Take a foliage hike

The fall is the perfect time to head out to a local mountain for a hike or to take a scenic walk. Not only will you enjoy beautiful views of places like Penobscot Bay, but you’ll also see fantastic foliage.

Bald Rock Mountain in Lincolnville is one of the less-traveled peaks of the Midcoast area, but the 1,100-foot mountain offers great views of Penobscot Bay to the east and the rolling peaks of Camden Hills to the south. Park at the gate on the Ski Lodge Road off the Youngstown Road. Follow the dirt road 1.25 miles to the trail head. The trail to the top of this mountain, which once had a ski area, is about half a mile long and features switch backs and several stone steps. It is a moderate, steady climb through attractive woods. There is a lean-to and a few small tent areas at the summit where overnight camping is permitted, but check first at Camden State Park headquarters. There is also a longer route to the top from Route 1. Bring water because there is none along this trail.

Mount Megunticook in Camden Hills State Park, Camden offers the best views of the entire surrounding area. The trail begins in the park’s campground off Route 1. Day use is allowed. The path steeply ascends the east end of the mountain rising 900 feet and crosses the tableland area at about 1,385 feet and after one mile comes to the Ocean Lookout which looks down on Penobscot Bay and nearby Mount Battie with its stone tower. You can make a loop by taking the Tablelands Trail down towards Mount Battie and turning left onto the Mount Battie Trail to return to the campground. Or, you can continue west descending gradually to the Maiden Cliffs Loop Trail which overlooks Megunticook Lake. It is nearly five miles from the campground to the Cliffs so you may want to park a car at the Maiden Cliffs Trail parking area or plan on having a long day. There is no reliable water. The hike is moderate to strenuous.

Mount Battie in Camden has an auto road up to the stone tower that overlooks Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay, but some purists insist on hiking. The Mount Battie Trail leaves from the campground access road in Camden Hills State Park and roughly parallels the auto road to between Mount Battie and Mount Megunticook. At the intersection with the Tablelands Trail turn left, cross the auto road and quickly reach the summit with its great views of the nearby mountains and countryside. Retrace your steps to return. The distance is about 1.25 miles one way. Elevation gain of 550 feet. The hike is moderate to strenuous.

A great place to walk is the Rockland Breakwater in Rockland. A walk on the massive stones that form this breakwater looks deceptively easy from the starting point off the access road, Samoset Road. Parking is limited at the end of Samoset Road and when mackerel are running in the Bay, fishing enthusiasts can quickly fill all the spaces. It is just short of a mile to the lighthouse on the end and the weather can change quickly. Still, if you don’t mind slippery rocks and the occasional crevasse and want good views of the harbor and lobster, ferry and sail boats going about their business in Penobscot Bay it makes an excellent outing. Seals, porpoises and seabirds can also be observed. The breakwater was built in the late 1800s. Watch out for salt spray when waves are driven by stiff breezes and if dark thunderstorm clouds begin building in the west get back to shore immediately. This walk is easy to moderate.

The Georges Highland Path (Ragged Mountain Section) is a low-impact hiking path through the high country of the George River watershed. It is maintained by the Georges River Land Trust. There are three distinct sections to the Highland Path: Mt. Pleasant Farm to Mt. Pleasant Road; Mt. Pleasant Road to the yellow gate at Route 17; Thorndike Brook Access Point to yellow gate at Route 17. The path is blazed with blue paint. Parking is available along Route 17. Hiking maps and information about the Georges River land Trust is also available at the parking site, or by calling 594-5166.

Frye Mountain in Montville sits in the middle of one of the larger, undeveloped tracts of land in Waldo County. From the base of the old Maine Forest Service fire tower, it is easy to view the western mountains, the Penobscot Valley to the north, some of Penobscot Bay to the southeast and many lakes and ponds, including Lake St. George, to the south. To get to Frye Mountain from the Belfast area, drive west on Route 137 for about 10 miles and turn left on the Getchell Road, across from the Leland Kenny Road at Foster’s Corner. Take the Getchell Road, which soon turns to gravel, for about three miles. Pass a metal gatepost marking the beginning of state land and look for a steep trail on the left and a sign for the fire tower. Pull off the road and climb to the tower.

The trailhead for Mount Waldo in Frankfort begins at a lower altitude than the trailhead for Frye Mountain and the hike is longer even though Mount Waldo is slightly lower than Frye Mountain. The one-mile jaunt to the summit is a pleasant hike and scenic views become apparent soon after beginning the hike. To reach Mount Waldo, drive north on Route 1A in Frankfort and turn left just before the Town Office. A railroad trestle marks the road. Drive for 0.2 miles, turn right and continue on to a fork. Turn left and look for a metal gate at about 1.6 miles. Park off the road and look for the gravel road winding through a boulder-studded, wide-open landscape. The mountain begins on the other side of this barren area.

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Take a foliage hike The fall is the perfect time to head out to a local mountain for a hike or to take a scenic walk. Not only will you enjoy beautiful views of places like Penobscot Bay, but you’ll also see fantastic foliage. Bald Rock Mountain in Lincolnville is one of the less-traveled peaks of the Midcoast area, but the 1,100-foot mountain offers great views of Penobscot Bay to the east and the rolling peaks of Camden Hills to the south. Park at the gate on the Ski Lodge Road off the Youngstown Road. Follow the dirt road 1.25 miles to the trail head. The trail to the top of this mountain, which once had a ski area, is about half a mile long and features switch backs and several stone steps. It is a moderate, steady climb through attractive woods. There is a lean-to and a few small tent areas at the summit where overnight camping is permitted, but check first at Camden State Park headquarters. There is also a longer route to the top from Route 1. Bring water because there is none along this trail. Mount Megunticook in Camden Hills State Park, Camden offers the best views of the entire surrounding area. The trail begins in the park’s campground off Route 1. Day use is allowed. The path steeply ascends the east end of the mountain rising 900 feet and crosses the tableland area at about 1,385 feet and after one mile comes to the Ocean Lookout which looks down on Penobscot Bay and nearby Mount Battie with its stone tower. You can make a loop by taking the Tablelands Trail down towards Mount Battie and turning left onto the Mount Battie Trail to return to the campground. Or, you can continue west descending gradually to the Maiden Cliffs Loop Trail which overlooks Megunticook Lake. It is nearly five miles from the campground to the Cliffs so you may want to park a car at the Maiden Cliffs Trail parking area or plan on having a long day. There is no reliable water. The hike is moderate to strenuous. Mount Battie in Camden has an auto road up to the stone tower that overlooks Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay, but some purists insist on hiking. The Mount Battie Trail leaves from the campground access road in Camden Hills State Park and roughly parallels the auto road to between Mount Battie and Mount Megunticook. At the intersection with the Tablelands Trail turn left, cross the auto road and quickly reach the summit with its great views of the nearby mountains and countryside. Retrace your steps to return. The distance is about 1.25 miles one way. Elevation gain of 550 feet. The hike is moderate to strenuous. A great place to walk is the Rockland Breakwater in Rockland. A walk on the massive stones that form this breakwater looks deceptively easy from the starting point off the access road, Samoset Road. Parking is limited at the end of Samoset Road and when mackerel are running in the Bay, fishing enthusiasts can quickly fill all the spaces. It is just short of a mile to the lighthouse on the end and the weather can change quickly. Still, if you don’t mind slippery rocks and the occasional crevasse and want good views of the harbor and lobster, ferry and sail boats going about their business in Penobscot Bay it makes an excellent outing. Seals, porpoises and seabirds can also be observed. The breakwater was built in the late 1800s. Watch out for salt spray when waves are driven by stiff breezes and if dark thunderstorm clouds begin building in the west get back to shore immediately. This walk is easy to moderate. The Georges Highland Path (Ragged Mountain Section) is a low-impact hiking path through the high country of the George River watershed. It is maintained by the Georges River Land Trust. There are three distinct sections to the Highland Path: Mt. Pleasant Farm to Mt. Pleasant Road; Mt. Pleasant Road to the yellow gate at Route 17; Thorndike Brook Access Point to yellow gate at Route 17. The path is blazed with blue paint. Parking is available along Route 17. Hiking maps and information about the Georges River land Trust is also available at the parking site, or by calling 594-5166. Frye Mountain in Montville sits in the middle of one of the larger, undeveloped tracts of land in Waldo County. From the base of the old Maine Forest Service fire tower, it is easy to view the western mountains, the Penobscot Valley to the north, some of Penobscot Bay to the southeast and many lakes and ponds, including Lake St. George, to the south. To get to Frye Mountain from the Belfast area, drive west on Route 137 for about 10 miles and turn left on the Getchell Road, across from the Leland Kenny Road at Foster’s Corner. Take the Getchell Road, which soon turns to gravel, for about three miles. Pass a metal gatepost marking the beginning of state land and look for a steep trail on the left and a sign for the fire tower. Pull off the road and climb to the tower. The trailhead for Mount Waldo in Frankfort begins at a lower altitude than the trailhead for Frye Mountain and the hike is longer even though Mount Waldo is slightly lower than Frye Mountain. The one-mile jaunt to the summit is a pleasant hike and scenic views become apparent soon after beginning the hike. To reach Mount Waldo, drive north on Route 1A in Frankfort and turn left just before the Town Office. A railroad trestle marks the road. Drive for 0.2 miles, turn right and continue on to a fork. Turn left and look for a metal gate at about 1.6 miles. Park off the road and look for the gravel road winding through a boulder-studded, wide-open landscape. The mountain begins on the other side of this barren area.