Fall color looks different from every vantage point: a wooded trail, a lakeshore overlook, a quiet river, or a winding road. Use these ideas to plan an autumn outing, then linger wherever the scenery invites you to stop.
Bay Pointe Inn – Shelbyville
- Gun Lake in autumn becomes a masterpiece of fiery reds, golden yellows, and amber reflections across the water. Guests at Bay Pointe Inn enjoy sweeping lakeside views from balconies or patios, creating a front-row seat to Michigan’s most colorful and serene season.
The Morris Estate – Niles
- Nestled along the St. Joseph River, The Morris Estate in Southwest Michigan offers a luxurious fall retreat. Wander 600 acres of wooded trails, enjoy elegant accommodations, and immerse yourself in a peaceful autumn escape surrounded by brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold.
- See fall color from the Star of Saugatuck paddlewheel boat on a Kalamazoo River cruise, or explore on foot at Saugatuck Dunes State Park, Oval Beach, and Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area. For a view above the trees, climb Mount Baldhead’s 303 steps.
- In South Haven, autumn leaves frame riverside trails, coastal preserves, sand dunes, and the blue waters of Lake Michigan. Choose a walk that fits your day and enjoy the changing scenery at your own pace. South Haven has held Pure Michigan Trail Town status since 2019.
Michigan Maritime Museum – South Haven
- Cruise the Black River aboard the historic Lindy Lou at the Michigan Maritime Museum. This handcrafted Truscott Fantail replica, with mahogany and cherry finishes, offers passengers a scenic fall color tour through South Haven, blending riverfront beauty with rich maritime history.
- Kalamazoo’s changing trees bring plenty of color to an autumn outing, whether you’re planning a photo stop or simply taking the scenic way through town. Discover Kalamazoo highlights places to capture the season, offering a starting point for your own fall color tour.
- Greater Lansing offers unique ways to enjoy fall colors. Kayak the Grand River with River Town Adventures, bike the Lansing River Trail’s 20 scenic miles, or golf championship courses like Eagle Eye and Hawk Hollow. Each option provides a memorable autumn backdrop.
- Climb the 239 steps at Mt. Pisgah for a Holland fall view stretching from Lake Macatawa past Big Red Lighthouse to Lake Michigan. Afterward, take the scenic route on a Holland fall color driving tour and make a day of the changing leaves.
- Follow the historic West Michigan Pike, a Pure Michigan Scenic Byway, past Muskegon County parks, Lake Michigan views, and lighthouses. Visit Muskegon’s self-guided fall color map offers three routes. Download it or pick up a free copy and fall postcard at either visitor center.
- Take in the maroon & gold hues of Mt. Pleasant by foot or by water. With over 1,000 acres of parkland and 20 miles of trails, they have beautiful areas to witness the fall foliage. Walk around Central Michigan University’s campus, a park, or a conservancy preserve. Or take your kayak and look at the changing colors as you paddle down a river.
- Take in Ludington’s fall color by car, bike, trail, or paddle, with inland lakes, rivers, and Lake Michigan adding to the scenery. Color is expected to peak around mid-October. Participating accommodations offer a second night half off through October 30, giving you more time to roam.
- Fall brings red and gold leaves to the Grand Haven area’s trails and waterways. Walk through North Ottawa Dunes, Rosy Mound Natural Area, or Hemlock Crossing, then see the season from another angle while biking or paddling along the Grand River or Spring Lake.
- Fall color tours guide you through diverse landscapes—from riverside trails to forested hillsides and dune overlooks. Scenic drives like the River Road offer immersive leaf-peeping. Plan your trip to coincide with peak foliage for maximum brilliance across this West Michigan region.
- Follow the self-guided route from Big Rapids through wooded back roads, lakeside communities, and colorful river views. Pause at the Riverwalk, visit Robert Barnum’s Studio and Sculpture Park, or extend your drive toward Reed City, Baldwin, and Michigan’s Dragon at Hardy Dam.
- The Petoskey area offers several routes for a northern Michigan fall color drive. The Circle Lake Charlevoix Tour passes through Boyne City and Charlevoix, crosses on the Ironton Car Ferry, and returns to Boyne City. Find this drive and more on the Petoskey Area Scenic Routes page.
Crystal Mountain – Thompsonville
- Trade the driver’s seat for a chairlift at Crystal Mountain. Offered on select dates, the scenic ride up the Buck Quad Chairlift opens to panoramic fall views across four northern Michigan counties. Reservations are recommended if this is part of your autumn getaway. Check dates and book.
- See Northern Michigan’s fall color from the Schuss Mountain chairlift or take a golf cart tour along The Legend’s fairways at Shanty Creek Resort. Chairlift rides run select October weekends, with golf cart tours October 10 and 17.
The Homestead – Glen Arbor
- Follow M-22 through the Sleeping Bear Coast and Leelanau County, where fall color frames the drive from Frankfort through Empire, Glen Arbor, Leland, and Northport. Make The Homestead resort in Glen Arbor your home base for scenic outings, winery visits, and fall getaway packages.
Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery – Traverse City
- Take a Wine Wagon Tour & Tasting during your fall color tour on the Old Mission Peninsula. Explore the 155-acre estate on a 7-passenger electric shuttle while enjoying wine samples, views of the vineyard, and beautiful fall colors along the way. Tours are held on Saturdays through October 17.
Black Star Farms – Suttons Bay
- At Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay, immerse yourself in fall with guided vineyard tours, wine cave experiences, and estate wagon rides. Stroll past orchards and terraced vineyards aglow with autumn colors, then savor mulled wine, cider, and farm-to-table dining at Bistro Polaris.
- Make Frankfort your home base for an M-22 fall color drive. With Lake Michigan nearby and wooded scenery along the route, there’s plenty of reason to pull over at an overlook. Between stops, wander downtown Main Street for a coffee or a bite.
Pine River Paddlesports Center – Wellston
- Take in fall color from the water on a guided rafting trip with Pine River Paddlesports Center. Offered September 25 – October 25, the 75-minute float leaves you free to sip a hot drink and enjoy the scenery. Afterward, ride back to your vehicle or hike the Silver Creek pathway. Reservations are required; book online or call 231-862-3471.
Leland and Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- Pair an M-22 fall color drive with Leland’s free Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration on October 12. Near Historic Fishtown, experience Anishinaabek drumming and dancing, visit the Leelanau Historical Society Museum, and hear James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw speak about Anishinaabemowin language and culture.
- Mackinac Island offers fall color across 70 miles of trails and scenic overlooks. Hike or pedal through the wooded interior for autumn hues framed by Lake Huron, follow M-185 around the shoreline, or take in the sights by horse for a classic island outing.
Bicycle Street Inn – Mackinac Island
- Bicycle Street Inn offers up to 25% off weekday stays this fall, with cozy lodging steps from shops and attractions. Guests enjoy Winchester’s Whiskey & Bourbon Room, a daily donut counter, and easy access to Mackinac Island’s breathtaking fall color tours.
Grand Hotel – Mackinac Island
- Celebrate fall at Mackinac Island’s iconic Grand Hotel with seasonal packages. Enjoy the “Chasing Fall” special with daily breakfast and museum access or “Welcome Fall Weekends” featuring stables tours, bike rentals, and autumn activities. Brilliant foliage frames every moment of your stay.
- Let the scenic route set the pace in St. Ignace. Walk the waterfront and downtown, head into the woods, or follow US-2 west past a roadside deer ranch, an old bridge over a river gorge, and a small chapel beside Lake Michigan.
- Start a Marquette County fall drive downtown, then follow Lake Superior east toward Munising, travel west through Ishpeming, Negaunee, and Michigamme, or head north toward Big Bay. Stops near Sugarloaf and Hogback mountains offer overlooks, while lakes, trails, local shops, and restaurants invite a slower trip.
- Celebrate autumn at Drummond Island’s “Fall on the Island” festival on October 9 & 10, where fall color tours complement live music, artisan vendors, and local eats. Guests can stroll woodland trails, take scenic drives along rugged shorelines, and experience fall’s vibrant hues in a festive island atmosphere.
- Explore fall colors across Michigan’s rugged Keweenaw Peninsula, where rivers, forests, and Lake Superior’s shoreline frame fiery foliage. From Quincy Mine trails to Brockway Mountain Drive, and into quaint Copper Country towns, this sweeping region delivers unforgettable autumn views and a frontier-era ambiance crafted by nature’s palette.
- Experience fall in Sault Ste. Marie on curated fall color tours through the region’s forests, rivers, and lakeshores. Traverse scenic trails, water routes, and historic sites as autumn hues unfurl across the landscape. These guided excursions showcase the natural beauty and heritage of the Great Lakes borderlands.
Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles & Campgrounds (MARVAC)
- Explore Michigan’s autumn beauty with three scenic RV itineraries across the Upper Peninsula, Northwest, and Northeast Michigan. Brilliant foliage transforms lakeshores and forests into unforgettable landscapes, offering endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, colorful drives, and fall getaways throughout the Great Lakes State.
