The leaves will turn. And we will all peep.

But is that where it ends?

Additional Photos

Interested in photographing foliage? On sunny days, look for early light or late light to capture colors best. File photos/Shutterstock.com

You also might try shooting near water to take advantage of reflections.

To really get out and see the fall colors, consider places like Screw Auger Falls in Grafton Notch State Park.

And if you get hungry and thirsty after your day of taking in Maine’s foliage, consider a seasonal treat of apple cider or cider doughnuts.

It doesn’t have to. In fact, it shouldn’t. Fall foliage season in Maine is not just about looking at all the pretty colors, it’s about DOING things surrounded by, and inspired by, all the pretty colors. So to help you take full advantage of leaf-peeping season, we’ve arranged a veritable cascade of falling ideas about foliage viewing. We’ll offer tips on where to find the most dramatic views, where to take a colorful hike, how to take the best foliage photos, where to grab a foliage-friendly treat and how to check the weekly color forecasts.

So take a peek and let the peeping begin.

SAY TREES

Here are a few helpful foliage photo pointers gleaned from Maine photographers:

• Enjoy the cloudy days, as they might give you more contrast and sharper pictures than photos taken in bright sun.

• Look for water — rivers, lakes, ponds — to add reflection and interest.

• On sunny days, early light and late light are probably best for pictures.

• Add some people. Sometimes, the best foliage shots have people, animals and action, not just pretty leaves.

TAKE A HIKE

The state’s division of Parks and Public Lands is planning several expert-led foliage hikes this fall, including:

• 10 a.m. Saturday, Bradbury Mountain State Park, 528 Hallowell Road, Pownal. Moderate, one-hour hike.

• 1 p.m. Oct. 13, Vaughan Woods State Park, 28 Oldsfield Road, South Berwick. An easy, one-hour family walk with a focus on trees and ecology.

• 1 p.m. Oct. 14, Camden Hills State Park, 280 Belfast Road, Camden. A moderate, 2.5-hour trip up Mount Battie, with ocean views.

Park admission fees apply to all hikes. For more information, go to parksandlands.com.

WHATTA VIEW!

A few spots most Mainers agree have spectacular foliage views:

• Height of Land, Route 17, Township D, north of Rumford. An extremely popular rest spot on a high point of land, overlooking Mooselookmeguntic Lake.

• Screw Auger Falls, Grafton Notch State Park, Route 26, Grafton Township, north of Bethel. Waterfalls, mountains, trees.

• Wyman Lake, Route 201, Moscow. Another incredible view. It’s where the Kennebec River and Wyman Lake merge, north of Skowhegan.

KEEP DRIVING

And if you’re looking for ideas on loops or routes to drive — where you can see foliage, charming villages, and quaint towns — check out the touring loops suggestions at visitmaine.com/seasons/fall/touring. A few include Route 302 in Naples, Route 133 in Livermore Falls and Route 209 from Bath to Phippsburg.

TIME TO EAT THE DOUGHNUTS

All those leaves making you hungry? Here are a couple of suggestions for places along the way that make the ingredients for a classic autumnal treat — apple cider and cider doughnuts:

• Thompson’s Orchard, 276 Gloucester Hill Road, New Gloucester. 926-4738; thompsonsorchard.com

• Libby & Son U-Picks, 86 Sawyer Mountain Road, Limerick. 793-4749; libbysonupicks.com

Staff Writer Ray Routhier can be contacted at 791-6454 or at:

rrouthier@pressherald.com

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