A few weeks ago we took advantage of the holiday and headed up to Rangeley on Columbus Day for a little exploring. We’ve been meaning to explore the Rangeley region together for quite awhile now, but after Michael’s fantastic fly fishing trip on the Magalloway this summer, we made it a priority to return together for the foliage.

We set our alarms early that morning so we could watch the sun come up during the drive up which made the trip even more enjoyable. By the time we reached the pullover at Height of Land, the sun was trying to make its way out of the clouds, but even through a largely grey sky, the view was breathtaking. On our way to hike Bald Mountain, we pulled over at the next scenic view which was just as beautiful – if not more so – than the famed Height of Land.

The light shining through the trees on the hike up Bald Mountain was stunning, almost as enjoyable for me as the view from the top of the watch tower! It was our first foray into hiking since I fractured my foot in the spring, and although the trail was short, we quickly realized that we might have gone a little too soon in the healing process. In the end, it was worth it just to be outside and moving with Michael and Orvis and making memories in such a beautiful spot.

We hope that this will be our first of many visits to Rangeley over the years and we’re already planning a return trip that would ideally include a dinner at Forks in the Air and of course, a summer dip in one of the nearby lakes!

Photos by Meredith Perdue for Map & Menu.