Watch CBS News

Fall Color Tour: Best Roads, Peak Dates To See Fall Colors In Michigan

LANSING (WWJ) - Crisp, cool air is circulating throughout Michigan which means fall colors are upon us! 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 counties across Michigan, listed in order of expected leaf coloring dates starting from the Upper Peninsula and moving south.

Upper Peninsula (Oct. 1-7)

 

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

Emmet County
• Lake Grove Road from US-31 to Resort Pike Road
• Indian Garden Road from Resort Pike Road along Walloon Lake
• Lower Shore Drive from M-119 to M-119 in West Travers Township near M-119 Tunnel of Trees
• Lamkin Road from M-119 to M-119 in Friendship and Readmond Townships

Houghton County
• Covered Drive Road
• Paradise Road
• Freda Road
• Pike River Road
• Calumet Waterworks Road

Iron County
• Ottawa Lake Road/ Hagerman Lake Road loop
• Pentoga Trail (CR-639) to CR-424 along Chicagon Lake and Pentoga Road from CR-424 to Brule River
• Bates-Amasa Road (CR-643) US-2 to US-141 by Paint River and Hemlock River
• Gibbs City Road and Ponozzo Road
• US-2 to Houghton County

Keweenaw County
• Brockway Mountain Drive
• Lac La Belle Road
• Gratiot Lake Road
• Mohawk-Gay Road
• Eagle Harbor Road

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 (Oct. 7-14)

 

Alpena County
• Bolton Road to Long Lake Road
• Nicholson Hill Road and Scott Road

Antrim County
• Deadman Hill overlook off US 131 viewing Jordan River Valley
• Jordan River Road off US-131
• Pinney Bridge Road off M-66
• Cascade Road off Alba Highway (CR 620)

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

Presque Isle County
• Long Lake Highway from M-65 into Alpena County
• E-634 Highway from Polaski Road west to Lake May Road
• W-638 Highway Ocqueoc Road from Walker Highway to North Allis Highway from Ocqueoc Road west to M-211.

Montmorency County
• Pleasant Valley Road
• Farrier Road
• Carter Road
• Meridian Line Road

Mid-Michigan (Oct. 10-17)

 

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

West Michigan (Oct. 14-21)

 

Kalamazoo County
• Q Avenue – 10th Street to 12th Street, Texas Township
• U Avenue – 4th Street to 8th Street, Prairie Ronde Township
• W Avenue – 8th Street to Schoolcraft Village Limits, Prairie Ronde Township
• 14th Street – Lyons Avenue to U Avenue, Schoolcraft Township
• U Avenue – Portage Road to 23rd Street, Schoolcraft Township
• V Avenue – Canadian National Railroad to 28th Street, Brady Township
• 28th Street – V Avenue to UV Avenue, Brady Township
• 34th Street – UV Avenue to V Avenue, Brady Township

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

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

Southeast Michigan (Oct. 14-21)

 

Oakland County
• Lahser Road south of Square Lake Road to just north of Maple Road
• Franklin Road
• Orion Road between Rochester and Lake Orion

Washtenaw County
• Huron River Drive between Mast Road and US-23
• North Territorial Road between US-23 and M-52

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.