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This year’s fall colors right on schedule

MARQUETTE — It’s that time of the year again when vibrant autumn leaves attract tourists by the thousands and locals eventually start thinking about that impending blanket of white.

According to Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association Executive Director Tom Nemacheck, the rate leaves are changing this year in the U.P. seem to be right on track.

“The leaves are at roughly 15 percent average [of change] right now — which is pretty normal,” Nemacheck said.

An important thing travelers coming to the U.P. for fall color change should be aware of is different areas throughout the U.P. encounter their peak colors at different times.

Leaves start changing a little earlier on the west end of the U.P. — gradually making way to the east. Color change often occurs inland towards the Great Lakes, making way outward, said Nemacheck.

“I always tell people when they’re coming to see the color change that the end of September and beginning of October is always, perfectly safe,” he said.

Nemacheck also stressed the importance of knowing when peak season is because a lot of travelers book vacations a year in advance for the beautiful scenery. If travelers are given the wrong times or information, the U.P. loses out on money because vacations are canceled.

UPTRA recently updated its website, creating a tab specifically for reported fall color in the U.P.

According to the website, noted color change in counties is as follows:

Chippewa and Luce: 10-15 percent color change. Peak is expected the last week in September and first week in October for Chippewa County and the first week in October for Luce County.

Mackinac: 0-10 percent color change. Peak is expected second week of October.

Schoolcraft: 0-15 percent color change. Peak is expected first and second week of October.

Alger: 0-10 percent color change. Peak is expected the last week of September and the first week of October.

Delta: 0-25 percent color change. Peak is expected the last week of September and the first week of October.

Dickinson: 10-25 percent color change. Peak is expected first week of October.

Marquette: 0-20 percent color change. Peak is expected the first week of October.

Menominee: 0-10 percent color change. Peak is expected the first week of October.

Baraga: 10-20 percent color change. Peak is expected the last week of September and first week of October.

Gogebic and Ontonagon: 0-25 percent color change. Peak is expected the last week of September and the first week of October.

Houghton and Keweenaw: 5-30 percent color change. Peak is expected last week of September and first week of October.

Iron: 0-25 percent color change. Peak is expected the lat week of September.

To keep updated on color change in areas throughout the U.P., visit www.uptravel.com.

Jaymie Depew can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is jdepew@ miningjournal.net.

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