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Foliage Reports: September 20, 2006
Aroostook County foliage bursting with color
Northern Maine's Aroostook County is the best location to see brilliant fall foliage this weekend, according to the state Department of Conservation's second 2006 foliage report.
Forest and park rangers throughout the two tracking zones covering Maine's largest county are reporting high leaf color ranging from 50 to 70 percent toward peak. Leaves are changing from green to yellow, orange and red a bit earlier than in previous years, but fair weather has kept leaf drop at a minimum and the trees in the crown of the state still have 70 percent or more of their foliage.
Fort Kent, Caribou, Presque Isle and the northern portion of Baxter State Park are Aroostook County destinations where leaf peepers can experience the fall colors this weekend. Aroostook State Park off U.S. Route 1 south of Presque Isle offers canoeing and fishing on Echo Lake, hiking trails and campsites surrounded by scenic foliage. Families can walk or take a bicycle ride on the Aroostook Valley Rail Trail which winds through rolling countryside, forests and bogs. There are trailheads and parking areas in Caribou, Washburn and Stockholm.
Foliage in the western lakes and mountains regions of the state is currently showing moderate color, or 30 to 50 percent toward peak. Leaf color throughout the middle portion of Maine and the coast from Kittery to Bucksport is 10 to 30 percent toward peak, while the Downeast coastline is showing color change of less than 10 percent.
Visitors to the site can sign up to receive weekly foliage reports by e-mail. The site also offers a Live Help feature with Department of Conservation staff on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST beginning September 18.
Updated reports can also be obtained by calling the Maine foliage hotline at 1-888-MAINE-45. Learn more about Maines fall touring routes and outdoor activities at www.visitmaine.com.
Press contact: Kevin Gove, Nancy Marshall Communications, Email: kgove@marshallpr.com, Phone: (207) 623-4177.
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. See Also: Description of Zones
| Zone Number | Color Change | Leaf Drop |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | High | Low |
| 6 | High | Low |
| 5 | Moderate | Very Low |
| 4 | Low | Very Low |
| 3 | Low | Low |
| 2 | Very Low | Very Low |
| 1 | Low | Very Low |
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