It stitches two nations together—gliding through some of North America’s most iconic landscapes that feel like a hidden passage into fall’s finest phases of changing leaves. Fall rail travel is arguably the best way to see the golden season, when leaves and trees turn fiery yellows, reds, and oranges, revealing stunning hidden spots you can’t see from the Interstate. Amtrak, a portmanteau of the words America and track, is your best chance of experiencing the grandiosity of the season.
Of the many Amtrak routes, the Adirondack, which travels between New York City and Montreal, Canada, offers the most enchanting views in the fall, as it glides through the Hudson Valley, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondacks. Its connection between two extraordinary endpoints makes it Amtrak’s most beautiful fall train, crossing the U.S.-Canada border and showing off both countries’ most scenic sights that transform into autumn wonderlands when in season.
The Adirondack is also Amtrak’s fastest-growing route, according to the Amtrak FY24 Ridership Report, climbing at a remarkable 164.1% increase from fiscal year 2023. Amtrak, in 2024 alone, hit a record-breaking ticket revenue of $2.5 billion. But how and what makes the Adirondack an extraordinary route in the fall?
Amtrak’s Most Beautiful Fall Route Crosses The U.S.-Canada Border
Heading north and crossing into Montreal, the Adirondack follows the Empire Corridor from New York City for 381 miles in about 10 hours, through the wine country of the Hudson River Valley, where farmland, sleepy, charming riverside towns, and dramatic cliffs towering over the tracks in the Hudson Highlands blaze with the fiery colors of the fall. You’ll be in awe of the fall foliage’s reflection on the glistening water as the train hugs the Hudson River, where it narrows like a fjord-like passage.
As the train continues up north, the train rewards you with the mesmerizing beauty of the Adirondack Mountains, with its scenery softening into silos, dairy farms, and meadows, as it passes through the state capital, Albany, one of the most beautiful places to visit in Upstate New York. As soon as the foothills of the Adirondacks show up, the vibrant fall colors create a more sophisticated, but wilder terrain, when the mountains’ blue-green forests are joined by the maples and aspens as they peak in reds and golds. But there’s more…
Amtrak’s Adirondack Route Details
- Route Established: 1974
- Endpoints: New York City, New York ↔ Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Total Distance: 381 miles
- Travel Duration: 10 to 11 hours
Lake Champlain—known for its very own folklore named Champ, the sea serpent — treats you with its glassy waters, with views of Vermont’s Green Mountains across the lake on a clear day. The route along the “Adirondack Coast” of Lake Champlain is rimmed with striking fall colors, passing through charming lakeside towns and historic sites, such as Fort Ticonderoga, Port Henry, and Westport, and crossing into the U.S.-Canada border in Montreal.
As the train enters Canadian soil, you’ll love the views of the cityscape and Mount Royal, the namesake of Montreal, Quebec’s French-speaking city. Montreal itself offers beautiful contrasting views in the fall, when its urban architecture is mixed with crisp air, vivid fall colors, and seasonal cultural events just in time for the golden season.
About Amtrak’s Adirondack Trains
The 381-mile Adirondack runs along a portion of the broader 461-mile Empire Corridor, with major stops in Yonkers, Poughkeepsie, Albany–Rensselaer, and Schenectady, then north of Saratoga Springs between the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain, entering Canadian soil at Rouses Point. This is northbound on the Adirondack train #69, while the southbound train #68 departs Montreal for New York City, offering equally gorgeous fall foliage, especially during autumn’s peak season.
If you leave Montreal in the morning, you’ll be treated to the beautiful views of Lake Champlain getting its first spill of sunlight, and the breathtaking sunset of the Hudson Highlands.
The trains started servicing around 19 stations in 1974, three years after Amtrak was established. Both trains #68 and #69 travel daily with coach class accommodation, a café service, and Wi-Fi onboard. For those who want to explore beyond New York, Amtrak offers connecting trains to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Passengers are encouraged to book early during peak travel seasons, as the route is especially popular in October due to the vibrant fall colors across the route.
When To Ride The Adirondack And Where To Stop For The Best Fall Scenery
Amtrak has some of the best trips to take in the fall, but the Adirondack, between New York City and Montreal, might be your ultimate fall train travel, highlighting the iconic and most scenic sights of both the U.S. and Canada. The route is at its most vibrant in the golden season, but timing is everything.
Key Highlights & Peak Fall Stops Along The Adirondack Route
- Peak Timing: Peak color progresses along the route from late September in the far northern Adirondack region down to mid-to-late October in the Hudson Valley.
- Hudson River Valley: Golden oaks and blazing maples beautifully reflect on the shimmering waters and offer a postcard-perfect frame with cinematic cliffs in the Hudson Highlands.
- Adirondack & Lake Champlain Peak: The Adirondack Mountains and Lake Champlain Valley typically reach their peak colors between late September and the second week of October.
- Must-Visit Towns: Iconic stops include Poughkeepsie, Hudson, Albany, Saratoga Springs, Ticonderoga, Port Henry, Plattsburgh, Saint-Lambert, and Montreal.
All these stops have their own offerings, ranging from local farmers’ markets, art galleries, and seasonal events, highlighting the best of autumn. Local cafés serve seasonal treats, while hiking trails and scenic overlooks draw leaf peepers from all over. Amtrak’s Adirondack is not just a journey, but a celebration of the season’s best.
Amtrak’s Adirondack is indeed the powerhouse of fall foliage — from mountains, forests, and the glistening waters of the Hudson River and Lake Champlain, all of which are the U.S. and Canada’s most scenic sights to feast on, while enjoying the Adirondack’s services and amenities.
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