Foliage Reports: October 12, 2005

Foliage Vibrant In Central and Western Maine and Spreading South

AUGUSTA, Maine - October 12, 2005

Parts of Maine are aglow with fall color and now is prime time for leaf-peeping in Maine’s mid-section according to the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) fifth fall foliage report of 2005.

Forest and park rangers are reporting peak leaf conditions, with between 85 and 100 percent of trees cloaked in color, from the western town of Jackman east toward the coastal city of Calais. Color continues to be at its peak around Moosehead Lake and Greenville and spreads south to the towns of Carrabassett Valley, Rangeley, Rumford and Bethel.

With the air turning crisp, now is the perfect time to get outdoors and explore Maine’s foliage by foot. Jon Metcalf, a park ranger at Rangeley Lake State Park in the picturesque western mountains and lakes region, reports colors are still vivid in the western mountains and in the state park. The park gate is closed, but leaf peepers can still park outside the gates and walk into the park. Try taking a hike at one of the region’s many public parks including: Mt. Blue State Park in Weld overlooking Webb Lake and offering an extensive system of hiking and mountain biking trails; the 36,000-acre Bigelow Preserve just east of Stratton and featuring seven summits the highest of which is 4,100 feet; or Grafton Notch State Park between Newry and Upton, which showcases a cave, spectacular water falls and miles of hiking trails.

High color (less than 70 percent color change) coats a large band of central Maine, stretching from Fryeburg and the Sebago Lake area up through Auburn, Augusta and Bangor. Filled with rolling farmland flanked by multihued trees, this part of Maine is ideal for experiencing Maine’s autumn harvest, with plenty of farm stands selling freshly collected apples, or orchards and pumpkin patches that allow you to try your hand at the harvest and pick your own.  

Southern and mid-coast Maine trees are on the verge of exploding with rich color. From Kittery up the Atlantic Ocean to Machias, the leaves are at less than 50 percent color change and less than 30 percent of the leaves have fallen, meaning that foliage season is far from over and there is still much more leaf-peeping to be done.

To provide the most accurate foliage information, DOC rangers will report conditions statewide every Wednesday through Oct. 12. Updated reports and information can also be obtained by calling the Maine foliage hotline at 1-888-MAINE-45. Learn more about Maine’s 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

Week of October 12, 2005

Zone Number	Color Change	Leaf Drop
7	Past Peak	Moderate
6	Past Peak	Moderate
5	Peak	Moderate
4	Peak	Low
3	High	Low
2	Moderate	Low
1	Moderate	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