Leaf-Peeping Weekends in Michigan: The Central Upper Peninsula
USA Today named Michigan’s Upper Peninsula the top fall color destination for 2024 – and one look at the nearly 9 million acres of turning trees shows you why. The foliage lights up in red, orange and gold, and charming towns celebrate with cider stands, pumpkin patches and farmers markets. Whether you're hiking, driving or just watching the leaves swirl outside a café window, the Central Upper Peninsula’s fall foliage pops even more when contrasted against evergreens and Lake Superior’s blue waters.
Learn how you can experience some of the best of what autumn has to offer in the lively college town of Marquette during a weekend getaway to the Central UP this season.
Outdoor adventure adorned with fall foliage
Just 6 miles from Marquette, Sugarloaf Mountain offers a beginner hike that is more than worth the effort with what awaits at the top: panoramic views of incredible fall color and the blue waters of Lake Superior. For the steeper sections of the trail, stairs are available to help visitors reach the viewing platform above. If you’re looking for more of a challenge, nearby Hogback Mountain offers winding trails and rugged terrain for an incredible adventure. The Marquette area also offers mountain bikers access to the Noquemanon Trail Network that takes riders on an incredible route through colorful forests and by Wright Street Falls for a picturesque pit stop.
Take a coffee break with the flavors of fall
Marquette is home to a variety of local cafés and coffee roasters to warm up after (or before) a day of enjoying crisp fall weather. For an incredible cup of coffee, stop by Dead River Coffee that has been roasting their beans on-site for more than 20 years. Or, visit Velodrome Coffee Company for classic fall-flavored lattes like a café miel made with local honey, or try the Lumberjack Latte that’s flavored with pure Upper Peninsula maple syrup. Find more cafés here – or check out one of the many flavorful breweries in the area for a different kind of refreshment.
Maritime history along Lake Superior
While beautiful, Lake Superior’s waters are the final resting place of an estimated 550 shipwrecks – including the famed SS Edmond Fitzgerald that is marking 50 years since its fateful sinking this November. To help ships navigate these treacherous waters during storms, fog and darkness, the Upper Peninsula’s coast boasts more than 40 lighthouses going as far back as the mid-1800s.
The Marquette area is home to more than one of these charming light stations, including the bold and iconic Marquette Harbor Lighthouse. Built in 1853 and still in operation to this day, this ruby-red lighthouse offers interpretive tours of the grounds and structure to bring history to life. If you’re planning a hike at Presque Isle Park, capture a memorable photo of the Presque Isle Harbor Breakwater Light located at the end of breakwater within the park. This lighthouse’s red beacon still guides iron ore freighters to the dock near the park.
Cozy up in local establishments
With an abundance of outdoor adventure full of fall foliage in the Marquette area, downtown is also full of opportunities to make the most of the fall season. For a good book to read by a crackling fire or in a local café, stop by indie bookstore Snowbound Books. With a curated collection of a wide range of genres – including those by Michigan authors – Snowbound also hosts author events, midnight release parties and “boozy book fairs” at local breweries.
If you’re looking for the perfect souvenirs to take home after your autumnal getaway, stop by Upper Peninsula Supply Co. for original apparel, artwork and UP-themed and -crafted gifts for loved ones. Find more local shops from antiques to apparel and gear for outdoor adventures here.