As the heat of the summer comes to an end, many of us look forward to finally enjoying the cooler weather. With the changing of the seasons comes many other delightful things such as photographing the leaves and their magnificent colors during the fall. Every year I feel like it is a race against time to gain the most out of our leaf-peeping as well as our photography sessions. Well this year, in order to combat the rapidly changing and falling leaves, I had the great idea of starting our touring of the state a bit north of us. This way, we could enjoy the different areas of Maine, as they experienced their peak during the season. We could chase the beautiful colors of the leaves while working our way down from the northern areas to the south of the state. Although we didn’t have to travel too far and we technically stayed in our neck of the woods, we started the season by enjoying a nice and sunny day trip in the car to Rangeley.
We decided to take a drive up to Quill Hill, which is located on Oddy’s Road off Route 16 between the towns of Rangeley and Stratton. The four-mile dirt road is well-maintained and leads to a 2848 foot summit where you will find breathtaking and 360-degree views. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the area in several ways. There are picnic benches located on the summit and just below, there are a wood-fired grill and picnic tables available for public use.
The area is open 24 hours a day from late May through mid-October to vehicles of all types. During the remainder of the year, the gate is closed but visitors are welcome to enjoy recreational activities such as hiking, biking, skiing as well as snowmobiling to the summit. While open, visitors can also enjoy stargazing, but spending the night is frowned upon.
Quill Hill is a privately owned area and is maintained for the public to enjoy. Donations are welcomed to aid in keeping the road in tiptop shape.
Most importantly, Quill Hill exists because of the tremendous efforts of Adrian Brochu. Adrian began working on the road in 2010 and continued until his passing in October 2019. I greatly encourage you to read about the life of this fascinating man.
Before arriving at Quill Hill, we took a wrong turn and saw this old school bus. I just had to take a photograph! You never know what you’re going to see in the mountains of Maine!
Once we arrive at Quill Hill, I started clicking away. I hope you enjoy the views!
After our visit to Quill Hill, we made a quick stop at this overlook, a section of the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway located just outside of Rangley Village.
The Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway is a 35.6-mile scenic route that winds through some of Western Maine’s most beautiful sights. The byway begins on Route 4, just outside of Rangeley, Maine, and then passes by Rangeley Village as well as Rangeley Lake, then continues on Route 17. A few highlights include the Height of Land, offering views of lakes, forests, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and the Rangeley Lakes Logging Museum. This route passes through 33,000 acres of protected natural lands. Travelers can complete the route in two to three hours, but sightseers should allow themselves at least eight hours for thorough viewing enjoyment.
With the peak season of fall well behind us now, it is nice to relish our memories from the day. This year’s colors were exceptionally vibrant and beautiful and I can’t wait to see what next fall brings. I hope you enjoyed viewing these colorful scenes of fall from the Rangely area of Maine.
Directions to Quill Hill
If you are interested in making the trip to Quill Hill, the entrance is located on Rt 16 in Dallas Plantation. From downtown Rangeley, turn from Main Street (Route 4) onto Route 16 at the intersection by the Furbish Brew House. Drive 6.75 miles and look for the sign on the right.
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