Wilderness Area·Maine·11,235 acres
Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness
Forecast issued Nov 10, 7:57am ET
Higher ground turns first, so the slopes above the road lead the valley by a few days.
Weather Hard frost Wednesday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness around Oct 10, and the four days to aim for are Oct 9 to 12.
The wilderness runs from about 775 to 2,417 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 5 days: the high stands around Oct 8, the low ground around Oct 12. That's 3 days later than our model alone would say, because this season's reports from the ground moved it.
| Week | In the wilderness | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Starting to turn | |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Nearly peak | |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Peak color | 1,000 to 1,500 ft, 1,500 to 2,000 ft, 2,000 to 2,500 ft |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Peak color | 500 to 1,000 ft |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Just past peak |
- 2,000–2,500 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 823%
- 1,500–2,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 940%
- 1,000–1,500 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1126%
- 500–1,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 128%
Height off 3DEP inside the wilderness’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the wilderness stands in it.
That’s 3 days later than our model alone would say. This season’s reports from the ground moved it, and they outrank us.
Plan this tripIf you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Friday, October 9 to Saturday, October 10
You’ll find it peak color.
That's the day our forecast puts peak color here.
- 2,000–2,500 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 8
- 1,500–2,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 9
- 1,000–1,500 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 11
- Where to drive
- Kancamagus Highway, about 32 miles · Route 112 (Lost River Road), about 47 miles · Route 100, about 96 miles
- What turns
- sugar maple, red maple, paper birch, yellow birch, American beech
What turns, and when
- sugar maple30%
- red maple20%
- paper birch20%
- yellow birch10%
- American beech10%
- quaking aspen10%
Also named across Maine, outside what the canopy read measures here: White Birch, Red Oak.
Maine's fall is defined by the contrast of scarlet maples and golden birches against dark spruce, with the rocky coast adding a blue backdrop that makes every color more vivid.
Questions people ask about Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness
- When is peak fall foliage at Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness?
Our forecast puts peak color at Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness around Oct 10, and the four days to aim for are Oct 9 to 12.
- Where is the best fall color at Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness right now?
On Nov 10 the wilderness is leaves down. The last band to peak was 500 to 1,000 feet, around Oct 12.
- How long does peak last at Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness?
About four days at the top, Oct 9 to 12, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the wilderness's elevations the color moves over about 5 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 9 days.
- Is Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 10, and on Nov 10 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness?
Sugar Maple, Red Maple, White Birch, American Beech, Red Oak. Maine's fall is defined by the contrast of scarlet maples and golden birches against dark spruce, with the rocky coast adding a blue backdrop that makes every color more vivid.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. We score it here against 27 long-running forest cameras: two dates in three land within 10 days of the camera’s own peak. How this map is made
Nearby, and when they turn
White Mountain and Pemigewasset Wilderness and Sandwich Range Wilderness are on the map above, with their own date.
- Peak Oct 18 best Oct 17 to 20
- Peak Oct 15 best Oct 14 to 17
- Peak Oct 4 best Oct 3 to 6
Fall color roads near Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the wilderness, so allow more by road.
- Kancamagus Highway
One of America's finest fall drives through the White Mountains, peaking early-to-mid October. The stretch between Lincoln and Conway is jaw-dropping.
- Route 112 (Lost River Road)
A less-trafficked alternative to the Kanc, running through Kinsman Notch with excellent birch and maple color.
- Route 100
Runs the full length of Vermont through the Green Mountains. The section between Stowe and Killington is the postcard version of New England fall.
- Park Loop Road
Acadia's one-way loop pairs ocean views with maple and birch color. Best in the second and third weeks of October.