AUGUSTA — Like those traveling to see the state’s renowned fall foliage — Maine’s fall foliage reporting website is going mobile.

A redesigned Department of Conservation fall foliage website will launch on Wednesday, Sept. 14, according to a department press release issued Thursday.

Gale Ross, the state’s foliage spokeswoman, said the state, which has been reporting foliage conditions for 53 years now, will have a faster and easier-to-use site this year that will also work well on mobile devices, like cell phones and tablet computers.

The new site also incorporates links to social media, including Facebook, which allows leaf peepers to instantly access foliage updates, Ross said.

The site will also make it easy for “leaf peepers” to instantly upload photos from their mobile phones to the site, Ross said.

Maine Forest Service rangers collect data and on-the-ground observations in each of the  state’s seven foliage zones

“Rangers use mobile collection devices throughout the year to collect information needed for the Maine Forest Service and also to provide on-site observations for flood and other natural emergency situations,” Ross said. “These devices come in handy during the foliage season, as the forest rangers can submit their observations to me on a daily basis.”

According to Ross the state’s more than 17 million acres of forestland came through Tropical Storm Irene with only minor damage.

“We’re gearing up for a fantastic fall season,” Ross said in a prepared statement.

Fall foliage hikes, organized by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands interpretive staff, at state parks and public reserved lands will be held throughout the reporting season, Ross said.

The first hike is slated for 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at Peaks-Kenny State Park in Dover-Foxcroft and features the Wade Kavanaugh picnic-table sculptures found throughout the park.

For more information on the fall foliage site, go to: www.mainefoliage.com

For the Maine foliage Facebook page, look for: Maine Fall Foliage

For more information on Maine state parks and historic sites, go to: www.parksandlands.com

For more information about MDOC, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc