The Capital District of New York State has a ton of good hikes and many great views, especially in autumn when the foliage is colorful. We swung through Grafton, New York to climb Dickinson Hill Fire Tower and Beebe Hill State Forest in Austerlitz for a second fire tower.
Check out Grafton Lakes State Park, a 2,545-acre state park in Rensselaer County, where you'll find 25 miles of trails and 6 ponds. The hikes here are easy, but the view from the tower makes the visit well worth it.
Next we headed a little south to Austerlitz, New York and Beebe Hill State Forest for a second fire tower. The hike to this tower is short but beautiful, and the views from the top are amazing. Neighboring Harvey Mountain is the highest in the county at 2,065 feet.
Between the two forested areas, you'll find many great hikes, and two lean-tos for camping. While you're in the area, be sure to check out Chatham, Ghent and Kinderhook, New York, where you'll find Chatham Brewing for a few pours, Omi International Arts Center and Kinderhook Farm's Farm Store.