With summer on its way out we’ve got all eyes on a beautiful fall! The weather might still be warm, but soon enough we’ll be enjoying cozy sweaters and drinking a warm beverage. And whether that warm beverage involves pumpkin spice (you know who you are!) or it’s the same one you drink all year, you can’t deny that there’s some excitement that comes with the change of seasons. One of our favorite things to look forward to is fall foliage and we just learned what to expect for 2021! The team at smokymountains.com has a proprietary algorithm and using special data points they’re able to predict the arrival and movement of fall foliage across the country. Here’s what to expect for Maine!
Here in Maine, we might be seeing changing color here and there, but in many parts of the country, they’ve already reached peak change! Not to worry, we’ll be there sooner than you think.
smokymountains.com
In fact, some parts of the state are already seeing some changes - particularly in the Lakes and Mountains region and areas further north.
pavdw / Flickr
By the week of September 20th, just about all of Maine will see some change.
smokymountains.com
Those in areas from Bangor to Millinocket will certainly be seeing some significant change. With this in mind, a simple road trip north on I-95 might be a great way to take it in without too much route planning.
auvet / Flickr
If you’d like to see fall foliage changes without hopping in the car to go find it, wait until the week of September 27th when all of the state should be guaranteed a show.
smokymountains.com
The best viewing will be in Piscataqua and Aroostook Counties where conditions will be near peak, while the coast will still be patchy.
galatiansdesign / Flickr
We’re thrilled that things are getting more colorful, but the real fun will be the week of October 4th when The County and surrounding areas will be experiencing peak color.
smokymountains.com
During this time the coast moves into partial foliage change, but we expect that to be gorgeous.
2il org / Flickr
To reliably travel to any corner of the state and see trees awash in color you’ll need to wait until the week of October 11th when northern Maine will be just past peak. The center line through the state is likely to be smack in the middle of the most beautiful part of autumn and even the coast will be near peak.
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In addition to road trips, be sure to take some time during these weeks to wander around locally. A walk can be the best way to take in the sights, sounds and smells of this leafy season.
joiseyshowaa / Flickr
By the week of October 18th, things will probably be fading. While the coast will be enjoying its peak color, much of the rest of Maine will be past their brightest.
smokymountains.com
If you haven’t seen the colors change at this point, a hike at Camden Hills State Park might be a great way to see the last of it. This coastal region will be one of the areas experiencing the last of the fall colors this week.
pavdw / Flickr
By the week of October 25th all of Maine is expected to be past peak. But then we’ve got the beauty of winter to look forward to!
pavdw / Flickr
The annual interactive map published by smokymountains.com takes into account a number of factors including historical weather, NOAA precipitation forecasts, elevation, temperature, and average daylight. Their team combines this information with their unique algorithm creating nearly 50,000 data points on the U.S. map. From all of this, we get their interesting weekly forecasts. These predictions aren’t 100% accurate all the time, but they’re a fun, reliable-enough way to start planning for weekend fall foliage journeys. This year they’ll be publishing their first-ever mid-season update so be sure to check smokymountains.com in just a few weeks.
smokymountains.com
pavdw / Flickr
auvet / Flickr
galatiansdesign / Flickr
2il org / Flickr
joiseyshowaa / Flickr
To enjoy the best of the season here are 10 of the most beautiful Maine covered bridges to explore this fall.
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Address: Maine, USAAddress: Millinocket, ME, USAAddress: Camden Hills State Park, 280 Belfast Rd, Camden, ME 04843, USAAddress: Bangor, ME 04401, USA
