State park to host fall foliage hike
Aroostook State Park will join its sister parks throughout Maine in welcoming the fall foliage season, with nine events planned to highlight the annual explosion of colors over the next few weeks. Festivities will highlight the beauty of Maine’s fall foliage, with activities including eight hikes and a river paddle, presented by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) and the Maine Forest Service (MFS).
This year’s foliage events offer more hikes and programs at more state parks and public lands as part of the 75th anniversary of the Maine State Park System (MSPS), according to Gary Best, assistant regional manager with the BPL.
“It’s a great time of year to encourage people to get out and experience the beauty of the changing seasons in Maine,” he said. “We once again area partnering with the MFS to highlight some of the best places to view the fall foliage colors in Maine while learning why the leaves change color, what triggers leaf fall and to give a better understanding of Maine’s forests.”
Four hikes were held last year, with 180 people attending, including 60 people who took part in the hike at Aroostook State Park, Maine’s first state park, located near Presque Isle, overlooking Echo Lake.
“This year we’re holding more hikes in more areas, so we are expecting more people to take part in the overall program,” Best said.
“Good things are going on at the park,” said Aroostook State Park Manager Scott Thompson. “Here is a great event the public should know about. It’s a great event for the entire family to enjoy.”
Two of the nine events will take place in Aroostook County this month: Sunday, Sept. 19, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Aroostook State Park, Presque Isle; and Saturday, Sept. 25, Deboullie Public Reserve Land, Aroostook County.
Thompson said a special event is planned Sept. 19, in addition to the hike.
“We will be holding a dedication ceremony to unveil some great news to the crowd just before the hike activities,” said Thompson, noting he wanted the details to remain a surprise until Sunday.
For more information about Aroostook State Park, contact Thompson at 768-8341 or e-mail scott.p.thompson@maine.gov. For more specific information about the hikes/paddle, including difficulty and meeting places, go to www.parksandlands.com, or call Melissa Macaluso, BPL, at 287-4960.
