Foliage color now peaking in Western Maine

RUMFORD — Drivers and homeowners in Western Maine already know that peak foliage color has arrived and with it, more rain and fog.

The Maine Forest Service and state park rangers are seeing peak leaf color or at least 75 percent color change in Rangeley, Kingfield, Farmington, Rumford and Bethel, according to the fifth 2011 fall foliage report from the Maine Department of Conservation.

Peak color is also being seen along the Down East coast from Bucksport to Eastport and in interior Hancock and Washington counties.

High color, or 50 to 75 percent, is now showing in central Maine while the region from Skowhegan to Augusta and Auburn to Fryeburg has moderate color, or 30 to 50 percent, the report stated.

Leaf drop is currently low at 10 to 30 percent in these regions, but that could change with incoming high winds in this weekend’s National Weather Service forecast.

Despite the weather, department forester and park ranger-led hiking and paddling events are planned for this weekend. They include a guided 8-mile, four-hour fall foliage paddle at the Androscoggin Riverlands State Park starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. Put-in is at the Turner Boat Launch off Center Bridge Road in Turner.

The trip is described on the Maine Office of Tourism website as a paddle over smooth and easy waters that provides great views of the Turner section of the park with opportunities to photograph the reflected brilliance of fall colors.

The lunch destination is the shallow beach on an island in the mouth of the big bay at Bradford Brook.

Additionally, a family-friendly, half mile, 60-minute hike at Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal will also start at 10 a.m. the same day at the summit trail head by the shelter.

And, in Casco, an easy 3-mile, two-hour hike will start at Sebago Lake State Park at 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, at the day-use area boat launch at 11 Park Access Road.

The river walk offers pleasing views of a colorful wooded forest and “is a great hike for families,” the event’s description states.

A Maine forester and park ranger will explain the reasons behind autumn color and seasonal changes.

Events are held rain or shine. For directions and more information on all foliage hikes and paddle, visit www.parksandlands.com.

Maine’s fall foliage conditions will be updated on the website each Wednesday through at least Oct. 19.

State foliage fans can also share photos and favorite viewing spots at the Maine Fall Foliage page on Facebook or follow foliage news on Twitter using the “mainefoliage” hash tag.

For more information about fall activities and events in Maine, try www.visitmaine.com or call the Maine Office of Tourism at 1-888-624-6345.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

: Peak foliage color has arrived in Western Maine this week as seen Wednesday in these sugar maple leaves along Route 2 in Bethel.

: The new moon peeps between the leaves of a maple tree.

: A maple tree on Dickvale Road in Peru is ablaze with color.

: People driving between Bethel and Rumford this week were treated to spectacular fall color like these two trees in a stand of evergreens along Route 2 in Bethel.