Western Maine Fall Foliage 2 Day Itinerary
Itinerary
Note – we put some scheduled times in here just to give you some ideas. You can pick and choose what you want to do. Be sure to look at when they are open and if there are any COVID restrictions. In fact, it would probably be a good idea to call any that you plan to visit just to be on the safe side.
Western Maine is known for its beauty, and in the fall it is the perfect place to be. This fall foliage itinerary is great for the whole family, and meant to be easily accessible. For more information on visitor accessibility in Maine, check out this visitor accessibility PDF created by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
DAY 1
8:00 AM – Breakfast at Northern Lights Cafe
27 Grand Circle, Newry, ME 04261 | (207) 824 – 5327
Start your day off at the Northern Lights Cafe for breakfast, located at the Jordan Hotel at the Sunday River Resort, where you’ll find delicious coffees and espresso, pastries, and more.
10 min drive to the Sunday River Bridge
9:10 AM – Sunday River Bridge (“Artist’s Bridge”)
Sunday River Road, Newry, ME 04261
Here is one of Maine’s most picturesque bridges, the Sunday River Bridge. Built in 1872, it is a 100-foot structure across the Sunday River. The “artist” of the bridge is John Enneking, one of America’s first impressionists, who was seen painting at this bridge so often that locals began referring to it as the “Artist’s Bridge.”
10 min drive to Sunday River Resort
10:00 AM – Sunday River Scenic Lift
Sunday River, 15 S Ridge Road, Newry, ME 04261 | (800) 543-2754
The scenic lift at Sunday River shows beautiful views of the Sunday River Valley and Mahoosuc Mountains. You can either ride up in the open chair lift or an enclosed gondola cabin (dog, kid, and grandparent-friendly!). Walk around at the top, take pictures, and enjoy the fall scenery.
12:00 PM – Lunch at Shipyard Brew Haus
White Cap Lodge, White Heat Road, Newry, ME 04261 | (207) 237-6834
Enjoy lunch at Sunday River’s Shipyard Brew Haus, located in the White Cap Lodge. Here you can find delicious sandwiches, burgers, salads, and more.
20 min drive to Grafton Notch State Park
1:00 PM – Grafton Notch Scenic Byway
Newry, ME 04261 | (207) 824-2912
Drive along the beautiful Grafton Notch Scenic Byway, along Route 26, and stop to take pictures along the way, admiring the wildlife and beautiful scenery. After this, either continue on Route 26 (hitting shortly into New Hampshire) or backtrack along Routes 2 and 17.
1 hr 20 min drive to Rangeley State Park for both routes
3:00 PM – Rangeley Lake State Park
1 State Park Road, Rangeley, ME 04970 | (207) 864-3858
Next, stop at Rangeley Lake State Park to enjoy the views. There are picnic tables, restrooms, and a fairly easily accessible beach, and more difficult but beautiful trails to hike.
15 min drive to Parkside & Main
5:00 PM – Dinner at Parkside & Main
2520 Main Street, Rangeley, ME 04970 | (207) 864-3774
Finish off your day at Parkside & Main for dinner, where you can find delicious, fine dining at affordable prices in a casual, relaxed atmosphere.
DAY 2
8:00 AM – Breakfast at the Gingerbread House Restaurant
55 Carry Road, Oquossoc, ME 04964 | (207) 864-3602
Start day two of your trip with breakfast at the Gingerbread House Restaurant, located just outside Rangeley. Here, you’ll find delicious omelets, pancakes, hash browns, and more.
5 min drive to Shelton Noyes Overlook
9:00 AM – Shelton Noyes Overlook
ME-17, Roxbury, ME 04275
The lesser-known Shelton Noyes Overlook is a beautiful scenic overlook located along Route 17 with panoramic views of Rangeley Lake and the surrounding areas.
5 min drive to Height of Land
9:30 AM – Height of Land
ME-17, Roxbury, ME 04275 | (207) 864-7311
The Height of Land scenic overlook located along Route 17 “provides magnificent views of Mooselookmeguntic and Richardson Lakes, the White Mountains, and thousands of acres of conservation lands.”
30 min drive to Swift River Walking Trail
11:00 AM – Swift River Walking Trail
662 Hancock Street, Rumford, ME 04276
The Swift River Walking Trail is a scenic 0.5-mile, wheelchair-accessible trail through the trees alongside the Swift River, offering an easy view of Rumford’s natural beauty.
12:00 PM – Lunch at Gatch’s Food & Spirits
137 Rumford Ave, Rumford, ME 04276 | (207) 364-2050
Take a break at Gatch’s Food & Spirits, a family-friendly restaurant with a full menu, home cooking, and great burgers.
30 min drive to Mount Blue State Park
1:30 PM – Mount Blue State Park
297 Center Hill Road, Weld, ME 04285 | (207) 585-2261
Walk around Mount Blue State Park, where you’ll find easily accessible picnic tables, a beach, and lake views (even from the Center Hill parking lot!). There are slightly more difficult but equally beautiful views along the trails. They also have a Nature Center featuring hands-on exhibits and displays.
3:00 PM – Webb Lake Beach Area
Mount Blue State Park Campground, Weld, ME 04285 | (207) 585-2261
Head over to the Webb Lake beach area, a mixture of grassy and sandy areas with beautiful mountain views.
30 min drive to Hotel Rumford
5:00 PM – Dinner at Hotel Rumford
65 Canal Street, Rumford, ME 04276 | (207) 364-3621
Finish off your trip at Hotel Rumford, Rumford’s oldest restaurant & bar, established in 1888! Here you’ll find delicious burgers, lobster rolls, soups, and more made with fresh ingredients.
Hotel Recommendation
2443 Main St, Rangeley, ME 04970 | (207) 864-3341
Historic building restored with modern amenities in a beautiful setting. Walking distance to local businesses with access to plenty of outdoor activities.
Packing Checklist
The weather in Maine can be unpredictable. Therefore, here are some ideas to be prepared. Wear comfortable clothes and dress in layers, Maine is very casual, so you probably will not find any restaurants that require formal attire.
Spring/Summer/Fall: clothes, comfortable sneakers or hiking shoes for walking, sun hat, sunscreen, sweater or jacket, insect repellent, toiletries, and phone/camera
Winter: clothes (layers), ski pants highly recommended, winter boots, jacket, hats, scarves, gloves, warm socks, toiletries, and phone/camera. Please pack a helmet if you are participating in snowmobiling, skiing, or snowboarding.
Fun Facts
- Sunday River is the second largest ski resort in Maine, and it has the most terrain among ski destination along the east coast with 6 different peaks
- Rangeley used to be a popular fishing location in the early 1900s among fishermen including President Herbert Hoover, although this declined significantly during World War II.
- Rumford is the largest town in Oxford County and used to be a highly successful paper mill town, but now it is more known for its beautiful trees, streams, and mountains.