Best Roads, Peak Dates To See Fall Colors As Autumn Takes Hold In Michigan
LANSING (WWJ) - Planning to head out on a fall color tour? Try a local road instead of a freeway.
The County Road Association of Michigan has released a "Don't Miss" list with some of the prettiest color tour drives in the state.
Michigan drivers are probably unfamiliar with many of these roads; they were recommended by road commission staff who know where the best fall drives are located because they've taken care of these roads and right-of-ways for years and years.
The following are recommendations from 11 counties across Michigan, listed in order of expected leaf coloring dates starting from the Upper Peninsula.
Upper Peninsula (Optimal color dates: October 7-14)
Chippewa County
• North and South Caribou Lake Roads in the DeTour Village area
• Gogomain Road from Goetzville to Pickford
• Lakeshore Drive from Brimley to M-123
• Salt Point Road from M-28 to Lakeshore Drive
Dickinson County
• Kramer Drive on the north side of the city of Iron Mountain
• Metropolitan Road near Felch
Marquette County
• County Road 510 from County Road 502 north to Big Bay
• Triple A off County Road 510 in Big Bay
• County Road 533 in Skandia
• M-35 from County Road 480 to Gwinn
Northern Lower Peninsula (October 14-21)
Alpena County
• Bolton Road to Long Lake Road
• Roads in southern areas such as Nicholson Hill Road and Scott Road
Leelanau County
• North Eagle Highway
• Newman Road
• Port Oneida Road
• Gills Pier Road
• Schomberg Road
Mason County
• Lakeshore Drive from Oceana Drive to Iris Road
• Hawley from Pere Marquette Highway to Walhalla Road
• South Masten Road to Washington Road and the Ruby Creek area
• North Lakeshore Drive along Hamlin Lake
• Custer Road from Hogue Road to US-10
Montmorency County
• Pleasant Valley Road
• Farrier Road
• Carter Road
• Meridian Line Road
Mid-Michigan (October 21-28)
Clinton County
• Maple Rapid Roads from Harris Road to Tallman Road
• Tallman Road from Maple Rapid Road to Stone Road
• Stone Road from Tallman Road to Wacousta Road
• Wacousta Road from Stone Road to Hyde Road
• Peacock Road from M-78 to Cutler Road
• Clark Road from Upton Road East
Barry County
• Hickory Road from M-43 to east near Gilmore Car Museum
Kent County
• Honey Creek Avenue from Pettis Avenue to Cannonsburg Road
• Bailey Drive from Vergennes Street to Lincoln Lake Avenue
• Fallasburg Park Drive from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue
• 5 Mile Road from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue
• Gavin Lake Road from 5 mile road to Belding Road
• Wabasis Avenue from Belding Road to 12 Mile Road
• Ramsdell Drive from 5 Mile Road to 11 Mile Road
Southwest Michigan (October 23- 30)
Berrien County
• Blue Star Memorial Highway along Lake Michigan from Van Buren to M-63
• M-63 south to St. Joseph
• Red Arrow Highway from Stevensville to Lakeshore Road in New Buffalo
• Red Arrow Highway to Union Pier then back to Warren Woods Road
• Red Highway to Madron Lake Road in city of Buchanan
