Fall Color Tours in Northern Michigan: Tips for A Spectacular View of Autumn Hues
Northern Lower Michigan boasts the best traits of four-season living. While the summer always seems to go too quickly, the transition into fall is undeniably magnificent, making color tours a popular reason to visit Northern Michigan in October.
Here are our top tips for planning your fall color tour in Northern Michigan.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
The Magic of Fall Foliage in Northern Michigan
While exact dates vary yearly, there are general windows for peak colors.
Of course, Mother Nature makes the final call on when you’ll see peak colors, but the current prediction for Fall 2023 of when Traverse City and the surrounding areas are expected to see its most vibrant colors is the range of October 5th-20th.
Once the leaves begin to change, you’ll see a vibrant palette of yellows, reds, oranges, and sometimes a deep burgundy or purple. The colors create stunning ombré landscapes against backdrops of lakes, forests, and charming towns.
The Best Places to Take in the Colors
When you stay in downtown Traverse City, you experience its charm and enjoy its proximity to beautiful drives, trails, and lookouts to see the glorious fall leaves around Traverse City, the Leelanau Peninsula, and a few favorite spots just north.
The picturesque landscapes along M-22 and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore never disappoint. With 116 miles to explore, M-22 is regarded as one of the most scenic and beautiful roads to travel in Michigan.
The unique experience of witnessing fall colors against the backdrop of sand dunes and Lake Michigan is breathtaking! For an extraordinary view, stroll the Empire Bluff trail. About a half mile from the trailhead is a bench marking the South Bar Lake overlook. “From here, you can take in the stunning view towards the north, from which you can see South Bar Lake and the sweep of Lake Michigan's Platte Bay all the way to the Sleeping Bear Dune.”
Perhaps the most iconic stretch of road for a Michigan color tour is the Tunnel of Trees of the M-119 Scenic Byway. The hardwoods that line this narrow 20-mile stretch turn brilliant shades of fall colors. It’s a quintessential winding country road complete with a haunted legend at the sharp turn of Devil’s Elbow. There are plenty of fun and delicious pit stops along the way, including the classic Good Hart General Store. The Tunnel of Trees tour makes an excellent day trip from The Flats and will have you back in time for a night out in downtown TC.
Photo by Nick Perez on Unsplash
Travel Tips to Make the Most of Your Visit
Plan Ahead Fall is a popular tourist season in Traverse City, so book your flat early. We have one, two, and three-bedroom options to suit your group size or stay solo. Staying in downtown Traverse City offers a central home base to access all the dining and shops of Front Street, plus easy access to various day trips in every direction.
Dress for the Weather A good rule of thumb in Northern Michigan is packing and dressing in layers of clothing to adapt to changing temperatures. The average autumn high temperatures are 57 degrees, so it’s perfect sweater weather. Bonus tip: Pack comfortable and waterproof footwear for exploring the trails and possible rain.
Capture the Moments You won’t want to forget to bring a camera or have your smartphone handy to capture the stunning scenery.
Embrace the Local Experience Peak color season is also the favorite time for many at the local farmers' markets, orchards, and cider mills, where you can enjoy seasonal treats. Our order is hot cider and a pumpkin donut at Gallagher’s Farm Market and Bakery, just 10 minutes from The Flats. There are even a barnyard and photo ops for kids of all ages.
