Leaf Peeping: Central Park

Spring has flowers. Winter has magical snow. Summer always makes me smile. But my favorite season in NYC is definitely fall. Once the leaves start to change nothing can keep me away from Central Park as I hunt for the perfect Central Park fall foliage photo!!

Central Park is the perfect place to enjoy fall in the city. The yellows, oranges and reds of the leaves make an already beautiful park STUNNING. And the park tends to be a little less crowded than during spring and summer.

If you follow me on instagram (shameless plug: @khemric) you know I’ve explored every corner of Central Park trying to find the perfect photo location. Here are some of my absolute favorite photo locations in Central Park. And if you’re looking for what to wear….definitely check out some of my favorite fall looks.

The Bridges of Central Park

Bow Bridge

The Lake (73rd Street)

In my opinion Bow Bridge is the most picturesque bridge in all of Central Park. The stunning bridge is decorated with interlocking circle banisters and has planters at both ends. The bridge is just south of The Ramble so when the leaves change you can stand on the bridge with beautiful foliage in the background. During warmer months a great way to photograph the bridge is from a rowboat.

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Gapstow Bridge

62nd Street at the Pond

Gapstow Bridge crosses the Pond near 62nd Street and has stunning views of the NYC skyline. I love the skyline view since if you find the right angle you can get the Plaza Hotel on Central Park South in the background!! The Gapstow Bridge is only a 2 minute walk from Wollman Rink if you’re there once the skating rink opens for the season!!

Oak Bridge

77th Street - North end of Lake

Oak Bridge at the north end of The Lake is the perfect fall photo spot. It’s usually less busy than some of the other, more famous, central park bridges. But even though it’s not visited as much it still has amazing views of the city. I especially like how the trees that overhang this bridge make for amazing framing when shooting towards downtown.

The Lakes and Ponds of Central Park

The Lake

West Side - 72nd Street - 78th Street

The lake is 20 acres of peacefulness right in the heart of central park. It truly is my happy place. The lake makes an amazing fall photo backdrop since all along its shores are leafy trees. I especially love the lake since from the east side you can get the beautiful buildings of Central Park West in the background of photos.

Lakeshore Picnic Spot

Southern Bank of The Lake

If you follow the path from Bow Bridge west along the southern edge of The Lake, you’ll come to the PERFECT place for a picnic. I love a good Central Park Picnic and this is one of my favorite places since it’s so picturesque.

One of my favorite things about this place for a photo is that you get an amazing reflection of the San Remo in the lake. This is one of the few places the grass goes almost to the edge of the water so it really is the perfect picnic place.

The Ramble

Mid Park 73rd to 79th Street

The Ramble is the ‘wild’ area of central park. It’s filled with twisting paths, rock outcroppings, trees and streams. It’s diverse landscape makes it the perfect photo backdrop for whatever you’re feeling.

The Ramble has an incredible lookout spot. Just head north from the Bow Bridge and you’ll see a small rocky path about 100 feet away on your left. At the end are a few flattop rocks that are the perfect lookout spot over The Lake.

Hernshead

West Side at 75th Street

Hernshead is a rocky area jutting out into the west side of the lake. I like it because on the sides of the rocky outcropping are low bushes that turn beautiful reds and oranges and are totally different from what you find in other places around the Lake. There is also a pavilion at Hernshead that often has musicians in it.

Other Central Park Attractions

Bethesda Terrace & Fountain

Mid Park at 72nd Street

Bethesda Terrace connects the north end of the Mall with the southern edge of the Lake in Central Park. The top of Bethesda Terrace is the perfect place to take photos overlooking the row-boat filled lake and Bethesda Fountain. The lower level has stunning arches and a beautiful ceiling. I love the dramatic lighting and ceilings of the lower level and it’s actually where we took some of our engagement photos!!

If you follow me on instagram (shameless plug: @khemric) you know I’ve explored every corner of Central Park trying to find the perfect photo location. Here are some of my top fall photo locations in Central Park

The Mall

Mid Park at 66th Street

The Mall is right in the middle of the park close to 66th street. It’s a totally iconic place and it’s been a set for a ton of movies. I love it because the symmetrical trees overhanging the central promenade is gorgeous any time of year but especially when the fall colors emerge.