Hikers of all ability levels have good trips available Black Mountain has outstanding view of Tunk Lake

I always approach autumn with mixed feelings, but especially this year. Even with the current spell of unseasonably warm weather, I’m convinced it won’t last. I know the changing leaves paint the scenery with all the colors of fall and that’s certainly one reason to embrace the season.

On the other hand, the days are getting shorter, and I like long days. The summer sun that never seems to set now just drops behind the horizon accompanied by only a little twilight. At least there are no bugs. Ultimately, autumn means one thing. Winter’s on its way and the end of the three-season hiking. Even if it’s not the end of outdoor exploring, there’s definitely a cutting back of hiking to one weekend a month.

So, to try and squeeze in a few more hikes while the weather is still warm and the vibrant leaf color still hangs on the trees, here are a few hikes sure to get me outdoors. There’s one for every ability. One’s a public land hike, one’s an Acadia hike and one’s an inland 4,000 footer on the Appalachian Trail.

. Black Mountain, Donnell Pond District, Maine Bureau of Public Lands: This hike has great scenery for such an easy hike. Black Mountain is a small mountain of a little under 1,000 feet in elevation. The trail sees very little use compared to Acadia and it’s quite dramatic and remote. It climbs gradually at first through a great spruce-fir forest.

Then, as you near the summit, the trail ascends steeply to some large granite ledges, with an outstanding view of Tunk Lake. In a few hundred feet you are ascending more bedrock ledge to the West Peak of the mountain. There are several rock cairns marking the rest of the way to several viewpoints and possible loop trails.

The East Peak is clearly visible at this point as the trail passes by some dramatic rock outcrops. The views from the East Peak of Down East and the surrounding landscape is the payoff for this easy one-mile hike. To return to your car take the same trail back. There are also a couple of loop trails from the summit leading to Black Mountain Cliffs and Caribou Mountain.

To find the trailhead: Drive north on U.S. Route 1 from Ellsworth about 14 miles through East Sullivan until you reach Maine Route 183 on the left. Drive on 183 about 4.5 miles to the sign marking the Donnell Pond District on the left. The road is dirt and after about a quarter-mile you reach a fork. The road to the right leads to the trailhead after a couple of miles. There’s a small parking area for about three cars.

. Cadillac Mountain South Ridge via Canon Brook Trail, Acadia National Park: This is a moderately difficult hike of about six miles in length and has all you would expect from a hike in Acadia, amazing scenery and great trails.

The trail starts with an easy mile through hardwoods along the base of Dorr Mountain. After that first mile of level walking you come to a trail that comes in from the right, the Dorr Mountain South Ridge Trail. Keep going on the trail you’re on, soon passing another trail on the right, the A. Murray Young Path. This will be your return route. The Canon Brook Trail starts here and you ascend fairly steeply past a granite gorge in about a half-mile.

Soon you reach a small pond called The Featherbed and a trail intersection with the Cadillac South Ridge. Turn right and ascend gradually across open granite ledges with great views of Dorr Mountain and the Cranberry Isles. In another mile you come to the summit of Cadillac Mountain.

To return, go past the parking lot to the east and find the trail marked the Notch Trail. It’s a short steep descent to the bottom of the notch between Cadillac and Dorr. Then take another right on the A. Murray Young Path. This trail is a rocky route for the first few hundred feet, then becomes path-like with set stones underfoot. The views alone make this hike rewarding.

To find the trailhead: Go south on Maine Route 3 about four miles past the entrance to Sieur de Monts and The Tarn on the left. Look for a parking area on the left. The trail starts on the opposite side of the road.

. Sugarloaf Mountain, Carrabassett, on the Appalachian Trail: This is a difficult hike with huge elevation gains and rocky terrain. But it’s short, just under three miles one way. The Appalachian Trail crosses a dirt road, the road you drive in on.

After parking in a small pull-off, the trail descends steeply for a hundred feet or so to the Carrabassett River, here just a small stream that must be forded. If we’ve had lots of rain and the water’s high, just turn back. But, if the water is low it’s an easy rock hop across.

Once across the stream you start to climb out of the valley and up the backside of the mountain, through white birches and other hardwoods. The trail then gets steeper and much rockier with several ledges to pull yourself over.

Soon you come out at the first view on the top of a cirque. The view here is of North and South Crocker Mountains. Below lies the South Branch of Carrabassett River, which you forded earlier, a ribbon of water carving Caribou Valley. After a little more than two miles of hiking and 1,500 feet of elevation gain, the trail takes you to the blue blaze side trail to the summit of Sugarloaf. It’s steep too, gaining 700 feet in six-tenths of a mile.

Once on the open summit with its radio towers and abandoned gondola building, the views are tremendous, 360 degrees. On a clear day you can see Mount Washington, Saddleback, Bigelow, Abraham and numerous other western Maine mountains. Return by the Appalachian Trail the way you came.

To find the trailhead: After about a mile north on Maine Route 27 from the entrance to Sugarloaf ski area look for an unmarked gravel road on the left. It’s just after the passing lane ends at the top of the hill. That’s the Caribou Valley Road. From Route 27 it’s about 4.5 miles up that road to the crossing of the Appalachian Trail and a small dirt pullout to park on the right. The trailhead is across the road.

There you have it, three reasons to get outdoors and explore before winter hits and it’s time to pull out the long johns, snowshoes and skis. I, for one, can stand the wait.