park. A must see!
https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/north-woods

A few more things to do in Central Park this Fall

Of course, the movie lovers out there must have certainly recognized more than a few famous shooting places in the pictures above. And they are right! Central Park is one of the most famous places when it comes to movie shootings. So why don’t you take the time to explore the park looking for your favorite movie spots? Here’s a great article to find them.

The Southern part of the park is known as the Children’s District with a lot of kids’ friendly places such as the Carousel, Dairy’s house, Wollman Rink, playgrounds, and more. Here is a link for the best activities for kids in Central Park: Kids Friendly Adventures in Central Park

If you take kids along on your fall foliage adventure, here is a great book for them A Picture Guide to Fall Leaves of America (Affiliate Link). Why don’t you try some arts and crafts with them, using twigs and leaves you can pick up? I tackled some fall activities you can do with kids in a past blog post, check it out!

Remember to plan accordingly and enjoy the magic of Central Park in Fall! Stay tuned for more on Central Park, as winter is gonna bring a whole different dimension to this beloved destination…

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