BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 4, 2021
As soon as the leaves fall from the trees in Maine, parking lots for outdoor destinations such as hiking trails empty out. The change is dramatic. One weekend in October, trailheads are crowded with excited leaf peepers, and the next weekend, that same parking lot is empty — or close to it. It’s not just because tourists stop visiting. A lot of Maine residents stop hiking after the fall foliage fades. But here’s the thing: there are a lot of wonderful things about late fall and early spring hiking. For starters, there are no mosquitoes, blackflies or deer flies. While I do lament the end of fall foliage season, there is one perk to bare trees: high visibility. You don’t have to worry about not finding any open parking spots at a trailhead.