The Maine Highlands Guidebook The Maine Highlands Guidebook | Page 24

Scenic Drives
B
y car or on a motorcycle, a
cruise along one of The Maine
Highlands' scenic byways is
a wonderful way to explore
the region’s stunning mountains,
lakes, and woods. Two-lane roads
wind through the countryside, passing
through quaint towns and beautiful
forests with scenic overlooks where
the highway reaches a height of land.
DID YOU KNOW?
Fall foliage is at its most colorful
after a warm—but not dry—summer,
when autumn days are sunny and
nights are cool but frost-free.
Fall Foliage
One of the best times for a drive is the fall season when the air turns
crisp and leaves are ablaze. The weeks from late-September through
mid-October are peak foliage peeping times in The Maine Highlands.
See mainefoliage.com for a live foliage report throughout the fall.
THE MOOSEHEAD LAKE SCENIC BYWAY follows Route 15/Route 6 for 49
miles from Greenville to Jackman. The road passes through the village of
Rockwood where spectacular views of Mount Kineo beckon, and winds along
the waterway that feeds the Kennebec River.
ALONG THE WAY: The Steamship Katahdin, Big Squaw Mountain Ski Area,
Moosehead Lake and Mount Kineo, Brassua Lake, Long Pond, Wood Pond,
The Forks, Moxie Falls
THE KATAHDIN WOODS & WATERS SCENIC BYWAY travels 89 miles from
Baxter State park along the East Branch of the Penobscot River and provides
access to the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. With side
trips along the West Branch and views of Katahdin and the Appalachian
Mountains, this is a glorious drive that will reveal pastoral farms, working
forests, and beautiful natural areas.
ALONG THE WAY: Patten Lumberman’s Museum, Baxter State Park & Mount
Katahdin, Shin Falls, Grindstone Falls, Debsconeag Ice Caves, Ash Hill, Boom
House, Golden Road and the West Branch Penobscot River.
PHOTO BY
Justin Russell