Peak Color for September 30-October 6, 2022

Experience the region’s adventure—like no other place on earth—with vibrant fall foliage as the backdrop. We invite you to Pursue Your Splendor as you embrace all that Michigan has to offer during this vibrant season.

Along country roads, across rolling vineyards, lining rushing rivers and streams, the landscape is ablaze with fiery reds, oranges, and golds in which to hike, bike, hunt, fish, canoe and engage in another outdoor adventure.

Fall color season in the Keweenaw Peninsula is one of the best-kept secrets of the Upper Midwest. For the weeks ahead, Brockway Mountain Drive is a definite must-see. This week, locals are reporting patches of vibrant color along the spine of the Keweenaw; however, there’s less color near the lakeshore.

Color in and around Munising is beginning to show up in slight bands throughout the area. Locals recommend taking a Pictured Rocks Cruise to view the unmatched color at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

In and around the Marquette area, you’ll find a kaleidoscope of brilliant fall color among a variety of trees. Although the trees near Lake Superior are still mostly green, the colors are starting to pop as you head out to the West End towards the historic iron-mining towns of Ishpeming and Negaunee, where you’ll find the Iron Ore Heritage Trail. This 47-mile, multi-use, interpretive trail crosses the Marquette Iron Range and is dotted with educational signs all along its scenic stretch. While in the area, be sure to stop into one of the various coffee shops or breweries for a cozy drink on a cool autumn day.

Roads leading to the Hiawatha National Forest are showing stunning ribbons of color weaving through the trees. Federal Forest Highway 13 and the Rapid River Truck Trail both traverse deep into the canopy of the trees with interesting stops along the way. If you’re in the area over the next week, you’ll find promising color along Rapid River Falls and Fayette Historic State Park, which both offer leaf peepers a striking fall colors drive.

It's been a green fall so far in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. With the week’s cooler weather, it is expected that an abundance of leaves will change within the next ten days. Right now, the best spots to see colors are along the St. Marys River and Lake Superior. The cool winds from the water have helped areas such as the Soo Locks Park change colors ahead of the rest of the area. Inland foliage is just barley starting to change. The Tahquamenon Falls area will be an excellent location to catch dazzling color in the coming weeks.

Although the season offers a lot to experience, the best fall foliage display for Mackinac Island is still three to four weeks away.

With peak conditions still two to three weeks away, visitors to the Charlevoix area will still find a pleasing mix of bronze, crimson, purple, red, russet and yellow throughout the county. This coming weekend is the perfect time to plan a visit to stock up on locally grown produce from the Charlevoix Farmer’s Market.

The lakeside communities of Petoskey, Traverse City, Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor and Boyne City are some of the best places to experience the magic of fall color in Northwest Michigan. If you’re in the area this coming weekend, the Tunnel of Trees Fall Foliage Color Tour on M-119 offers excellent sights, savory cuisine, seasonal spirits and stunning color.

Benzie County, located along the beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, features one of the most scenic fall drives anywhere. Taking center stage all month long will be brilliant trees along the hills leading through Benzie County’s main roads—M-22, M-115 and US-31. Visitors will also want to make time to explore the county’s numerous back roads for great fall color. Conditions throughout the region are anticipated to peak in one to two weeks.

Au Sable, Oscoda and Greenbush are weeks from peak; however, the area's leaves are slowly starting to exhibit slight seasonal change. Visitors to the area will want to drive along the River Road Scenic Byway, as well as Heritage Route 23 for bursts of brilliant color. Plan your road trip early to make sure you catch a glimpse of the kaleidoscope of color while you can. Tawas Bay is displaying patches of bronze and gold with developing color further inland; however, the areas along the lakeshore will peak later.

Impressive colors are donning the tips of trees in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, especially along the M-55 Route between Cadillac and Manistee.

The Silver Lake Sand Dunes area, Hart, Muskegon, Ludington and Mount Pleasant, won’t see peak color for another one to two weeks.

Although the season’s color is slow to develop, it’s always time to enjoy the spirited color of Grand Rapids, also known as “Beer City USA.” Fall brings new seasonal beers to the 40+ breweries on the Beer City Ale Trail. It’s also harvest season, so local restaurants are serving up farm-fresh meals.

For Bay City, Birch Run, Chesaning, Frankenmuth, Midland and Saginaw, colors are starting to change in gardens, parks, on trails and along roadways throughout Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Region. The cooler temperatures and shorter days beckon visitor to visit local orchards and farms for warm apple cider and tasty donuts.

Drive along Southwest Michigan’s Lake Michigan shoreline to see touches of color here and there amid a beautiful backdrop of green.

Fall in Michigan’s Southwestern region means cider mills, wineries, farmers markets and driving tours for spectacular autumn vistas. Peak conditions in the area typically displays from mid-October to November 1.

Fall in Lenawee County is the perfect time to stop by Kapnick Orchards in Britton (about six miles from Tecumseh) for apples, donuts and cider. Or grab the kids and head to Carpenter Farms in Adrian to find your way through their amazing corn maze. 

Marshall—aglow with gold and yellow—is two to three weeks from prime viewing conditions where the golf courses, parks and riverwalk showcase the season’s best color explosion. The week, the area welcomes leaf peepers to experience plush farm products, local wines and craft brews.

For Livingston, Washtenaw, Lenawee, Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties in Southeast Michigan, locals anticipate peak color to transform the landscape in mid-to late October.

The Ann Arbor area is starting to display splashes of fall color, though peak color season is still several weeks away. Now is the perfect time to plan a family getaway. The cider mills are in full swing. Wiard’s Orchard (Ypsilanti), Dexter Cider Mill, Alber Orchard (Manchester) and Wasem Fruit Farm (Milan) will all satisfy your craving for fresh-pressed cider and warm doughnuts.

Michigan transforms into one of the best fall golf destinations in the country, blending immaculate courses with brilliant fall color. What better time to hit the links than with a view of scarlet, rust, gold and orange? The Great Lakes state boasts fantastic fall views and golf destinations in every region. Check out some of the most picturesque fall golf courses for the view as well as the game. With cooler weather and stunning fall colors, there's plenty of time to get in a few extra rounds of golf at your favorite course.

Beautiful Places in Michigan to Visit in the Fall

When summer’s heat begins to wane, when the air grows crisp in the morning and the days grow shorter, it’s time to gear up for a Pure Michigan getaway amid a kaleidoscope of orange, yellow and crimson. From parks and waterfalls to sand dunes and pastoral lands, and from lush forests to downtown escapes, you’ll find autumn's beauty in every corner of this great state. Check out some of our favorite places to experience fall in its prime here.

Plan Your Next Pure Michigan Fall Getaway with a New RV

Across Michigan the oaks, hemlocks, maples, birch and beech trees are beginning the seasonal color switch and the resulting reds, oranges and yellows are enticing people to take their RVs for a Pure Michigan fall road trip. So, you don’t have an RV? Attend an RV show and get a look at the newest and best RVs under one roof while touring the most luxurious recreational vehicles on the market. Although RVs are a huge part of the show, attendees are in store for so much more like tips for first-time buyers, networking with current RV owners and getting first-hand knowledge about the best campsites in Michigan. Check out the many possibilities here.

Events Near this Week's Peak Color

The excitement of Michigan events continues all year long in Pure Michigan. Get the details on upcoming events with this small sampling of fall events happening over the next week and join the fun. Build your next Michigan fall getaway around one of these events.

Now through October 2, 2022

33rd Annual Fall Detroit RV & Camping Show

Novi

October 7 - October 8, 2022

Handmade Music Festival

Chesaning

October 7 - October 8, 2022

Haunted Lighthouse Weekend

East Tawas

October 8, 2022

New Buffalo Harvest and Wine Festival

New Buffalo

October 8 - October 9, 2022

Appleumpkin Festival

Tecumseh

October 8, 2022

Pumpkinfest

Montague

October 8 - October 9, 2022

A2 Artoberfest

Ann Arbor

October 8, 2022

Frankfort Fall Festival

Frankfort

October 14 - October 16, 2022

Charlevoix Apple Festival

Charlevoix

October 14, 2022

Motor City Comic Con

Novi

October 15, 2022

Lakeport State Park - Trick-or-Treating

Lakeport

Find a complete list of great events throughout Michigan here.

Get Connected

We invite you to connect with Pure Michigan on your favorite social network for the latest travel ideas, insider tips, vacation deals and more.

Taste fall—crunch into a crisp Michigan apple, indulge in a lush pear or savor the warm, earthy taste of a vine-ripened tomato. Fall is nature’s time to share her abundant harvest. Share fruits and vegetables we pick ourselves. Share the fun of picking out the perfect pumpkin. Share smiles and family time. So, pack the car, the kids, the dog and spend a weekend sharing the taste of fall. Share news about our wine trails, craft breweries, distilleries—and numerous coffee shops and restaurants. Share your Pure Michigan stories about fall hayrides, Halloween-style family fun, your favorite u-pick farm, camping stories and great fall family festivals. Share your experiences—our fans what to hear from you!

Ready to start sharing? Visit us on one or all our Pure Michigan social connections.