Ultimate Michigan Peak Fall Color Map
Use our Michigan Fall Color Map to see Michigan fall foliage at peak color. The brilliant colors: the vibrant reds, oranges and golds, are starting to show and this map will help you plan your leaf peeping trips. The Michigan Fall Color Map gives us predicted date of when the fall foliage color change is at it’s most vibrant (peak).
In the days leading up to peak fall color, the leaves are changing from green to vibrant reds, yellows and golds. In the days following the the “peak” period, the leaves slowly start to fade to brown and drop from the trees.
Remember that this can take a few weeks depending on the weather, so there is still time to witneess the beauty of the fall leaf change after the “peak.”
UPDATED Michigan Peak Fall Colors Map: Predictions and Timeline
We’ve got some great news for Michigan fall leaf-peepers, and you can see it on the new 2024 Michigan Fall Color Map!
Weather predictions for Michigan call for a warm autumn season from September and into the first weeks of October. The fall color forecast is in, and the potential for brighter and more vibrant hues during the autumn foliage color change in Michigan is excellent in 2024.
That means even MORE time for you to get out and see some of the spectacular, vibrant colors as the leaves continue to turn from green to brilliant reds, yellows, and golds… and find them in peak viewing conditions. This looks like a year when you’re going to want to have your cameras and phones ready: you should be able to capture some amazing photos this fall season.
Remember, though, as SmokyMountains.com says, “While no tool can be 100% accurate, this tool is meant to help travelers better time their trips to have the best opportunity of catching peak color each year.”
Of all the the fall Michigan events, I find the near peak or peak color change in Michigan simply awesome. The fall color season is the highlight of the year. Be sure to USE this Peak Fall Foliage Map to experience the amazing color season in Michigan in fall!
Michigan Fall Predictions: Warm Temps Ahead
Here’s the good news: while predicting is not an exact science, weather experts can often predict temperatures three months out. The temperatures, which play a factor in the foliage color change, are predicted to be above normal in most parts of Michigan through October, which is very rare.
We’ve spent years scouring the state in the late summer and early autumn months. We’ve discovered first-hand that warm fall weather and color change is a spectacular mix in northern Michigan.
If you’re looking for the best times to plan a Michigan color tour or an autumn getaway to see the amazing fall foliage show happening this season in Michigan, read on to discover the best times for you to travel MI.
Want to see some pure Michigan fall colors at their best as you explore our awesome mitten state? We’re also sharing some of our favorite places to stay, play, and eat on your Michigan fall getaway.
Keep reading for our UPDATED Michigan Fall Color Map, and scroll to the bottom of the page for all of the places you’ll want to visit on your Michigan travels.
Michigan in the fall is full of fun events, too, all season long. Be sure to check out our list of Michigan October events, which includes and handy map if you’re looking for a fun trip idea or things to do close to home.
Find Weekly Predicted Dates for Peak Fall Colors in Michigan
It’s clear that Michigan’s fall colors have become something of a legend with leaf peepers. Based on the high volume of folks we saw traveling Michigan last autumn, the word on the beautiful color show has definitely gotten out.
The last few years, we’ve taken an epic fall color road trip through Michigan based on weather predictions, and it did not disappoint. Here’s where our fall Michigan road trip will take us:
- The Upper Peninsula
- Mackinac Island
- Cheboygan
- Petoskey
- M-119’s Tunnel of Trees
- Charlevoix
- Traverse City
- Leelanau Peninsula (including Suttons Bay, Leland, and Glen Arbor)
- Frankfort
- Cadillac
- Alpena
- Oscoda
- Caseville
- Port Austin
If you’re looking for the some great Michigan fall color itineraries, here are some of our top fall travel guides to get you started:
Where to FIND Michigan’s BEST Fall Color with MAP
36 Michigan Fall Color Experiences
Western Upper Peninsula Peak Color Prediction:
October 5 – 12
The time to see fall leaves change colors in Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula region is always a little earlier in the season than in the Lower Peninsula, since it’s farther north and west.
The diverse terrain, ranging from the Porcupine Mountains and Iron Mountain in the western Upper Peninsula (home to the stunning Lake of the Clouds) to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along Lake Superior and Tahquamenon Falls, makes a perfect prediction map almost impossible. The changing weather from Lake Superior adds to that, but it’s safe to say that color drives and fall road trips for leaf peeping will be a bit extended this year.
Eastern Upper Peninsula Peak Color Predictions:
October 7 – 14
Leaves begin to change color not only from the north, but also from the west, so the peak fall color for the eastern portion of the Upper Peninsula is predcited to be a couple of days later than the areas to the west.
That includes spots like Kitch-Iti-Kipi, Michigan’s Big Spring, where bright fall colors will surround the clear, emerald green pond. You can actually take a hand-operated, clear-bottom raft across the 40-foot deep pond, and it’s quite breathtaking. Other spots to catch some of the beautiful fall color in this area are Whitefish Point and Tahquamenon Falls, the largest falls this side of the Mississippi River.
Northern Michigan Peak Fall Color Predictions
October 10 – 19
The changing colors in the northern lower peninsula’s fall foliage are taking their time this year, and we love it. The fall colors in northern Michigan are some of the best in the state
There’s nothing quite like hiking Leelanau County’s many trails, including those in the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Want to see peak colors from one of the most scenic byways in the country? Try Pierce Stocking Drive, a seven-mile drive in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore that will take you through some of the most picturesque spots, including the iconic Lake Michigan Overlook.
This unforgettable scenic drive is a mini road trip itself, through a tunnel of trees (quaking aspen, birch, maple and other hardwoods) that opens into breathtaking vistas of Lake Michigan and Glen Lake.
PRO-TIP: A little farther north, the Tunnel of Trees, which starts in Harbor Springs and winds along the Lake Michigan coast towards Mackinaw City, is a northern Michigan fall must. It’s one of the top Michigan fall color tours.
Mid-Michigan/ Thumb Peak Color Prediction: October 10 – October 19
Places like Bay City, Midland and Frankenmuth really come love with color in the fall: these destinations are also where you’ll find fun fall festivals as well as cider mills and and pumpkin farms. Frankenmuth, home to the annual Oktoberfest celebration, a favorite spot to celebrate fall in Michigan. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride around town to see scarecrows, colorful mums and colorful trees lit up with changing leaves.
It’s the same for places like Bay City, Caseville, and Port Austin in Michigan’s Thumb region. If you head up that way for some fall fun, be sure and stop by Port Crescent State Park, home to some of the only sand dunes in southeast Michigan.
PRO-TIP: Fall color tours in Michigan are not complete without a stop at one of the many cider mills or Michigan pumpkin patches dotting the countryside.
West Michigan Peak Fall Color Prediction:
October 18 – October 28
You’ll see bits of brightly colored leaves peeping through here and there and larger patches of colors, too, right now. However, peak fall color in places like Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, and Holland will most likely hold off until October 28.
PRO-TIP: If you’re heading to west Michigan, do a Michigan Fall Color Train Tour along the Coopersville-Marne Railway. The Famous Pumpkin Train is fall family fun at its best, with live music, a “live” scarecrow and pumpkin to keep you bust as you gaze out at the bright Michigan fall foliage. These train rides are an autumn in Michigan must.
Lower Michigan Peak Fall Color Predictions:
October 18-28
In southeast Michigan, Ann Arbor and the Huron River come alive with color. Take a ride along Edward Hines Drive, which runs from Dearborn (home of Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum) to the charming towns of Plymouth and Northville. You’ll find multiple places to pull over for a picnic or hike under colorful leafy tree canopies. Thanks to the warm temps, it looks like we may be enjoying those colors all the way into November.
Any season is the perfect season to visit charming St. Joseph, but in the fall the whole town is decorated for the fall harvest and Halloween and the effect is spectacular. South Haven is also a pretty spot to see the bright fall leaves against a backdrop of the sparkling blue Lake Michigan, while you wander the the downtown area, all decked out for fall.
Head farther south along the Lake Michigan coast to Harbor Country, where you’ll find eight small towns nestled in among the wooded dunes and along the shoreline. Spend some time hiking the dunes trails at Warren Dunes State Park, or kayaking the Galien River in New Buffalo before wandering the downtown shops and cafes. Then, head over to Three Oaks for some fall antiquing; you’ll find some amazing little shops and boutiques here.
How to Plan Your Leaf Peeping Trip With the Michigan Fall Color Map
Remember that the exact dates for peak fall color can change based on fluctuating weather conditions. Use this map as a general guide, and be sure to reach out to us if you have any questions. We will follow the weather carefully and make updates if the need arises.
Michigan Autumn in Full Swing: What to Look For
You’ll know right away when it’s fall in Michigan. You’ll see apple orchards filled with visitors looking for some crisp apple cider and fresh cinnamon donuts, as well as sprawling pumpkin patches lined with bright orange pumpkins. You’ll also spot corn mazes carved into amazing shapes and farm stands bursting at the seams with bright mums, fresh produce and more.
In short, we saw autumn in Michigan in full swing, with all of the best things to do in the fall in Michigan underway. We’re sharing the best times to get out and explore Michigan fall foliage, according to our leaf peeping prediction map.
Last Thoughts on Using the Michigan Peak Fall Color Prediction Map
Even if you take your fall color trip past peak times, you’re still in for a treat. Whether you visit southern Michigan, Central Michigan or plan to see the fall colors in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, you’ll be surrounded by natural beauty. Take the country roads for your very own scenic drive!
More to Explore in Michigan Travel
See the Northern Lights in Michigan
Discover Lake Huron’s Amazing Lighthouses
Share US-
We love sharing the beauty of Michigan with you. Please feel free to use the buttons below to share this with others. Thanks!