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Foliage Report for October 7, 2009

Maine Lakes, Mountains Showing Peak Foliage Colors

AUGUSTA, Maine – The lakes and mountains region of western Maine, and the Mt. Katahdin region will have the best foliage color this weekend, according to the fourth fall foliage report from the state Department of Conservation.

Forest rangers from Moosehead Lake to Stratton (northern Zone 5), and Mt. Katahdin to Lincoln (northern Zone 4) are observing peak foliage conditions, or at least 75 percent color change, and moderate leaf drop between 30 and 50 percent, the report states.

Rangers are reporting high color, or 50 to 70 percent toward peak, with moderate leaf drop in locations like Rangeley, Rumford, Bethel (southern Zone 5), Grand Lake Stream and Calais (southern Zone 4).

"The time is right to head for the western mountains, the Millinocket area, and the northern lakes of Washington County," said Gale Ross, fall foliage spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Conservation. "I have encouraged travelers to plan their Maine foliage trip for this time of the month, and I am happy that Mother Nature cooperated."

High color has also reached the central and eastern portion of the state from Dover-Foxcroft to Bangor (northern Zone 3), according to rangers. Leaf drop in the region is now moderate.

Rangers are reporting moderate color change along the Downeast coast (Zone 2) from Bucksport to Lubec, in southern and central interior locations from Sebago Lake to Augusta (southern Zone 3), and along the southern coast (Zone 1) from Kittery to Belfast. Leaf drop in these regions is moderate.

Foliage color is now past peak and leaf drop is 10 to 50 percent in all of Aroostook County, northern Piscataquis County and northern Somerset County (Zones 7 and 6), the report states.

The Department of Conservation also announced that Camden Hills State Park and Bradbury Mountain State Park will host the final state park guided foliage hikes on Sunday, Oct. 11. For information about the hike and to register, visit the Take It Outside website.

Maine's fall foliage conditions will be updated each Wednesday through October 21 on this Web site. Be sure to sign up to receive the weekly reports by email and post comments about your Maine foliage adventures on the Foliage Forum page. Also, submit your Maine foliage photos on the Photo Gallery page.

For more information about events and activities happening in Maine this fall log onto VisitMaine.com.

Current Conditions - The Foliage Conditions map on this page is the foliage zone map used by Maine Forest Service Rangers when reporting fall foliage conditions.

Week of October 7, 2009
Zone Number Color Change Leaf Drop
7 Past Peak Low - Moderate
6 Past Peak Low - Moderate
5 (North) Peak Moderate
5 (South) High Moderate
4 (North) Peak Moderate
4 (South) High Moderate
3 (North) High Moderate
3 (South) Moderate Moderate
2 Moderate Moderate
1 Moderate Moderate

Foliage Zones

Zone 7: Northeastern Maine, including Fort Kent, Caribou, and Presque Isle

Zone 6: Northwestern Maine

Zone 5: Western Mid-Maine, including Greenville, Rangeley, Bethel

Zone 4: Eastern Mid-Maine, including Houlton, Millinocket, and Calais

Zone 3: Central and Southwestern Maine, including Bangor, Augusta, and Fryeburg

Zone 2: DowneastMaine, including Machias, Bar Harbor, and Penobscot Bay

Zone 1: Mid-Coast and South Coastal Maine, including Camden, Portland, Kennebunkport, and Kittery