Leaf-Peeping Weekends in Michigan: The Eastern Upper Peninsula

With Paradise as your home base, venture deep into the autumnal woods and trek along the shores of Lake Superior. Below you can learn how to craft the perfect weekend getaway packed with rejuvenation among nature and rich history this fall in Michigan's Eastern UP.

Brilliant fall foliage, endless trails and root beer–colored waterfalls

There is no end to the outdoor adventures in the Eastern UP Near Paradise, Tahquamenon Falls State Park is home to more than 35 miles of trails, as well as many campgrounds and cabins in its nearly 50,000 acres of wilderness. The crown jewel and namesake of the state park – Tahquamenon Falls – is 200 feet wide with stunning amber water, earning it the nickname “Root Beer Falls.” After viewing the falls and exploring the trails, stop at Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub for microbrewed beer on tap, pub fare (including the iconic pasty) and Camp 33 gift shop.

For even more fall color, drive south to the East Zone of the Hiawatha National Forest – which encompasses a combined 900,000 acres of UP forests – with sandy stretches that extend from the coast of Lake Superior to the northern shore of Lake Huron.

Maritime history in Whitefish Point

North of Paradise, reaching out into Lake Superior, find a weekend of adventure on the peninsula of Whitefish Point where you can dive into the rich maritime heritage of Lake Superior at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. Inside, visitors take a self-guided tour to discover dramatic shipwreck legends brought to life through exhibits and artifacts, including the 200-pound bronze bell recovered from the famous S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck. With 2025 marking the 50-year anniversary of the tragic sinking of the Edmond Fitzgerald – which rests at the bottom of Lake Superior 17 miles northwest of the Whitefish Point Light Station – visitors can learn about the fateful event and remember the 29 lost crewmembers.

The fully restored 1860s Lightkeepers Quarters are also part of the museum and allow visitors to step back in time to the life of those who worked tirelessly to keep mariners and their ships safe on Lake Superior’s unforgiving waters.

A birding paradise on Lake Superior

Leaves aren’t the only change visitors can appreciate this season; with the arrival of fall, many bird species begin to migrate to prepare for the winter season. Whitefish Point’s unique geography as a peninsula that extends into Lake Superior has made the area a prime migration corridor. Here, right across the street from the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, visitors can find the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (WPBO), which is open from dawn until dusk every day of the year.

In September, birders have the chance to spot rare species like the Long-tailed Jaeger, Western Kingbird and Northern Wheatear. By the end of October, arctic species like Long-tailed Duck, Northern Hawk Owl, Boreal Owl and Snowy Owl arrive to herald the incoming winter season. Even if you don’t spot the particular bird you’re searching for, the wildlife, fall color and coastline along Lake Superior at WPBO will make for a memorable trip.

Harvest season at Centennial Cranberry Farm

As Michigan’s oldest cranberry farm, Centennial Cranberry Farm has been under the stewardship of the House family for almost 150 years. During the cranberry harvest every year, which is late September to mid-October, Centennial Cranberry Farm welcomes visitors to tour their farm and take freshly harvested cranberries, homemade cranberry sauce and gifts home to enjoy as the holiday season arrives. While on the farm, you can also trek natural trails through some of Michigan’s enduring old growth white pine forests for a splash of green during a weekend packed full of fall color.

Find more weekend getaways to make the most of autumn’s splendor in Pure Michigan here. If you would like to extend your trip to a longer retreat, check out more adventures in the Eastern Upper Peninsula here.