Prepare for Fall: 5 Tips for Enjoying the Foliage
The signs are all here: chilly nights, Sunday night football, and pumpkin spice everything. Fall is coming! At Maine Huts & Trails, we love every season, but fall in Maine is legendary for a reason: the spectacular natural phenomenon of foliage. While the science is pretty interesting, we’ll focus on what we know best- how to make the most of your fall foliage adventures.
1. Ditch the Crowds- Go West:
Sure, coastal Maine is absolutely gorgeous. But if you really want the most spectacular foliage views, get yourself into the woods. Some of the most stunning foliage in the world is in western Maine, along the Canadian border. In fact, Conde Nast rated western Maine as #4 of the best foliage in the U.S.
2. Hit the Trails:
What’s better than checking out the scenery from the road? Completely immersing yourself in the warm, golden glow of the forest. At Maine Huts & Trails, you can bike or hike for miles- days even, through dense hardwood groves, sparkling streams, and soaring mountainscapes. So take a day trip, or get off the grid for a few weeks- you won’t regret it.
3. Keep up with the foliage reports:
In Maine, we take the nickname ‘vacationland’ pretty seriously. So naturally, there’s a government website dedicated to updating fall foliage progress throughout the state. Since the foliage calendar is different year over year depending on the weather, you shouldn’t plan this year’s trip based only on last year’s foliage.
4. Bring Your Camera (not just your phone):
Yes- smartphone cameras are getting better every year, but if you have a ‘real’ camera lying around, this is a great time to dust it off and put it to use. Fall foliage is any photographer’s dream… the clear sparkling sunlight, bright blue skies, and vibrant leaves are the perfect ingredients for the shot of a lifetime. Around here, the mountains in the background take it to the next level. #nofilterneeded.
5. Go on a Guided Trip:
Whether you’re hiking into the Bigelow Preserve or paddling down the Dead River, a fall adventure is always better with a guide. They’ll show you the most spectacular lookouts, and even take care of the trip logistics- so you’ll be free to kick back and take in the scenery.
