Season of color
Leaves changing across the U.P.By KIM HOYUM Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE -The colors of fall are showing in the western and northern Upper Peninsula, according to tourism reports and area businesses.
AAA Michigan compiles a weekly survey of fall colors across the state late last week, the organization reported color development from one-quarter to one-half of the trees in the U.P.
In the western U.P., peak colors are expected to start this week in Iron, Gogebic and Ontonagon counties, according to the U.P. Travel and Recreation Association. Those areas are already reporting up to 50 percent color change.
In the Keweenaw region, businesses are seeing a bump in tourism as people come to see the fall foliage. In Houghton, Baraga and Keweenaw counties, the peak is predicted to be the first week of October, but visitors already are touring the area.
"Last week was absolutely fantastic, a lot of people coming up," said Cormac Ronan, general manager of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge in Copper Harbor. "But I think (this) week is going to be the peak," he said, referring to both the colors and expected room reservations.
"It's pretty, but we're not getting those deep reds this weekend," Ronan said.
Usually, the resort sees an upswing in visitors for the fall color season lasting a few weeks, he said.
"We've got about 10 or 11 more days, and then it starts to fall off," Ronan said.
The Hancock Recreational Boating and Camping Facility also was experiencing good traffic this weekend, with a regular group of fall-color visitors booked.
Joyce Belopavlovich of the campground said the leaves are putting on a show already.
"They're changing really rapidly up here," she said. "That's usually when we get this group in this time of year, for the colors."
Closer to Marquette, the Van Riper State Park near Champion reported to AAA Michigan an increase in changing colors last week, with 50 percent to 60 percent changing. The peak for Marquette County and the rest of the central U.P. is expected to come in the first week of October.
After that, the easternmost U.P. counties will be displaying peak colors into the second week of October, according to the U.P. travel association.
