12 of the Best Fall Hikes in Maine (And When to Hike Them)

HighlandsSouth CoastDowneast
Written By Maine Hikes Staff

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

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.

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.

3. Bald Mountain

Rangeley Area | 2.3 miles | 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.

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—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. Insider tip: pack a lunch and enjoy it at the pond—it’s the perfect spot to rest after the 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!

5. Glassface Ledges

Peak Foliage Window: October 3 — October 13

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. Insider tip: keep an eye out for hawks soaring above the ledges—they love the thermals. 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.

Chick Hill

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.

4. The Beehive

Peak Foliage Window: October 3 — October 13

If you’re in for a thrill, look no further. Beehive Trail 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. Insider tip: head out early to beat the crowds—this popular trail gets busy, but the views make it worth the rush. And if you’re really daring, hike it for an epic sunrise over the ocean.

  • Location: Bar Harbor

  • Distance: 1.5 miles (loop)

  • Difficulty: Hard

  • Trailkeeper: Acadia National Park

  • More info: Acadia | Beehive Loop

6. Blueberry Mountain

Peak Foliage Window: October 3 — October 13

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. 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! The short but rewarding hike is perfect for families, and the summit offers sweeping vistas that make the climb well worth it.

Mount Pisgah

Winthrop | ~1.4 miles via Tower Trail | Moderate
Typical 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.

Bald Pate Mountain

Bridgton | 3.3 miles | Moderate
Typical 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.

Mount Battie

Camden | ~1.5 miles | Easy–Moderate
Typical foliage window: Mid–Late October

A lot of places have fall foliage.

Not many have fall foliage, a postcard-worthy harbor and the Atlantic Ocean in the same view.

That's Mount Battie.

The hike from Camden is relatively short but steep enough to make you work for the summit. Once there, climb the stone tower and look back over Camden Harbor, Penobscot Bay and the islands beyond.

In October, the forest between you and the water turns red, orange and yellow while the bay stays deep blue.

It's aggressively Maine.

The direct Mount Battie Trail is only about half a mile one way, although Camden Hills State Park's trail network makes it easy to extend the outing.

Why we love it in fall: This may be the best combination of ocean and foliage anywhere on the list.

Insider tip: Go early. This is not exactly a secret, and perfect foliage weekends can get busy.

Beech Mountain

Acadia National Park | 1.2 miles | Moderate
Typical foliage window: Mid–Late 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.

Maine Hikes Staff
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