Maine Foliage Color Spreading Through Northern, Western Regions

Week 3: Maine Fall Foliage Report 

Augusta, Maine - Peak foliage color has begun to appear in the northernmost regions of Maine, according to the third 2012 Fall Foliage Report from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Maine fall foliage conditions for Sept. 26. Credit: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Currently, Maine Forest Service and state park rangers are reporting peak, or at least 75 percent, color change in all of Aroostook County from Fort Kent to Houlton, and including the northern half of Baxter State Park and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Trees in the areas have low leaf drop of less than 30 percent.

Maine Forest Service Ranger Amanda Barker suggests a driving loop tour from Fort Kent down Route 161 to New Sweden and Caribou, then north on Route 1 to Van Buren and Madawaska. The Fish River Scenic Byway on Route 11 between Fort Kent Mills and Portage in Aroostook County also has great foliage color, according to rangers.

High foliage color between 50 and 70 percent toward peak, is being reported by rangers in the northwestern tracking zone covering Greenville, Moosehead Lake, Jackman, The Forks and Stratton. The region has low leaf drop, according to the report.

Moderate foliage color between 30 and 50 percent toward peak has reached the tracking zones covering the Rangeley region and Bethel, Dover-Foxcroft and Bangor, and the downeast coast from Bucksport to Eastport, according to rangers. Leaf drop ranges from low to very low in those regions.

Rangers are reporting low leaf color between 10 and 30 percent toward peak in the remainder of the state. Overnight temperatures in the 40s and the continued decrease in daylight will spark the gradual change in leaf color from north to south through late October, according to the report.

A view of multi-colored foliage taken Sept. 24 along a river in Carrabassett Valley, Maine. Credit: Deb Williams, Maine Public Reserved Lands

Maine's fall foliage conditions will be updated each Wednesday through at least Oct. 17 at the state's official foliage website, MaineFoliage.com. Visitors to the site can sign up to receive the weekly reports by email, and submit photos of foliage scenes from around Maine. Maine foliage fans can also share photos and favorite viewing spots at the Maine Fall Foliage page on Facebook.

Ranger-led foliage hikes will be offered at Mount Blue and Aroostook State Parks on Sept. 29, while a guided canoe/kayak paddle is scheduled at Androscoggin Riverlands State Park on Sept. 30. More information about each activity can be found at http://take-it-outside.com/hike2012.shtml.

Also happening this weekend: the Pemaquid Oyster Festival in Damariscotta; Harbor Fest in Boothbay Harbor; AppleFest in Monmouth; and the Deer Isle-Stonington Local Foods Festival.

Go to www.visitmaine.com for more information about fall activities and events in Maine.