There is perhaps no better buffer between the hot, sticky summer and frigid winter than fall, its cornucopia of color spread across treetops and scattered on the ground.

And there is perhaps no better place to take in the toasted red, orange and golden hues than the Finger Lakes, where rolling hills of warm-colored foliage wrap around those glacier-cut bodies of water like thick woolen scarves.

But time is running out to enjoy the color, as trees peak and begin to drop their leaves.

“If people want to get out, they should get out this weekend,” said Meg Vanek, executive director of Cayuga County Office of Tourism and a veteran leaf peeper for the state.

As a leaf peeper, Vanek tracks the change in color in the county. Trees reached their color saturation this week, she said.

Color came later this year, due to a particularly wet summer, but the hues painting treetops now are no less impressive than previous years, she said.

“It's been quite brilliant,” she said.

It is no accident that autumn in New York is particularly beautiful. The state has nearly the same acreage of broad-leafed trees - more leaf surface area means more color - as the entire Northeast, according to the state's tourism agency.

And with a variety of tree types comes a variety of color. While beech, birch and willow trees turn yellow and gold, maple, dogwood and sumac trees transform into bright reds and deep purples.

The area is alive with color, but not for long. Once trees reach their peak, they begin to drop leaves within a few days.

Vanek advised taking some time this weekend to enjoy the foliage before the beauty is all beneath our feet and the tree limbs bare. Even better, she said, map out a route that includes a few seasonal activities along the way.

Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net

Route 34 (south)

Travel south on Route 34 for a different take on fall colors. Lined by rolling farmland, Route 34 offers a picturesque view of farms at harvest - corn fields being cut, sheep and cows grazing in fields and a patchwork of warm fall colors in the background. Pick up a pumpkin for carving or squash for dinner at one of the farm stands or barns that line the road. Approaching Ithaca, the route slopes downward for a bird's eye view of the trees surrounding the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, as well as their reflection in the water, broken into ripples by sail boats braving the crisp weather.

Seaway Trail (Route 104A)

For those left wanting more after an enchanting drive up Route 38, head west on Route 104A, the Seaway Trail. The nationally-designated scenic byway hugs the edge of Lake Ontario for a view that is beautiful year-round. A left-hand turn onto Route 104 A will lead to Fair Haven Beach State Park, where hiking trails cut through the colorful trees.

Route 38 (north)

At certain points, trees crowd the narrow road, nearly forming a tunnel of bright red, orange and gold leaves that seem to illuminate when hit by the sun and leave behind a lattice of shade and light on the pavement below. Follow Route 38 to where it connects to Route 104A and end up at the Sterling Nature Center to continue on a fall nature adventure by foot. From the center's parking lot, take any of the trails for a leisurely walk of burnt orange and green scenery that leads to the bluffs overlooking Lake Ontario, not more than 200 yards from the trail head.

Around Owasco Lake (Route 38 - Rockefeller Road - Route 38A)

At just more than 30 miles, a loop around Owasco Lake is a scenic drive with waterfront views that can all be scoped in an afternoon. But to make a day of it, leave early and stop halfway at South Shore Marina in Scipio Center, where kayak, canoe and pontoon boat rentals are available until Nov. 1. Paddle out on Owasco Lake to become engulfed in fire-colored surroundings. Those interested in a more intimate encounter with fresh fall air can grease the gears on a bicycle and travel from Emerson Park down Route 38, where a bike trail follows the western edge of the lake.