Fall Foliage Colors: Maine
Autumn Tours of New England Countryside, Rural Scenery and Beauty
Sep 23, 2008
Short days, and cool nights tell New Englanders that fall is close on. This is when farms bring in their harvest, veggie stands and PYO orchards do a brisk business and the countryside is a riot of color before the cold whiteness of winter. The whole of New England shares this glorious period of about a month, but the color spreads as if laid on by a paintbrush.
Peak or Off-Peak
Everyone wants to see the foliage at its peak, but the peak is a moveable feast, changing throughout New England day by day, slowly moving from North to South as days grow shorter. It begins in mid-central Maine, northern New Hampshire and Vermont in mid- September, then rolls south through Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts until it dies down late in October and early November in the hills of Connecticut and bays of Rhode Island.
By late in September the colors are becoming bright in northern Maine with low-lying marshy areas showing the first flushes of red as swamp maples turn and birches change to yellow. Peak in Northern Maine comes from the end of September through mid-October. While much of the state is covered with pine and other conifers, the clash of color against their dark green makes them even brighter.
History and Color Along the Coast
A perennial favorite is the historic coastal route, passing through historic towns and villages that dot the extraordinary peninsulas of the Maine coast. North of Portland the coast is a warren of long narrow arms extending out into the sea. Alongside the road, small white farmhouses sit among fields and the roads often have glimpses of small bays and estuaries. Often these points of land have only one main road. Half the fun of Maine at this time of year is exploring these hidden byways.
Bath and Damariscotta
At Bath look for Route 209 through Phippsburg. At the end of the peninsula lies popular Popham Beach, and just before that a side road leads to Sebasco and its well known resort, and another to Small Point Beach. Before leaving the area, be sure to see the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. Continue on up historic Route 1 and over the bridge over the broad Sheepscot River to Route 27 on the other side. Take it south to Boothbay and on to Boothbay Harbor. Route 96, just at the border of Boothbay Harbor, is a side trip through East Boothbay to scenic Ocean Point .
Or at Damariscotta take Route 129-130 south to South Bristol, then double back and turn right onto Pemaquid Road over to Route 130 south as far as Pemaquid Point. Then retrace back as far as Route 32, taking it to the beautiful little town of Waldoboro.
Inland: West Maine, Lakes and Mountains
But Maine is more than coast. Inland, follow I-495 north of Portland and get off at Route 26 in Gray. It heads north and a bit west through the Maine lake country through towns with names like Poland, Norway and West Paris giving a bit of European twist. At Bethel (be sure to see the town) take Route 2 west along the Androscoggin River and then follow Route 113 south through Fryeburg to Route 25. Go east a short way on Route 25 to Route 35 at Sebago Lake, then on to North Windham and Route 115 back to Gray. Even more wilderness is on Route 201, just north of Waterville. At Jackman Station follow Route 6 to Milo and then south on Route 16 back to I-95 north of Bangor.
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