Best Places For Fall Foliage In Maine

We are centrally located near all the best places to see  the trees  change colors in Autumn, Maine Fall foliage:

  • Bethel — Rangeley Lakes, Grafton Notch State Park,  Auger Falls, Gulf Hagas (also known as the “Grand Canyon of the East); Sunday River Bridge, and Maine’s glorious scenic overlook Height of Land;
  • Fryeburg — Jockey Cap Rock & trail, the Hemlock Covered Bridge  and go for a drive along  the Pequawket Trail Scenic Byway meandering through Saco River Valley into the foothills of the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

No leaf peeping season can compare to the beauty of Western Maine’s Mountain and Lake district.  Our Inn located in the friendly town of Lovell  is perfectly situated  for your leaf pepping vacation.

The Mountain and Lake district  of Maine provide the perfect settings for fall leaf-peeping and around Kezar Lake is where the color starts to turn first!   The clear blue skies and  fresh crisp air with the lovely scent of pine creates the ideal setting for enjoying Maine’s fall foliage colors.  This area in New England  is best known for the brilliant red leaves of the century-old sugar maple trees, as well as a wide range of yellows and vivid  oranges.  You’re sure to enjoy breathtaking panoramic vistas — autumn painted valleys, gentle rainbow colored hillsides,  brilliant crimson cranberry bogs, and multi-hued rolling hills and  towering peaks.

Why not ‘pair‘ the wonderful autumn ambiance with local seasonal family fun activities; such as corn mazes, cranberry picking, hayrides, pick-your-own apples,   and fresh apple cider  made on the farm?  Pietree Orchard offers a wide variety of pick-your-own fruits, including apples (over ten varieties), strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall growing season.   Visit their farm stand kitchen for a delectable array of fresh baked goods such as fruit pies (apple, blueberry, etc.),  their famous, tasty apple cider donuts and brick-oven pizza topped with seasonal farm fresh ingredients.    

Visit the Inn from late August thru Early November (before the first frost). The weather is best (perfect) this time of year.  The days are warm and sunny, and  nights cool, crisp with little to no mosquitoes.

Grab a cup of coffee, fruit and some sweets from our coffee, tea & sweets station and take a scenic drive, hike, boat ride or walk while ‘leaf-peeping’ the beautiful vistas of shades of orange, red, yellow and purple amidst the mirror lakes, rolling hill, large granite bald rocks, and majestic mountains.

Peak foliage weekends are often booked well in advance, however, it never hurts to check with us for last-minute cancellations.  We highly recommend visiting during the midweek (Monday thru Thursday)  to avoid crowds.

Here are links to a few self-guided Maine foliage driving tours.

    • Maine Foliage Driving Tour— An Oxford Hills and Lakes Region driving tour.  This tour is 90 miles, and starts at the Oxford hill chamber of commerce   located at 4 Western Avenue in South Paris.
    • The Kancamagus Highway — The Kancamagus Highway is  designated an American Scenic Byway for its rich history, aesthetic beauty and culture.  It is a 34.5 mile scenic drive along NH’s Rt. 112 in Northern New Hampshire that is well known as one of the best Fall Foliage viewing areas in the country.  The Kancamagus Scenic Byway takes you through a path cut through the White Mountain National Forest with breathtaking views of the White Mountains, the Swift River, Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls and Rocky Gorge. The Kanc takes you to an elevation of just under 3,000 feet at its highest point at Kancamagus Pass on the flank of Mt. Kancamagus near Lincoln, NH.  On peak days, in Autumn, more than 4,000 vehicles traverse  this famous route, so there can be  traffic. Click here for google map directions.

    • Pequawket Trail Scenic Byways (Route 113) — A scenic journey by the Saco River and the Mountain Division Rail offering excellent foliage viewing  opportunities, including ponds, lakes,  river and mountain views plus  historical landmarks, and  wildlife spotting.  The trail begins in the town of Standish, at  routes 25 (the Ossipee Trail) and 113 (the Pequawket Trail)  and runs to Fryeburg, 25 minutes from the Inn.  

Sunday River Bridge

    • Bethel Maine — This historic town about 30 minutes from the Inn offers some of the best  fall foliage  scenic driving.  Highlights are  the Rangeley Lakes,  Sunday River Bridge, and Maine’s glorious scenic overlook Height of Land.
    • Sunday River Bridge.  (Pictured above). Also referred to as the Artist’s Covered Bridge because it is the most painted and most photographed of the covered bridges in Maine.  The bridge was built in 1872 and is one of very few old covered bridges still standing.  It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.  A great place to  photograph the autumn colors. The Sunday River is located in western Newry, Maine, a small town in western Oxford County about 4 mile outside of Bethel.
    • Maine’s Official Fall Foliage Website— Yes it is true, fall foliage is that  big of a deal because Autumn in  Maine is so unbelievably beautiful that there has to be a webpage dedicated to fall foliage.  Include there are  suggestions for the best scenic location in each region of Maine, and when to visit for the best fall colors. The site will get updated in  early September.
    • Hiking & Biking— is a great way to get up-close to nature and observe  the prettiest colors with a minimum of distraction. Check out our Hiking & Biking guides on our Hiking page for more hiking info and for biking checking out the Biking link on our Activities page.
  • Woodward Cranberry Farm  — Where you can pick your own cranberries!  Woodward Cranberry Farm is a small, family-owned farm in Albany Township, Maine, producing certified organic cranberries. Their cranberries are usually harvested from the end of September to the end of October.  Contact: GPS –  41 Dundee Rd Albany Twp, ME 04217  / 781-344-4818 / Visit Woodward Cranberry Farm for directions and  exact dates.

For a complete list of year round activities check out our Activities page.

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