Maine Fall Foliage 2026
Aroostook and the North Woods typically peak in late September, with sugar maple, red maple and white birch turning first above 3,000 feet. The statewide window runs from September 30 through October 8, while Acadia and the midcoast lag behind until mid-to-late October. This three-week spread lets you chase color from the Canadian border down to the Atlantic.
When Maine peaks
Sep 30 – Oct 8
Centered on Oct 4. Aroostook and the North Woods peak late September; Acadia and the midcoast run mid-to-late October.
low confidence. Long range. Treat as a planning estimate only.
Where peak usually lands. Drought or an early freeze moves it by a few days. Method
What turns here
- sugar maple
- red maple
- white birch
- tamarack
Yellows show up every year. Reds need sunny days and cool, frost-free nights. A bad year takes those first.
Color progression
Typical peak Oct 4Typical color progression for Maine. No change from Aug 27 to Sep 13. First color from Sep 13 to Sep 22. Approaching peak from Sep 22 to Sep 30. Peak from Sep 30 to Oct 8. Past peak from Oct 8 to Oct 18. Bare from Oct 18 to Nov 1.
Color starts around Sep 13.
Peak by elevation
12 days between the ridges and the valleys. County maps average this away, which is how you miss peak at the right place.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 3,300 ft | Sep 25 | No change |
| Mid elevation | 800 ft | Oct 4 | No change |
| Valleys & lowlands | 0 ft | Oct 7 | No change |
Foliage stages
- No change 0–10%
- First color 10–25%
- Approaching peak 25–60%
- Peak 60–90%
- Past peak 40–70%, dropping
- Bare <20%
Light at peak
Maine on October 4, the day it typically peaks. Knowing when color arrives is one thing. Knowing where the sun will be is another.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:09 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 95° | 6:38 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 39 min of low, warm light | 7:17 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:25 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 39 min before sunset | 5:33 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 265° | 6:12 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:41 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 34m · computed from NOAA solar equations
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of those and the canopy glows translucent. Turn your back to them for flat, accurate color.
Location pages name the light directly.
Where to shoot in Maine
5 researched locations, earliest peak first.
- Height of Land No change
Rangeley Lakes · 2,228 ft · peaks Sep 30
The stone-walled pull-off on ME 17 sits high above Mooselookmeguntic Lake, with its islands and hardwood ridges stepping back toward the New Hampshire line. A 200mm lens compresses the shoreline and the ridges into stacked bands of color.
- Cadillac Mountain Summit No change
Acadia National Park · 1,527 ft · peaks Oct 4
The east ledges look out over Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands as the sun clears the Atlantic, with low scrub oak and maple on the summit turning rust and orange. Work the pink granite slabs as foreground instead of shooting from the parking area.
- Screw Auger Falls No change
Grafton Notch · 1,057 ft · peaks Oct 5
The Bear River drops through a polished granite slot only a few feet wide, with yellow birch and maple leaning in over the gorge walls. Flat overcast light keeps the wet rock from blowing out and buys you multi-second exposures.
- Mount Battie Summit No change
Midcoast Maine · 788 ft · peaks Oct 7
A stone tower stands on open ledge above Camden harbor, with the schooner fleet, the Penobscot Bay islands, and hardwood slopes stacked below in one frame. Morning light comes off the bay and hits the town and the hillside straight on.
- Jordan Pond South Shore No change
Acadia National Park · 272 ft · peaks Oct 8
The twin granite domes of the Bubbles close off the far end of the pond, with red maple and birch running down both shorelines toward them. Wind drops overnight, so the water holds a full mirror of the domes until mid-morning.
Recent reports from Maine
Report what you sawCommon questions
- When do the leaves change in Maine?
- Maine typically peaks Sep 30 – Oct 8, centered on Oct 4. Aroostook and the North Woods peak late September; Acadia and the midcoast run mid-to-late October. These are typical dates from a latitude and elevation model, not a live reading of this year's canopy.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Maine?
- Yes, by about 12 days. High ground around 3,300 ft peaks near Sep 25, while valleys near 0 ft wait until Oct 7. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb, so if you miss it low you can often drive up and find it.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in Maine?
- We track 5 verified locations in Maine, including Height of Land, Cadillac Mountain Summit, Screw Auger Falls. Height of Land turns first, around Sep 30, and Jordan Pond South Shore is last, around Oct 8. Each has real coordinates, elevation and sunrise light times.
- What trees turn color in Maine?
- Mainly sugar maple, red maple, white birch, tamarack. Yellows and oranges come from carotenoids that are already in the leaf, so they show up every year. Reds are made fresh each autumn and need warm sunny days with cool, frost-free nights, which is why a dry summer or a warm September produces a duller year.