The foliage color has begun to appear in the northernmost regions of Maine, according to the third 2013 Fall Foliage Report from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Currently, Maine Forest Service and state park rangers are reporting high, or between 50 and 75 percent, color change in all of Aroostook County (Zone 7 and 6) from Fort Kent to Houlton, and including the northern half of Baxter State Park and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

Trees in the area have moderate leaf drop of less than 50 percent. The Western Zone 5 from Jackman to Bethel is also reporting high color change with a low leaf drop of less than 30 percent. 

The weather this weekend is shaping up to be a great time to get out to one of Maine’s many state parks for guided fall foliage tours. For more information on the tours, please visit www.parksandlands.com to learn about skill levels and duration of tours.

For those looking to spend time outdoors, the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend takes place Saturday, September 28. It is a series of over 100 events throughout the state that are lead by outdoor oriented organizations and companies to celebrate the how, where, and what of being active outside in Maine. The goal is to connect friends and neighbors with the natural world, to promote fun, physical activity and good health. See more at: greatmaineoutdoorweekend.org.

For continuous weekly updates every Wednesday through October 16, visit the state’s official foliage website www.mainefoliage.com. Visitors can receive weekly reports by email and share the photos of the riot of color throughout the state as the leaves slowly change.

Gale Ross, fall foliage spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, reminds visitors and natives alike that, “We are always on the lookout for your favorite fall foliage photos depicting this year’s foliage conditions that can be posted to the Maine foliage website.”

Additionally, the foliage website will list the fall foliage ranger-led hikes in the state parks.

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