Maine Fall Foliage 2026
Typical peak window
Sep 30 – Oct 8
Centered on Oct 4 at reference elevation.
low confidence in typical timing.
Aroostook and the North Woods peak late September; Acadia and the midcoast run mid-to-late October.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Seasonal timing
In a typical season, high ground around 3,650 feet peaks near Sep 24, while valleys around 550 feet peak near Oct 5; the statewide peak window is Sep 30–Oct 8, centered on Oct 4. Aroostook and the North Woods typically peak in late September, while Acadia and the midcoast run mid-to-late October.
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.
Maine is typically at bare on Nov 1, 2026.
Maine by county
10 days from Franklin County to York County.
Tap a location marker for coordinates and light times. Where peak usually lands. Boundaries: US Census, 2023. Elevation: USGS 3DEP + SRTM. Method
A county is still an average. Franklin County spans 7 days on its own, ridge to valley.
Every county, as text
| County | Typical peak | Stage on Nov 1, 2026 | Median elev. | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin County | Oct 5 – Oct 13 | Bare | 296 ft | 1 days |
| Aroostook County | Sep 27 – Oct 5 | Bare | 787 ft | 3 days |
| Cumberland County | Oct 6 – Oct 14 | Bare | 161 ft | 1 days |
| Franklin County | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | Bare | 2,037 ft | 7 days |
| Hancock County | Oct 4 – Oct 12 | Bare | 238 ft | 1 days |
| Kennebec County | Oct 4 – Oct 12 | Bare | 263 ft | 2 days |
| Knox County | Oct 5 – Oct 13 | Bare | 77 ft | 2 days |
| Lincoln County | Oct 5 – Oct 13 | Bare | 132 ft | 1 days |
| Oxford County | Sep 30 – Oct 8 | Bare | 1,326 ft | 3 days |
| Penobscot County | Oct 1 – Oct 9 | Bare | 405 ft | 2 days |
| Piscataquis County | Sep 28 – Oct 6 | Bare | 1,027 ft | 3 days |
| Sagadahoc County | Oct 6 – Oct 14 | Bare | 160 ft | 1 days |
| Somerset County | Sep 27 – Oct 5 | Bare | 1,467 ft | 2 days |
| Waldo County | Oct 4 – Oct 12 | Bare | 364 ft | 1 days |
| Washington County | Oct 3 – Oct 11 | Bare | 198 ft | 2 days |
| York County | Oct 6 – Oct 14 | Bare | 309 ft | 2 days |
Peak by elevation
11 days between the ridges and the valleys below them. The county map above averages that away.
| Elevation band | Approx. elevation | Typical peak | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| High ridges & passes | 3,650 ft | Sep 24 | Bare |
| Mid elevation | 800 ft | Oct 4 | Bare |
| Valleys & lowlands | 550 ft | Oct 5 | Bare |
Foliage stages
- No change 0–10%
- First color 10–25%
- Approaching peak 25–60%
- Peak 60–90%
- Past peak 40–70%, dropping
- Bare <20%
Plan the light
Maine on October 4, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| 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.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Where to shoot in Maine
5 researched locations, earliest peak first. Filter these locations
- Height of Land Bare
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 Bare
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 Bare
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 Bare
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 Bare
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; current conditions may differ.
- Does elevation change when fall color peaks in Maine?
- Yes, by about 11 days. High ground around 3,650 ft peaks near Sep 24, while valleys near 550 ft wait until Oct 5. Peak moves roughly 3.5 days earlier for every 1,000 feet you climb. Try lower valleys after high ground has passed peak, or higher ground while valleys are still green.
- Where are the best places to see fall color in Maine?
- The guide includes 5 researched 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 includes 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.