By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

With nights becoming cooler, daylight hours decreasing, and treetops turning from green to shades of red, orange and yellow, the fall season is slowly taking over. 

“We are looking forward to welcoming visitors who enjoy viewing our wonderful foliage by our scenic byways, on mountain and coastal trails, or from the seat of a canoe or kayak,” Maine Office of Tourism director Pat Eltman said in a press release announcing the start of the fall foliage season Sept. 10.

Fall’s bright leaves have historically attracted leaf peepers to the state, with 25 percent of one year’s overnight trips occurring between September and October, said Marketing Director for Maine’s Office of Tourism Steve Lions. While Lions has statistics about overnight trips, he said the office is only beginning to track day-trippers, which would probably include Maine residents as well. 

Rather than drive around the state to see the colorful treetops, alternatives in southern Maine are biking and hiking trails.

South Portland Councilor Tom Blake said one of his favorite trails to walk is around Clarks Pond between Interstate 295 and Home Depot. He said the heavily wooded, one and a half mile loop around Clarks Pond is a great family walk, with benches and spots to enjoy a picnic.

“October is my favorite time on this trail. It looks absolutely gorgeous,” Blake said. “When we opened the trail, it was during the fall, and people were stunned by the colors.”

In the Gorham area, Shaw Park off Route 237 is part of the Mountain Division Trails and offers up to five miles in trails for walking, biking or horseback riding, said Gorham Parks and Recreation Administrative Assistant Gail Platts. She said the trails are beautiful in the fall and offer views of the Presumpscot River, which she said is also a good place for kayaking.

Sanford Trail Committee member Lee Burnett recommended bicyclists use roads with wide shoulders for safety, and said Hanson’s Ridge and Route 11 up through Limington are both safe roads with foliage views. As for pedestrians, he said access to Mousam’s Way can be gained through Gowen Park or Springvale Recreation Area. Bauneg Beg Conservation Area offers a short hike with an excellent view and signs for a walk to Deering Pond can be located on Oak Street and Hanson’s Ridge. He said there are trail maps available at Sanford Town Hall or the chamber of commerce.

Eastern Trail Alliance President John Andrews said off-road sections of the Eastern Trail that are officially open include the trail crossing the marsh in Scarborough through to a small section in Old Orchard Beach and also the South Portland Greenbelt, and the alliance is working toward a cohesive trail system connecting Portsmouth, N.H. to South Portland. Andrews said he enjoys walking the Saco Heath and recently opened Horton Woods in Saco during the foliage season, and said even Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco is beautiful to walk this time of year.

Other area parks and trails with abundant trees include Clifford Park in Biddeford, Hinckley Park in South Portland, the Bridle Path along the Mousam River in Kennebunk and Jagolinzer Preserve in Limington. 

Despite the leaves on most trees still looking green, Maine Forest Service Forest Pathologist Bill Ostrofsky said peak color for southern Maine occurs during the first week of October and he said he expects this year’s foliage to produce some “spectacular” colors. 

Ostrofsky described the change in leaf color as a change in chemicals within the leaf.

He said as the tree removes chlorophyll from the leaves, it is removing the chemical that produces the green coloring and leaving behind the reds, oranges and yellows that have always been there, just never shown through the green. 

“Usually for the best color you need good leaves. During dry years, leaves fall prematurely and the tree as a whole might look thin, therefore less colorful,” Ostrofsky said. “Plenty of rain this summer kept the foliage nice and green, and the hardwood tree condition is good so the crowns are looking quite full.”

To check on the current foliage conditions of the state by region and read the latest foliage report, visit www.mainefoliage.com.