How to Experience Autumn on the Go
When fall makes its triumphant return to Michigan, it’s an invitation to get outdoors and really feel your surroundings.
Sparks of fiery reds and oranges pop out from sugar maples, and oak trees are awash in rich burgundy hues. This transformation begins in the cooler, northern climates and travels south. Just like these colors are always on the move, you can fully immerse yourself in your surroundings while in action. Get inspired by these locations and come explore other fall wonders this season.
Ascending a Mountain
Head to the Porkies in Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula, where fall weekends are for soaring among the trees at the Porcupine Mountain Winter Sports Complex's ski hill. Hop onto the chairlift at this Ontonagon resort and ascend the mountain surrounded by a spectacle of color.
Boyne Mountain Resort's Hemlock chair runs every weekend in October and returns to daily service in the final week of the month. Amazingly, this isn’t just a great viewing point for bright foliage, it also has parts originally sourced from the world’s first chairlift in Sun Valley, Idaho. As a bonus, you can go from the scenic lift to the 118-foot-high SkyBridge Michigan where an easy walk along the 1,200-foot bridge connects you with McLouth and Disciples Ridge peaks. Find more fall chairlift rides at ski resorts and hills across Michigan like at Shanty Creek Resort and Mt. Bohemia.
From lighthouses to bridges, find ways to experience Michigan’s natural wonders from great
Two Wheels on the Ground
Imagine zipping along a forest pathway or bumping over a gravely road, barely breaking a sweat as you soak up the scenery. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has expanded operation of Class 1 e-bikes to natural-surface trails in state parks and recreation areas (e-bikes were already allowed on paved trails). Learn more about Michigan’s trails and plan your trip during mid-September to late-October for the most vibrant fall colors.
A mix of trails and bright autumn hues attracts bikers of all levels to The Highlands at Harbor Springs. This four-season resort in Northern Michigan’s Harbor Springs has 22 miles of natural-terrain mountain bike trails that are accessible by a lift. Outside Magazine also named Harbor Springs one of America’s top 10 bike towns for its pedal-friendly roads and the 26-mile greenway known as the Little Traverse Wheelway.
Prefer to explore on four wheels? Don’t miss the Tunnel of Trees, a stunning road framed by ever-changing foliage between Harbor Springs and Cross Village.
Dip Your Paddle
See the patterns of fall leaves reflected on glassy waters while on a serene kayaking or canoeing trip. You’ll glide past colorful cliffs at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula before entering a sea cave where you can actually reach out and touch the rocky walls.
The fall foliage peaks during the latter half of October in Southwest Michigan, where you can try canoeing the 68-mile-long Paw Paw River through a brilliant forest corridor. Check out more water trails where you’re welcome to paddle all autumn long.
On Four Legs (Yes, Four)
Sure, there are endless varieties of hiking trails where you can move among the trees in a spectacle of color. But how about on horseback? Take a look at these stunning horse trails everywhere from the lush Pere Marquette State Forest to the wooded trails of Waterloo Recreation Area. During the month of November, you can make a reservation at Silver Lake State Park to ride on a designated route through golden sand dunes and along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Way, Way Up in the Sky
How about peering down at the treetops from a hot air balloon? Up north in the Island Lake Recreation Area, the only hot air balloon port in the state park system, the tree canopy glows brightly under the sun while you’re aloft in the sky.
Hit the Road
There’s no shortage of breathtaking autumn drives, and to choose just one would be an injustice to Michigan. But we have to brag that AFAR Magazine picked the U.P. as one of its top 10 fall foliage drives in the U.S. Start your adventure in St. Ignace, take a ferry ride over the Straits of Mackinac to explore Drummond Island and then return to the mainland where the historic city of Sault Ste. Marie awaits. A round-trip journey covers 160 miles of natural splendor.
What’s your favorite way to go leaf peeping while you’re on the move? With so many choices around the state, you may just have to try them all!