The extraordinary range of fall colors in many parts of Michigan is breathtaking, and worth exploring and enjoying. Whether you take a hike in your own neighborhood at the height of local color, or follow the changing colors from the Keweenaw peninsula down to the southern lower peninsula, the glory of Michigan’s fleeting autumn colors is a reason to get outside and appreciate Michigan’s forests.
The northern forests that stretch from eastern Minnesota to New England provide a particularly outstanding range of colors during a good year. This is a great time to learn about our native trees and the science behind the colors as explained on the U.S. Department of Agriculture webpage.
Deciduous trees like the various maples, aspens and ashes, and the beech, tamarack, tulip poplar, cherry and birch trees can be generally identified by the color and shape of their leaves in fall, making it easier to identify them at a distance. But don’t ignore the understory! Dogwoods, witch hazel and staghorn sumacs, and vines like Virginia creeper and even poison ivy add a lot of color as they prepare for winter!
Virtually any place in Michigan is a good one for enjoying the bright reds, yellows, oranges and purples of fall foliage, but it helps to plan ahead and pay attention. Because trees respond to the length of the days instead of temperatures to trigger the natural processes that bring about the colors, the leaves in most places turn about the same time each year. However, the amount of rain and stressors like disease and insects can affect the timing and intensity of the colors from year to year. And too often, fall colors disappear quickly because of rain, wind or an early snowfall.
There is an online, interactive guide to expected color timing available from Pure Michigan to help you plan ahead. And think about soaking in the wonderful colors on foot or by pedaling along trails instead of joining the huge crowds of “leaf peepers” crawling along roadways. Mid-September through October is the best time to soak in Michigan’s extraordinary fall foliage.