The 12 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Maine

Bar Harbor

A former Gilded Age hot spot, Bar Harbor is a charming seaside village on Mount Desert Island. Here, you can see bright arboreal colors by kayaking along the shoreline in Frenchman Bay and hiking the trails of neighboring Acadia National Park. The park provides opportunities to be the first in the U.S. to see the sunrise (from Cadillac Mountain), take a ride by bike or horse along the beautifully groomed carriage roads, and drive a stunning park loop road to leaf peep from mid-September to mid-October.

Bar Harbor has a range of accommodations to turn a day trip into a weekend of autumnal activities. Stay at the historic Bar Harbor Inn & Spa for the best bay views in town, or just have a drink there and stay at the Acacia House Inn for fewer frills, cozy rooms, and delicious breakfasts.

Baxter State Park

Baxter State Park contains more than 200,000 acres of wilderness and the state’s highest peak, Mount Katahdin. You might even get a moose sighting while you're out admiring the leaves. There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails, with routes to suit explorers of all skill levels, and the chance to rent a canoe or kayak for just $1 per hour offers yet another way to see the fall foliage all around you.

Bring your sleeping bag when visiting Baxter State Park in the fall. All campgrounds are open through peak foliage season, which runs from late September to early October. South Branch Pond Campground is one of the prettiest of the bunch. It offers tent sites, lean-tos, and a bunkhouse.

Bethel

Only about six miles from the popular Sunday River Ski Resort, Bethel offers visitors easy access to Grafton Notch State Park and a host of delicious restaurants. In the park, there are walks to Screw Auger Falls, Gulf Hagas (also known as the “Grand Canyon of the East”), Mother Walker Falls, and Moose Cave. Between Bethel and Grafton Notch, check out the Instagram-worthy Sunday River Covered Bridge. Pick up sandwiches from the Good Food Store to take to the park, then relax with a Maine-brewed beer and elevated pub grub at Butcher Burger upon your return.

Bethel is rich in bed-and-breakfasts, like Holidae House and Bethel Hill Bed and Breakfast. For a true hotel feel, though — plus golf course access — book a stay at The Bethel Resort & Suites, within walking distance of downtown.

Blue Hill

Tucked between Blue Hill Harbor and Blue Hill Mountain, this seaside village and former shipbuilding center is now a great destination for a quiet, scenic escape. Hike the easy one-mile Osgood Trail to take in the autumnal splendor from the summit of Blue Hill, but go early to avoid crowds of leaf peepers. At the bottom of the Hayes Trail, you'll also get a colorful view of the blueberry barrens, which are sometimes even more vibrant than trees in the fall.

Speaking of blueberries: Blue Hill Inn serves up killer Maine blueberry pancakes along with afternoon treats and evening hors d’oeuvres in the garden. For dinner, head downtown to Arborvine, which offers elegant dishes highlighting locally sourced seafood in a farmhouse setting.

Camden

With its harbor full of sailboats, this “Jewel of the Coast” has plenty to do on land and at sea. Climb Mount Battie for a stupendous view of the coast (and the surrounding leaves), or try a boat tour (Schooner Surprise and Schooner Olad are both good options) to see the mountain from the water. Camden has great seafood-centric eating — try Natalie’s at Camden Harbour Inn for an elegant dinner or Fresh and Co for a more casual feel.

The Hartstone Inn and Hideaway is a superb bed-and-breakfast (and restaurant) in a historic Victorian mansion for overnight visits to Camden. Alternatively, the Lord Camden Inn boasts views of the water in addition to a spa and an art gallery.

The Forks

A major hub for whitewater rafting, The Forks is the perfect spot for those who want to see the leaves change with a paddle in hand. Local outfitters guide raft trips for all skill levels, but for the most adventurous, the Upper Kennebec Gorge has up to class IV rapids. Hikers should check out nearby Moxie Falls, one of the state’s highest waterfalls, dropping from a height of almost 90 feet. However you choose to admire the foliage, you'll likely work up a thirst for a cold beverage. In that case, consider ending the day at Kennebec River Brewery.

The excellent Inn by the River provides the most conventional lodging in The Forks, but two boating companies — Three Rivers Whitewater and Northern Outdoors — provide several options for accommodations.

Rockwood

On the shores of Moosehead Lake, Rockwood is the perfect base to visit the area’s natural wonders. The vividly hued trees lining the lake reflect in the water, making for a postcard-worthy scene. Trout, bass, and salmon in the lake and Kennebec River make Rockwood an angler's dream.

Mount Kineo Golf Course provides a shuttle from Rockwood to Mount Kineo for golfers and hikers alike. Hikers will enjoy the beginner-friendly Bridle Trail, which intersects with the more challenging Indian Trail that leads to Mount Kineo's summit.

Back at the lake, The Birches Resort was first built as a hunting and fishing lodge in the 1930s and retains all its L.L.Bean-esque charm. Maynard’s is an equally rustic option, with rocking chairs on a wraparound porch decorated with antlers.

Kennebunkport

Kennebunkport is where the Bush family summers — whatever your politics are, you can appreciate their good taste in Maine travel. The coastal town is full of beautiful walks, gorgeous architecture, and delicious food. When the leaves turn, mid- to late October, fall foliage is everywhere you look: lining the banks of the Kennebunk River and framing the picturesque New England mansions. Within a five-mile drive of downtown, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and Wells Reserve at Laudholm offer trails that immerse you in nature.

While you're in Kennebunkport, take advantage of the season's lobster harvest at Nunan’s Lobster Hut, a classic Maine seafood shack. If you want to stay awhile, hang your hat at one of the four historic seafarers' mansions that make up the Kennebunkport Captains Collection.

Lubec

Lubec is the easternmost municipality in the United States. Use it as a jumping-off point for Quoddy Head State Park about six miles away. The park is home to an especially photogenic red-and-white candy-striped lighthouse. There are several short trails on which to admire the foliage, typically at its peak the last week of September and first week of October.

Back in town, treat yourself to a post-hike beer in the taproom of Lubec Brewing Company and settle in at Peacock House Bed & Breakfast for the night. The B&B is a house built in 1860 by a British sea captain for his bride.

Monhegan Island

Ten miles from the mainland, this tiny island (roughly one square mile) feels both intimate and expansive. There are no paved roads or cars, so you'll travel the island on foot via 12 miles of trails. The paths skirt the coast and lead you past the many studios that have earned Monhegan its reputation as an artists' colony. Stroll by the charming Monhegan Lighthouse and check out the tiny Monhegan Museum of Art and History housed inside. Stay atop Monhegan Harbor at The Island Inn, offering 32 rooms and suites in a picture-perfect 1816 shingle-style building.

Rangeley

The heart of the Rangeley Lakes region, the town of Rangeley is about 30 miles east of the New Hampshire border. Get on the water with Rangeley Region Lake Cruises and Kayaking or out on the trails of nearby Bald and Saddleback mountains. The Small Falls waterfall and Height of Land overlook are both accessible by car and provide gorgeous, foliage-filled views from high and low. Downtown, the taxidermy- and plaid-decorated Rangeley Inn and Tavern has been accommodating Rangeley visitors for more than a century.

Rockland

Make your way to Rockland in the last couple weeks of October to see foliage in Midcoast Maine. You can catch pops of color along Penobscot Bay from the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse and go for hikes during peak foliage at Camden Hills State Park, less than 10 miles away.

As you might predict based on its annual summer Maine Lobster Festival, Rockland is also a great place to eat. Claws has Maine’s famous crustacean down pat, while the Home Kitchen Café serves up a memorable breakfast. And with cultural institutions like the Farnsworth Art Museum (not to mention the Maine Lighthouse Museum), there’s a lot more to do besides leaf peeping.