Maine is undeniably beautiful at any time of year, but we’re a bit more partial to the fall. Maybe it’s because we’ve had a nice long exit from summer into fall and we’ve had some time to appreciate the leaves turning the glorious reds, yellows, and orange that dot the landscape each October. Now that the leaves are showing us their colors, it’s time to hit the road and see some of the best examples of the best fall foliage in Maine.
This adventure is full of the best things to do in fall in Maine. Follow this route (click here for the exact map and directions) and we promise you’ll see some beautiful scenery, mixed with a stop or two for meals and attractions. Once you’ve done the trip, show us a photo of your favorite fall colors over on our Facebook page!
Google Maps Ready to see fall colors in Maine? Gas up the tank and venture on this wonderful road trip.
- You’ll start your trip in Skowhegan..
David Wilson / Flickr This gorgeous road trip begins in the town of Skowhegan, which is a Native American name meaning “A Place to Watch.” They must have been thinking of fall leaves when naming the town, because this rural Maine place is the ideal spot to begin your trip to watch the trees change their colors. Skowhegan, ME 04976, USA
- Before heading off, stop in at Alice’s Restaurant for breakfast.
Marjorie M. / Yelp Alice’s Restaurant is a classic Mom and Pop diner. Great for eggs, pancakes or just about anything else you’d need to fuel you through the day. It’s a real old-fashioned place and they don’t even have an internet presence, but it’s great!Address: 101 North Avenue, Skowhegan, ME 04976. Alice’s Restaurant, 101 North Ave, Skowhegan, ME 04976, USA
- Route 150 is how you’ll really begin this beautiful route.
AlecSalisburyPhotography / Google Maps The road will take you through some lovely small towns, including Athens. Athens, ME, USA
- From Athens, you’ll hop onto Route 151 heading east.
Charley / Flickr This portion of the trip will take you east and into the small town of Hartland, on the Sebasticook River. The river flows through the Great Moose Lake. This place really glistens with color during peak fall foliage. Hartland, ME, USA
- While you’re in the area, head to Morrill Pond, on the Morrill Pond Road, for more small town vibes.
Eric Harrison / Flickr Spend some time exploring the area for some lovely foliage before heading north into the beloved Maine woods. Morrill Pond, Hartland, ME 04943, USA
- Next head to Sebasticook Lake and the town of Newport.
glarita / Google Maps The lake in Newport is home to one of the oldest fishing weirs in the country. This series of stakes was used by ancient fishermen to herd fish into one specific section for easy capture. The fishing weirs were found in 1992 and are about 5,800 years old! The lake is a beautiful place to spend some time taking in the fall foliage. Sebasticook Lake, Newport, ME 04953, USA
- From here, take Route 7 towards Peaks Kenny State Park.
Rene Rivers / Flickr You’ll pass through Dexter and Dover-Foxcroft. The lake is a great place for a crisp late morning picnic on Sebec Lake. Sebec Lake, Maine, USA
- Next up is Route 6, where you’ll head east into Guilford.
smilla4 / Flickr There’s nothing better than watching the leaves changing color in Maine, and Guilford definitely delivers. Guilford, ME, USA
- Make sure to visit Lowe’s Covered Bridge, which was built in 1857.
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr It was demolished by the flood of April 1987, but a modern covered bridge, modeled after the original, was built in its place in 1990. Lowe’s Bridge Road, Lowe’s Bridge Rd, Sangerville, ME, USA
- Next up is Greenville.
Dana Moos / Flickr Head north on Route 6/15 towards the home of Moosehead Lake, as well as Wilson Pond (where this photo was taken) and take in the rainbow of colors. The Moosehead area might just mean a moose sighting as well. Check for a local moose safari! Greenville, ME, USA
- Don’t forget lunch at The Stress Free Moose Cafe!
StressFree Moose Pub/Cafe / Facebook The lovely atmosphere at this local spot will fill up your heart and THEN your stomach. Order just about anything to fuel your way back towards your starting point. Check out the Stress Free Moose Cafe’s website here. Stress Free Moose Pub & Cafe, 65 Pritham Ave, Greenville, ME 04441, USA
- From the Moosehead region, continue to head north on Route 6/15 to Jackman.
Lois Smith / Flickr Jackman is located on the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway (which is coming up next!) and can be reached just before the Canadian border. You might be more familiar with Jackman if you love winter activities, but you might love it even more in the fall after this trip! Jackman, ME 04945, USA
- From Jackman, you’ll finally be on one of the most lovely roads in Maine - Route 201 which is an Old Canada Road-National Scenic Byway.
InAweofGod’sCreation / Flickr Heading South here will take you to The Forks, and the Kennebec River. The trees along the shore should be a shining example of Maine’s fall foliage and they’re absolutely worth of a full stop for some photos. U.S. 201, US-201, Augusta, ME, USA
- While in Forks, make sure you take in the glorious Moxie Falls.
Jeff Gunn / Flickr Here, you should plan on parking to take the half-mile walk to see the falls up close. It’s a great and easy trail! Moxie Falls, Unnamed Road, West Forks, ME 04985, USA
- Continuing South on Route 201 towards Bingham will reveal more fall colors.
Jeff Gunn / Flickr The route is a fairly recent addition to the list of National Scenic Highways and provides views of the Kennebec River and area mountains. Bingham, ME, USA
- Now, you’ll head back into Skowhegan via Route 201 and finish up at one of Maine’s stranger attractions - The Giant Skowhegan Indian.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr Erected in 1969 in honor of Maine’s 150th anniversary and dedicated to the Abenaki Indians who inhabited the land, Skowhegan’s Indian measures in a whopping 62 feet tall - and that’s not including the 20-foot base. 65 Madison Ave, Skowhegan, ME 04976, USA
Looking for other fun Maine road trips? Check out this spooky one that will take you though some of Maine’s most haunted places.
Google Maps
Ready to see fall colors in Maine? Gas up the tank and venture on this wonderful road trip.
David Wilson / Flickr
This gorgeous road trip begins in the town of Skowhegan, which is a Native American name meaning “A Place to Watch.” They must have been thinking of fall leaves when naming the town, because this rural Maine place is the ideal spot to begin your trip to watch the trees change their colors.
Skowhegan, ME 04976, USA
Marjorie M. / Yelp
Alice’s Restaurant is a classic Mom and Pop diner. Great for eggs, pancakes or just about anything else you’d need to fuel you through the day. It’s a real old-fashioned place and they don’t even have an internet presence, but it’s great!Address: 101 North Avenue, Skowhegan, ME 04976.
Alice’s Restaurant, 101 North Ave, Skowhegan, ME 04976, USA
AlecSalisburyPhotography / Google Maps
The road will take you through some lovely small towns, including Athens.
Athens, ME, USA
Charley / Flickr
This portion of the trip will take you east and into the small town of Hartland, on the Sebasticook River. The river flows through the Great Moose Lake. This place really glistens with color during peak fall foliage.
Hartland, ME, USA
Eric Harrison / Flickr
Spend some time exploring the area for some lovely foliage before heading north into the beloved Maine woods.
Morrill Pond, Hartland, ME 04943, USA
glarita / Google Maps
The lake in Newport is home to one of the oldest fishing weirs in the country. This series of stakes was used by ancient fishermen to herd fish into one specific section for easy capture. The fishing weirs were found in 1992 and are about 5,800 years old! The lake is a beautiful place to spend some time taking in the fall foliage.
Sebasticook Lake, Newport, ME 04953, USA
Rene Rivers / Flickr
You’ll pass through Dexter and Dover-Foxcroft. The lake is a great place for a crisp late morning picnic on Sebec Lake.
Sebec Lake, Maine, USA
smilla4 / Flickr
There’s nothing better than watching the leaves changing color in Maine, and Guilford definitely delivers.
Guilford, ME, USA
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
It was demolished by the flood of April 1987, but a modern covered bridge, modeled after the original, was built in its place in 1990.
Lowe’s Bridge Road, Lowe’s Bridge Rd, Sangerville, ME, USA
Dana Moos / Flickr
Head north on Route 6/15 towards the home of Moosehead Lake, as well as Wilson Pond (where this photo was taken) and take in the rainbow of colors. The Moosehead area might just mean a moose sighting as well. Check for a local moose safari!
Greenville, ME, USA
StressFree Moose Pub/Cafe / Facebook
The lovely atmosphere at this local spot will fill up your heart and THEN your stomach. Order just about anything to fuel your way back towards your starting point. Check out the Stress Free Moose Cafe’s website here.
Stress Free Moose Pub & Cafe, 65 Pritham Ave, Greenville, ME 04441, USA
Lois Smith / Flickr
Jackman is located on the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway (which is coming up next!) and can be reached just before the Canadian border. You might be more familiar with Jackman if you love winter activities, but you might love it even more in the fall after this trip!
Jackman, ME 04945, USA
InAweofGod’sCreation / Flickr
Heading South here will take you to The Forks, and the Kennebec River. The trees along the shore should be a shining example of Maine’s fall foliage and they’re absolutely worth of a full stop for some photos.
U.S. 201, US-201, Augusta, ME, USA
Jeff Gunn / Flickr
Here, you should plan on parking to take the half-mile walk to see the falls up close. It’s a great and easy trail!
Moxie Falls, Unnamed Road, West Forks, ME 04985, USA
The route is a fairly recent addition to the list of National Scenic Highways and provides views of the Kennebec River and area mountains.
Bingham, ME, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
Erected in 1969 in honor of Maine’s 150th anniversary and dedicated to the Abenaki Indians who inhabited the land, Skowhegan’s Indian measures in a whopping 62 feet tall - and that’s not including the 20-foot base.
65 Madison Ave, Skowhegan, ME 04976, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Fall Foliage In Maine August 13, 2019 Elisa Regulski What is the best time to see peak fall foliage in Maine? You’ll find peak fall foliage during Columbus Day Weekend, but gorgeous autumn colors can be seen as early as September. Plan ahead and soak up the stunning sights. Maine’s whimsical autumn is meant to be enjoyed. Where are the best places in Maine to see fall foliage? Acadia National Park glistens with fall colors, and people love venturing here to see the views. The gorgeous granite rocks and glimmering shoreline look even more spectacular amongst the crimson fall trees. People also love going to Baxter State Park during the autumn months. This natural wonderland offers breathtaking views of Maine’s vibrant colors. What are the best Maine hikes to take in the fall? Little River Community Trails, located in Belfast, are some splendid fall hikes. Here, you can walk along the colorful trees and feel the refreshing crisp air. Higgins Mountain is another short and sweet fall hike. This stroll, located in Reid State Park in Georgetown, is only half a mile, but it’s jam-packed with astonishing sights. Step Falls Trail, located in Newry, is a breezy one-mile trail that takes you to a rushing waterfall. This easy hike is perfect for all skill levels.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Fall Foliage In Maine
August 13, 2019
Elisa Regulski
What is the best time to see peak fall foliage in Maine? You’ll find peak fall foliage during Columbus Day Weekend, but gorgeous autumn colors can be seen as early as September. Plan ahead and soak up the stunning sights. Maine’s whimsical autumn is meant to be enjoyed. Where are the best places in Maine to see fall foliage? Acadia National Park glistens with fall colors, and people love venturing here to see the views. The gorgeous granite rocks and glimmering shoreline look even more spectacular amongst the crimson fall trees. People also love going to Baxter State Park during the autumn months. This natural wonderland offers breathtaking views of Maine’s vibrant colors. What are the best Maine hikes to take in the fall? Little River Community Trails, located in Belfast, are some splendid fall hikes. Here, you can walk along the colorful trees and feel the refreshing crisp air. Higgins Mountain is another short and sweet fall hike. This stroll, located in Reid State Park in Georgetown, is only half a mile, but it’s jam-packed with astonishing sights. Step Falls Trail, located in Newry, is a breezy one-mile trail that takes you to a rushing waterfall. This easy hike is perfect for all skill levels.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
You’ll find peak fall foliage during Columbus Day Weekend, but gorgeous autumn colors can be seen as early as September. Plan ahead and soak up the stunning sights. Maine’s whimsical autumn is meant to be enjoyed.
Where are the best places in Maine to see fall foliage?
Acadia National Park glistens with fall colors, and people love venturing here to see the views. The gorgeous granite rocks and glimmering shoreline look even more spectacular amongst the crimson fall trees. People also love going to Baxter State Park during the autumn months. This natural wonderland offers breathtaking views of Maine’s vibrant colors.
What are the best Maine hikes to take in the fall?
Little River Community Trails, located in Belfast, are some splendid fall hikes. Here, you can walk along the colorful trees and feel the refreshing crisp air. Higgins Mountain is another short and sweet fall hike. This stroll, located in Reid State Park in Georgetown, is only half a mile, but it’s jam-packed with astonishing sights. Step Falls Trail, located in Newry, is a breezy one-mile trail that takes you to a rushing waterfall. This easy hike is perfect for all skill levels.
