13 of the Best Fall Hikes in Maine (And When to Hike Them)
Updated and expanded for Fall 2026!
We’ve hiked a lot of trails across Maine in the fall, but these 12 across the state are some of our favorites. This list is for you if you don’t mind a little sweat to reach your reward. 😉⛰️🍁
Essential Fall Hiking Planning Tips
When Does Fall Foliage Peak in Maine?
Here's the annoying but important answer: It depends where you are. There is no statewide peak foliage weekend. Maine is too long, too mountainous and too climatically varied for that. Generally, color starts in northern Maine and at higher elevations before moving south and toward the coast.
A rough Maine foliage timeline (FOR 2026!)
Late September → Early October
Northern Maine, Moosehead and higher elevations
Early → Mid October
Western Maine and the mountain regions
Mid October
Central Maine, Greater Portland and much of the Midcoast
Mid → Late October
Southern and coastal Maine
| Hike | Region | Distance | Difficulty | Typical Best Window | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doubletop Mountain | Great North | ~6.6 mi | Hard | Late Sept–Early Oct | Wilderness + huge views |
| Mount Kineo | Highlands | 3.4 mi | Hard | Late Sept–Early Oct | Lake views |
| Bald Mountain | Highlands | 2.3 mi | Hard | Early Oct | Fire tower views |
| Tumbledown Mountain | Highlands | 5.5 mi | Hard | Early Oct | Best all-around adventure |
| Glassface Ledges | Highlands | 1.5 mi | Moderate | Early–Mid Oct | Sunset + quick payoff |
| Chick Hill | Downeast | ~2.6 mi | Moderate | Early–Mid Oct | Sweeping eastern Maine views |
| Blueberry Mountain | South Coast | 4.8 mi | Moderate | Mid Oct | Foliage + Rattlesnake Pool |
| Beehive Trail | Downeast | 1.5 mi | Hard | Mid–Late Oct | Adventure + ocean views |
| Beech Mountain | Downeast | 1.2 mi | Moderate | Mid–Late Oct | Quieter Acadia views |
| Mount Battie | Mid-Coast | ~1.5 mi | Easy–Moderate | Mid–Late Oct | Ocean + foliage |
| Mount Pisgah | South Coast | ~1.4 mi | Moderate | Mid Oct | Fire tower + lakes |
| Bald Pate Mountain | South Coast | 3.3 mi | Moderate | Mid Oct | Easier summit views |
| Mount Agamenticus | South Coast | 1–3+ mi | Easy–Moderate | Mid–Late Oct | Late-season foliage + ocean views |
1. Doubletop Mountain
Baxter State Park | 6.6 miles | Hard
Peak foliage window: Late September–Early October
If your goal is to start chasing foliage as early as possible, head north.
Doubletop sometimes gets overshadowed by its rather famous neighbor, Katahdin, but that’s part of what makes it so good. Its two open summits rise to nearly 3,500 feet and offer massive views across Baxter State Park, including Katahdin and the surrounding mountains.
In fall, those views become an ocean of color. The most straightforward day-hike approach starts at Nesowadnehunk Field, climbing steadily before getting significantly steeper near the summit. This is a legitimate mountain hike, so give yourself plenty of daylight and come prepared for rapidly changing weather.
Why we love it in fall: It’s an absolutely epic view of Mt. Katahdin and the painted oranges, yellows, reds, and greens across its face.
Insider tip: Don’t wait until the rest of Maine looks like peak foliage. Baxter can be well ahead of southern Maine.
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
2. Mount Kineo
Moosehead Lake Area | 3.4 miles | Hard
Peak foliage window: Late September–Early October
Mount Kineo stands dramatically above Moosehead Lake, offering panoramic views that make the effort well worth it.
The Indian Trail is the hardest, offering a steep, rocky climb, while the Bridle Trail is a gentler option. Pair them together, taking the Indian trail up, for a fun loop! The sweeping vista of Moosehead Lake and the surrounding mountains is particularly stunning in the fall, with the foliage reflecting off the lake’s surface.
Why we love it in the fall: Moosehead Lake is the biggest lake in Maine, and see those beautiful shades of colors reflect on the water is quintessential North Woods, Maine.
Insider tip: You’ll need a boat. The good news: there’s a ferry! And that’s half the adventure.
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
3. Bald Mountain
Rangeley Area | 2.3 miles | Moderate/Hard
Peak foliage window: Early October
Not to be confused with the seemingly countless other “Bald Mountain” summits in Maine, this one is near Rangeley and offers one of the best views of the surrounding lakes and mountains in the region. For the shortest way up, park at the trailhead on Bald Mountain Road (gotta love these creative names), and start your ascent! The trail isn’t too long but has some steep sections, so you’ll definitely feel accomplished when you reach the top.
Why we love it in the fall: The fire tower at the summit gives you a panoramic view that stretches for miles, with the foliage in fall making the scenery pop.
Insider tip: The Rangeley lakes are especially beautiful from this vantage point, so bring a lightweight packable hammock and soak it in.
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
4. Tumbledown Mountain
Weld | 5.5 miles | Hard
Peak foliage window: Early October
Arguably the most classic Maine hike not in Acadia or Baxter, Tumbledown Mountain is blessed with a bit of everything. It boasts stunning vistas, a beautiful alpine pond near the summit, and just the right amount of challenge. There are a few trails to the top, with the Brook Trail being the easiest and the Loop Trail providing a tough but rewarding scramble. The fall foliage here is breathtaking, with the surrounding forest exploding in color as you climb. The views from the top make every step worth it. Be aware that this is a popular hike, so get there early on the weekends!
Why we love it in the fall: Honestly, we love it in every season.
Insider tip: Pack a lunch and enjoy it at the pond. It’s the perfect spot to rest after the climb.
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
More fall hiking ideas in Maine!
5. Glassface Ledges
Rumford | 1.5 miles | Moderate
Peak foliage window: Early October-Mid October
Glassface Ledges is certainly a lesser-known gem. It gives you a sense of Maine’s wilderness without the crowds, and overlooks one of Maine’s most iconic waterways, the Androscoggin River. The climb up is steep in sections but nothing too technical, and the ledges at the top offer sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The fall foliage here is nothing short of spectacular, making the hike even more rewarding. If you can make it work, do this one around sunset. The positioning of the view to the west adds brilliant hues of orange and yellow to the already-vibrant maples.
Why we love it in the fall: If you can make it work, do this one around sunset. The positioning of the view to the west adds brilliant hues of orange and yellow to the already-vibrant maples.
Insider tip: Keep an eye out for hawks soaring above the ledges. They love the thermals.
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
6. Chick Hill / Peaked Mountain
Rumford | 1.5 miles | Moderate
Peak foliage window: Early October-Mid October
Clifton | 2.6 miles | Moderate
Typical foliage window: Early–Mid October
If you live around Bangor and don’t want to drive two hours for a great foliage hike, Chick Hill deserves a spot on your list.
Also known as Peaked Mountain, Chick Hill rises above Clifton just east of Bangor. The commonly used route follows a rough access road for roughly 1.3 miles to exposed granite near the summit.
The trail itself isn’t the prettiest hike on this list.
The view makes up for it.
From the open ledges you can look across huge stretches of eastern Maine forest, with Mount Desert Island and the mountains around Acadia visible to the south on a clear day. The Town of Clifton continues to recognize Peaked Mountain as a hiking destination, while some unofficial side routes cross private land—so stick to established access and respect signs and neighboring property.
Why we love it in fall: It's one of the best big foliage views in the greater Bangor area.
Insider tip: Keep going beyond the communications tower to explore the open ledges rather than turning around as soon as you reach the top.
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
7. Blueberry Mountain
White Mountain National Forest | 4.9 miles | Moderate
Peak foliage window: Early October-Mid October
If you’ve read this far and you live in southern Maine, you’re in luck. Head to this hike on the border of New Hampshire for some splashy colors. It may not be the tallest peak, but the panoramic views and abundance of, you guessed it, wild blueberries in the summer make it a local favorite. It is underrated though, for its display of fall colors, with bright reds and oranges stretching as far as the eye can see. The White Cairn Trail is a bit steeper and more difficult, while the Stone House Trail offers an easier route to the summit and features Rattlesnake Pool, a beautiful emerald green swimming hole that will mesmerize you as much as the foliage. The short but rewarding hike is perfect for families, and the summit offers sweeping vistas that make the climb well worth it.
Why we love it in the fall: The maple leaves seem to transcend space and time floating in gentle circles along the meandering waterfalls.
Insider tip: Bring a book and thermos of coffee, peel off to one of the gentle waterfalls along Rattlesnake Brook, and settle in for some good ole forest bathing relaxation!
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
8. The Beehive
Acadia National Park | 1.5 miles | Hard
Peak foliage window: Early October-Mid October
If you’re in for a thrill, look no further. Beehive Trail near Bar Harbor in Acadia National Park is famous for its iron rungs and steep climbs. It’s a short trail but very challenging, so it’s not for the faint of heart. The reward? Jaw-dropping views of Sand Beach and the surrounding coastline, especially stunning in the fall when Acadia’s foliage is in full swing. The Bowl Trail offers a less adrenaline-pumping way to the top if you want an easier route. If you’re really daring, hike it for an epic sunrise over the ocean. But this is not an easy trail, so don’t start until after first light!
Why we love it in the fall: Every color imaginable will present itself along this iconic trail: deep ocean blues, light sky blues, dark green spruce, likely a touch of grey fog, light twinkling browns from the sand, and splashes of orange, yellow, red, everywhere you look.
Insider tip: Head out early to beat the crowds. This popular trail gets busy, but the views make it worth the rush.
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
9. Beech Mountain
Acadia National Park | 1.2 miles | Moderate
Peak foliage window: Early October-Mid October
The west side of Mount Desert Island deserves more attention. Beech Mountain is one of our favorite examples why.
This short loop packs a lot into 1.2 miles: forest, exposed granite, views over Long Pond and a fire tower near the summit. From the tower area, you can also see toward Somes Sound, Echo Lake and the surrounding Acadia mountains. And because you're on the quieter side of Acadia, the experience can feel dramatically different from the park's busiest east-side destinations. In fall, the mix of red hardwoods, dark evergreens, granite and blue water is classic Acadia.
Why we love it in fall: A ton of scenery packed into a very short hike.
Insider tip: Beech Mountain is also a fantastic sunset hike. Just bring a headlamp before committing to that plan.
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
10. Mount Battie
Camden | 1.5 miles | Moderate
Peak foliage window: Mid October
The photo below should speak for itself.
Why we love it in fall: Camden Hills State Park is arguably the most scenic spot in the Midcoast, and the Camden Harbor from Mt. Battie might be the most iconic view in Maine (step aside, Portland Head Light 😂)
Insider tip: Go early before the car traffic. There is a road to the top, and you’ll want to beat these crowds. (Although if you don’t, still worth it).
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
11. Mount Pisgah
Winthrop | 1.4 miles | Moderate
Peak foliage window: Mid October
Central Maine needed a representative on this list, and Mount Pisgah understood the assignment. The Tower Trail climbs about 0.7 mile through a hardwood forest to the summit. Along the way you’ll pass old sugar maples before reaching a 60-foot former fire tower.
Then comes the fun part. Climb the tower and you get a true 360-degree panorama over central Maine. On exceptionally clear days, views can stretch from Mount Washington in the west all the way toward the Camden Hills in the east. That much forest underneath you becomes pretty ridiculous when the color hits.
Why we love it in fall: Central Maine’s forests and lakes are best appreciated from 60 feet above a mountaintop.
Insider tip: The Tower Trail is short, so combine it with more of the surrounding trail network if you want to turn this into a longer outing.
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
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12. Bald Pate Mountain
Bridgton | 3.3 miles | Moderate
Peak foliage window: Mid October
No, not that Baldpate. This is Bald Pate Mountain in Bridgton, and it’s a much more approachable outing than the 3,800-foot Appalachian Trail summit up in Grafton Notch. That’s exactly why we like it. A network of trails climbs through hemlock forests and across rocky terrain before reaching the open summit area. From there you get views toward the White Mountains and across the forests and lakes of western Maine.
We particularly like the Bob Chase and South Face trails for creating a manageable loop with several viewpoints rather than one big reveal at the end.
Why we love it in fall: You get open summit views without needing to devote an entire day to getting them.
Insider tip: Five Fields Farm is right nearby. Hike + apples + cider is a strong October itinerary.
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
13. Mount Agamenticus
York | 3 miles | Easy/Moderate
Peak foliage window: Mid October-Late October
Best Late-Season Foliage Hike
Yes, there is indeed a mountain in York. If you missed peak foliage farther north, keep driving south.
Mount Agamenticus sits just a few miles from the coast in York and is one of our favorite places to squeeze one more fall hike out of the season. The mountain isn't particularly tall, but its location gives it something most hikes this far south don't have: surprisingly big views.
The trail network gives you plenty of options. The one-mile Big A Trail loops around the summit area, while steeper trails like Blueberry Bluff and Vulture's View let you turn the outing into more of a hike. Blueberry Bluff looks south toward the ocean, while Vulture's View opens toward the northwest. And on especially clear days, you can see as far as Mount Washington.
In mid-to-late October, the mix of oak forest, exposed ledges and distant ocean makes Mount A feel very different from the mountain foliage farther north.
Why we love it in fall: It gives you one of the best chances to keep chasing foliage after much of Maine has already peaked.
Insider tip: Don't just drive to the summit. Start lower on the mountain and piece together a loop so you actually get to hike through the changing forest before reaching the viewpoints. The summit access road remains open from 7 a.m. to sunset from September through March, conditions permitting.
🍁 AllTrails Link 🍁
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