Leaf-Peeping Weekends: Northeast Lower Peninsula
As the changing of the leaves moves down to the Lower Peninsula, the maritime hub of Alpena is a perfect place to position yourself for a prime-time show.
Welcome to the Sanctuary of the Great Lakes
Alpena sits at the head of Thunder Bay, a bay of Lake Huron. Its proximity to the water actually moderates the color shift and extends the fall season – and when the change in seasons strikes, the vivid foliage against the rich blue water is a true spectacle.
A truly unique attraction, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary protects a nationally significant collection of shipwrecks – nearly 100 in all – each one a testament to the power of the Great Lakes and Michigan’s maritime history. Walk or cycle along the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail for wide-open river views and to reach the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center for more in-depth exploration of the sanctuary’s importance. While wreck diving season comes to an end in the fall, glass-bottom boat tours are available all year round.
Easy fall hikes to explore
Whether you’re feeling the leaves crunch under your feet in Alpena’s Evergreen Cemetery on Washington Avenue or are kayaking along Thunder Bay River, peak autumn colors shine through in the area’s stately maple, oak and birch trees.
From the charming Duck Park, a covered bridge links to Island Park, a 17-acre area of woodland trails, sand dunes and other diverse ecosystems. Bring your binoculars to spot birds in their habitats, and walk the paths of the surrounding wildlife sanctuary.
Just a few miles south of the city, Norway Ridge Pathway boasts miles of well-groomed terrain, where the lowland forest offers shady paths and looped trails.
From daytime exploration to nighttime skies
The rugged formations of Rockport Recreation Area tell the stories of the area’s past as a limestone quarry. The recreation area stretches along the Lake Huron shoreline, harboring more than 4,000 acres of protected land where 400-million-year-old fossils emerge from the ground, natural sinkholes mysteriously appear, and miles of trails show off the local color. Soak up the cool air as you explore by day; come nightfall, this designated dark sky preserve showcases a different kind of dazzling display.
A road trip to remember
The crisp bite of a fresh apple, a sip of fresh-pressed cider and a slice of apple pie – it must be the fall season at Knaebe's Apple Farm & Ciderworks. A bakery inside the barn offers an array of baked goods, while the tasting room has wood-fired pizza and cider, and the farm itself offers free entry to observe the livestock and walk the corn maze.
Keep going from this beloved spot in Rogers City to reach Ocqueoc Falls, the Lower Peninsula’s largest waterfall and only universally accessible waterfall in the United States. Fall is an especially magical time to hike the Bicentennial Pathway that stretches just over 6 miles with multiple loops through hardwood forests that show off the falls and the river.
Find more year-round activities in Alpena, and discover even more road trips to explore Pure Michigan here.