Glorious to View During the Season of Dazzling Color, It’s Big Red—and Yellow and Orange Take a photographic tour of autumn on the Hill, as the academic year gets into high gear and the foliage blazes with vivid hues By Joe Wilensky The 1918 edition of the guidebook Concerning Cornell offered a poetic description of fall on the Hill—one both familiar and beloved to generations of alumni before and since. “In autumn,” wrote geology professor O.D. von Engeln, “October days are marked by the rustle and scurry of fallen leaves which the breezes hurry across the broad lawns, myriad spots of vivid red and yellow color, dancing farewell to summer, on a carpet still velvet green.” More than a century later, a more fully landscaped campus is arguably even more gorgeous. McGraw Tower, framed in autumn’s splendor. Notable stars of the season now include the maples (a variety dubbed Autumn Blaze) near Bailey and Roberts halls; the Kentucky coffee and honey locust trees on the Ag Quad; and the birches and maples that surround Beebe Lake. As the University’s longtime landscape architect, David Cutter ’84, BS ’85, notes, maple trees provide “some of the best and most consistent fall colors on campus.” Dogwoods, sumac, and viburnums are among the trees and large shrubs that boast bold red foliage; vivid yellows come from the likes of birch, ash, linden, and willow—as well as the ginkgo biloba, which Cutter says “will suddenly drop nearly all their leaves in one day, creating a yellow carpet.” Scroll down for a photographic tour of the spectacular foliage seen on campus in recent years! Contrasting shades on Bailey Plaza. Hiking up the Slope amid a blaze of color. The tower (currently under restoration) rises above Uris ivy. A “golden hour” photo session at the bottom of the Slope. In balance on the Ag Quad. Scarlet scenery highlights pillars of the Schoellkopf Crescent. Commuting from class as the sun dips toward the horizon. An aerial view of the Slope. Bold reflections on Beebe. The white of Sibley Dome sets off framing foliage. Autumnal angles near Uris Hall. The sun sets behind the Ezra statue. A view through the Myron Taylor Hall arch. A campus vista, fit for a postcard. Strolling the Ag Quad. A bronze-hued view of Klarman Hall and the clock tower. Reflections in Uris Hall. Awaiting sunset on the Slope. The War Memorial in afternoon light, with Cayuga Lake beyond. A leafy view of the Arts Quad’s Lincoln Hall. Two feet (and four paws) on a bucolic path to Collegetown. Outside the Straight, portraits under a multicolored canopy. The McGraw Hall steps on a perfect fall day. Top: A bird’s-eye view of the Cascadilla Gorge Trail near campus. All images in this story by Cornell University photographers Noël Heaney, Sreang Hok, Jason Koski, and Ryan Young. Published September 24, 2024 Comments Betty Oshman Stratton, Class of 1956 1 Oct, 2024 Beautiful! Reply Linda Kelsey, Class of 1960 1 Oct, 2024 As two Cornell grads, we were married there in 1961 and have returned many times but never to see these wonderful pictures of Fall around the campus. Thanks for the Joy of looking at them. Reply Sigrid Hummel, Class of 1981 1 Oct, 2024 Yes, absolutely beautiful the campus in fall colors. Here again for a visit after many years in between! Reply Robert Fabbricatore, Class of 1966 1 Oct, 2024 These pictures bring back a lot of memories. I was born and raised on Dryden Road and as a kid spent a lot of time playing in Cascadilla Gorge. The saying in our house was not, “What did the cat drag in?” It was “What did Bobby drag in from the gorge?” The only difference I see is that students have backpacks which makes a lot of sense. Lugging four or five textbooks was cumbersome. Reply Leslie Nigel Colborn, Class of 1968 2 Oct, 2024 What a delghtful selection of pictures. Seeing the campus in full autumn glory brought a tear to my eye. Sitting in my soggy, drizzly native England where, after a rainy, cloudy summer and now an equally soggy autumn, your photos gave me a delightful morning boost today. Thank you and greetings to all on campus. Reply R, Class of 2019 3 Oct, 2024 These pictures are so ridiculously beautiful and make me so nostalgic for my time at Cornell… I really miss it there Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Quizzes & Puzzles Cornellian Crossword: ‘C.U. Soon!’ Alumni Reunion ’22 Photo Tour: The Hill Is Alive with Big Red Spirit Storytime with Corey New Book Chronicles Cornell’s International Impact