Fall Foliage Road trip
In partnership with Visit Maine & Trip Scout, join us on a road trip around Maine in search of fall colors.
Be sure to save this post for future foliage adventures!
Day 1 — to Millinocket
Dinner at Knife Edge Brewing | Stay at the Big Moose Inn
We hit the road from our home in the Portland area and headed north in search of fall foliage. The hues along the highway got warmer with reds and oranges as we cruised towards the Big Moose Inn, just outside of Millinocket. After dropping our bags off in our room, we headed over to Knife Edge Brewing for dinner and sunset views of Katahdin. Their beer list was extensive with a homemade selection and other local Maine brews and their dinner menu featured an amazing assortment of fresh and wood-fired options. We started with a Caesar salad and wings, which were fall-off-the-bone incredible, while we waited for our pizza. This stop may have commenced our trip, but it would also make the perfect meal after an epic hike in the park. We tucked into bed after dinner in preparation for a big day ahead!
Day 2 — Biking around Penobscot River Trails
Breakfast at Appalachian Trail Cafe | Dinner at Chew 62 | Stay at The Mill
While it was still dark, our alarms sounded, reminding us of our ambitions to catch the sunrise. Weary-eyed, we layered up and braved the chilly fall morning to catch the first light on Katahdin from Millinocket Lake. Reflections of pink clouds shimmered on the calm waters as we paddled around the islands, toward the mountain. Between paddle strokes we could hear the animal kingdom waking up — from the birds overhead to the muskrats on the shore. The marshland between us and Katahdin was colorful with the reds of swamp maples and golden grasses. The purples of dawn turned to blue and ultimately green as the sun lit up the evergreens on Maine’s highest peak. Ever in awe of its presence, we paused our paddle strokes and soaked up the stillness of dawn before the day.
We loaded the canoe back onto the car, packed up our belongings from the Big Moose Inn, and hit the road for the day. We were hoping to grab breakfast at the Appalachian Trail Cafe, a favorite in the area, but they had the day off so we grabbed some muffins at the market instead.
The big adventure of the day was to the east of Baxter State Park, where we pulled into the Penobscot River Trails parking lot and suited up for a bike ride along the river. These gravel trails are impeccably maintained, making a smooth ride for Christine on her road bike and just as comfortable for Cam on his commuter bike. The 25k (15.5 mile) loop follows the East Branch of the Penobscot River upstream and cruises back through the colorful forest. We marveled at the yellow birch trees lining the river banks and crunched over fallen maple leaves on the path. In the winter, these trails are groomed for Nordic skiing and we look forward to coming back for this loop in the snow!
We enjoyed the scenic drive to Dover Foxcroft through groves of colorful leaves, where we had reserved a room in The Mill, a charming boutique hotel. With windows overlooking the Piscataquis River, we dropped our bags and cleaned up for dinner just a block away. We walked through town over to Chew 62 where we enjoyed a delicious meal. Tuckered out from the day’s activities, we curled into bed shortly after!
Day 3 — Corn Maze & Apple Picking at Treworgy Orchards
Breakfast at Peace, Love, Waffles | Dinner at Orono Brewing
We woke up in the beautifully converted Mill in Dover Foxcroft, and while they have a delicious cafe on the main floor of the mill (worth a stop as well!), we opted for breakfast at Peace, Love, & Waffles, where they specialize in unique waffle combinations. Cam kept it traditional with chicken and waffles, while Christine got adventurous with their shredded potato waffle with Greek toppings! Fueled for the foreseeable future, we hit the road to Treworgy Orchards!
Upon arriving at Treworgy Orchards, it was clear this place is made for fall fun. Teeming with kids of all ages, they have a petting zoo, corn maze, apple picking, and much more. We grabbed tickets for the corn maze, which comes with a complementary ice cream after completion, and made our way down to the entrance! This is their 40th year of hosting a corn maze and it’s clear they’re experts in the field. Shaped like a tractor, there were checkpoints hidden throughout with questions to answer on our ticket. We had the best time winding through the stalks, getting lost, and even signing our names on the hall of fame. Once we scratched off the answers to all six questions, we cashed in our ticket for some ice cream and cider donuts — the perfect pick-me-up before heading into the orchards. Cam prefers Honeycrisp apples, so we started there and then progressed around the orchard to McIntosh, Cortland, Macon, etc. We filled our bushel basket enough for an apple crisp and some snacking too.
Our fall foliage road trip ended at Orono Brewing, where we grabbed a beer and food as we recapped our adventure. We always love enjoying one last stop before heading home to let the memories sink in — from the sunrise paddle on Millinocket Lake to apple cider donuts at Treworgy Orchards and everything in between. We hope this adventure inspires you to explore new corners of Maine this fall and be sure to save this post for the seasons to come! Thanks so much for joining us — stay tuned for what’s to come!