Height of Land
Rangeley Lakes, Maine · 2,228 ft
Typical peak
Sep 26 – Oct 4
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunset
Classic view faces WNW (295°)
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.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Paved pull-off directly on ME 17 about 10 miles south of Oquossoc, with parking at the wall and no walking required.
What turns here
- sugar maple
- paper birch
- american beech
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 30Typical color progression for Height of Land. No change from Aug 23 to Sep 9. First color from Sep 9 to Sep 18. Approaching peak from Sep 18 to Sep 26. Peak from Sep 26 to Oct 4. Past peak from Oct 4 to Oct 14. Bare from Oct 14 to Oct 28.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 9.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 17
10 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
52°F / 32°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Height of Land on September 30, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:10 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 93° | 6:39 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 39 min of low, warm light | 7:18 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:32 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 39 min before sunset | 5:47 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 267° | 6:26 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:55 PM |
Times in America/New York · day length 11h 47m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sunrise: front-lit
Sun behind you. Flat, even light — accurate color, little drama. Good for wide valley scenes, weak for single trees.
Sunset: backlit
Sun behind the canopy — leaves glow translucent. The shot most people are after. Expect flare; a hood or a hand helps.
Classic composition faces WNW (295°).
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.