“Taking a fall color tour down a county road is a great way to spend an afternoon during this unprecedented time,” said Denise Donohue, executive director for the County Road Association of Michigan, in a press release. “Michigan’s colors are among the best in the country, making fall the perfect opportunity to go out and enjoy the state’s natural beauty.”

“This list of ‘don’t miss’ fall color drives reflects the best suggestions from over two dozen county road agencies who know the best color spots in their area,” she said.

Peak viewing conditions are expected from Sept. 20 to Oct. 14, with mid-Michigan, west Michigan and southeast Michigan all experiencing peak colors in the same week.

Drivers are invited to #LoveFallRoads with a post on CRA’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/micountyroads or on Twitter at @MICountyRoads to let everyone know the best local road spots for Michigan’s fall colors. Be sure to indicate an intersection, the county and the closest city/village in your post.

Fall colors line the side of Buffalo Road in Negaunee in these images from 2016. Peak fall color viewing conditions this year are expected from Sept. 20 to Oct. 14, with mid-Michigan, west Michigan and southeast Michigan all experiencing peak colors in the same week. (Journal photo by Justin Marietti)

The following regions are listed in order of expected leaf coloring dates starting from the Upper Peninsula and moving south.

Upper Peninsula (Sept. 20-Oct. 5)

Chippewa County

≤ North and South Caribou Lake Roads in the DeTour Village area

≤ Gogomain Road from Goetzville to Pickford

≤ Lakeshore Drive from Brimley to M-123

≤ Salt Point Road from M-28 to Lakeshore Drive

Dickinson County

≤ Kramer Drive on the north side of the city of Iron Mountain

≤ Metropolitan Road near Felch

Gogebic County

≤ Black River Road to Black River Harbor

≤ Lake Road from Ironwood to Little Girls Point and Superior Falls

≤ Black River Road from Bessemer to Copper Peak and Black River Harbor

≤ Wolf Mountain Road from U.S. 2 to Wolf Mountain

≤ County Road 519N from Wakefield to the mouth of the Big Presque Isle River and Porcupine State Park

≤ Thousand Island Lake Road from U.S. 2 to Sylvania Wilderness Park

Houghton County

≤ Covered Drive Road

≤ Freda Road

≤ Calumet Waterworks Road

Iron County

≤ Ottawa Lake Road/Hagerman Lake Road loop

≤ Pentoga Trail (County Road 639) to County Road 424 along Chicagon Lake and Pentoga Road from County Road 424 to Brule River

≤ Bates-Amasa Road (County Road 643) U.S. 2 to U.S. 141 by Paint River and Hemlock River

≤ Gibbs City Road and Ponozzo Road

≤ U.S. 2 to Houghton County

Keweenaw County

≤ Brockway Mountain Drive

≤ Lac La Belle Road

≤ Gratiot Lake Road

≤ Mohawk-Gay Road

≤ Eagle Harbor Road

≤ Cliff Drive

≤ Five Mile Point Road

Marquette County

≤ County Road 510 from County Road 502 north to Big Bay

≤ Triple A off County Road 510 in Big Bay

≤ County Road 533 in Skandia

≤ M-35 from County Road 480 to Gwinn

Ontonagon County

≤ South boundary road from Presquile to Ontonagon

Northern Lower Peninsula (Sept. 24 – Oct. 7)

Alpena County

≤ Bolton Road to Long Lake Road

≤ Nicholson Hill Road

≤ Scott Road

≤ Long Rapids Road

Antrim County

≤ Deadman Hill overlook off U.S. 131 viewing Jordan River Valley

≤ Jordan River Road off U.S.131

≤ Pinney Bridge Road off M-66

≤ Cascade Road off Alba Highway (CR 620)

Crawford County

≤ County Road 101 looking north from County Road 100 (“Pioneer Hill”)

Emmet County

≤ Mitchell Road from Fletcher Road to Cheboygan County line

≤ Pleasantview Road from M-119 to Robinson Road

≤ Robinson Road from State Road to Pleasantview Road

≤ State Road from Harbor Springs to Cross Village

≤ Stutsmanville Road from Pleasantview to West Townline, then West Townline Road north

≤ Brutus Road from Pleasantville Road to U.S. 31

≤ Welsheimer Road from West Stutsmanville Road to Middle Village Drive

≤ Middle Village Drive from Welsheimer Road to M-119

≤ Williams Road from U.S. 131 to Resort Pike Road

≤ Resort Pike Road from Williams Road to Indian Garden Road

≤ North Conway Road from U.S. 31 to Tower Road, Tower Road to Pleasantview Road

Leelanau County

≤ North Eagle Highway

≤ Newman Road

≤ Port Oneida Road

≤ Gills Pier Road

≤ Schomberg Road

Mason County

≤ Lakeshore Drive from Oceana Drive to Iris Road

≤ Hawley from Pere Marquette Highway to Walhalla Road

≤ South Masten Road to Washington Road and the Ruby Creek area

≤ North Lakeshore Drive along Hamlin Lake

≤ Custer Road from Hogue Road to U.S. 10

Montmorency County

≤ Pleasant Valley Road

≤ Farrier Road

≤ Carter Road

≤ Meridian Line Road

Presque Isle County

≤ Long Lake Highway from M-65 into Alpena County

≤ E-634 Highway from Polaski Road west to Lake May Road

≤ W-638 Highway Ocqueoc Road from Walker Highway to North Allis Highway from Ocqueoc Road west to M-211.

Wexford County

Fall color scenic routes, all starting from downtown Cadillac:

≤ Route 1: Around the Lakes (20 miles)

≤ Route 2: Northwest to Mesick (63 miles)

≤ Route 3: Southwest to Hoxeyville/Luther/Briston (64 miles)

≤ Route 4: Northeast to Lake City/Manton (32 miles)

Mid-Michigan (Oct. 7-14)

Barry County

≤ Hickory Road from M-43 to east near Gilmore Car Museum

Clinton County

≤ Maple Rapid Roads from Harris Road to Tallman Road

≤ Tallman Road from Maple Rapid Road to Stone Road

≤ Stone Road from Tallman Road to Wacousta Road

≤ Wacousta Road from Stone Road to Hyde Road

≤ Peacock Road from M-78 to Cutler Road

≤ Clark Road from Upton Road East

West Michigan (Oct. 7-14)

Berrien County

≤ Blue Star Memorial Highway along Lake Michigan from Van Buren to M-63

≤ M-63 south to St. Joseph

≤ Red Arrow Highway from Stevensville to Lakeshore Road in New Buffalo

≤ Red Arrow Highway to Union Pier then back to Warren Woods Road

≤ Red Highway to Madron Lake Road in City of Buchanan

Kalamazoo County

≤ Q Avenue – 10th Street to 12th Street, Texas Township

≤ U Avenue – 4th Street to 8th Street, Prairie Ronde Township

≤ W Avenue – 8th Street to Schoolcraft Village Limits, Prairie Ronde Township

≤ 14th Street – Lyons Avenue to U Avenue, Schoolcraft Township

≤ U Avenue – Portage Road to 23rd Street, Schoolcraft Township

≤ V Avenue – Canadian National Railroad to 28th Street, Brady Township

≤ 28th Street – V Avenue to UV Avenue, Brady Township

≤ 34th Street – UV Avenue to V Avenue, Brady Township

Kent County

≤ Honey Creek Avenue from Pettis Avenue to Cannonsburg Road

≤ Bailey Drive from Vergennes Street to Lincoln Lake Avenue

≤ Fallasburg Park Drive from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue

≤ 5 Mile Road from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue

≤ Gavin Lake Road from 5-mile road to Belding Road

≤ Wabasis Avenue from Belding Road to 12 Mile Road

≤ Ramsdell Drive from 5 Mile Road to 11 Mile Road

Muskegon County

≤ Scenic Drive from Memorial Drive to Michillinda Road

≤ Along Lake Michigan shoreline and Duck Lake

Ottawa County

≤ Lakeshore Drive from Grand Haven city limits to Ottawa Beach Road/Holland State Park

≤ Hayes Street from M-11 intersection to Berlin Fair Drive/the Berlin Fairgrounds in Marne

≤ Leonard Street from intersection on Leonard Street/South Lake Avenue in Village of Spring Lake to Lamont

≤ Mercury Drive/Green Street/North Cedar Drive from Grand Haven to Riverside County Park

Southeast Michigan (Oct.7-14)

Macomb County

≤ Wales, McKail and Fisher roads in Bruce Township

≤ M-53 between 23 and 26 Mile roads

≤ 24 Mile Road between Van Dyke Freeway and Shelby Road

≤ M-53 between 28 Mile Road and 32 Mile Road

≤ Tillson Street, Romeo, MI

≤ Lakeshore Drive between 8 Mile Road and Marter Road

Oakland County

≤ Lahser Road south of Square Lake Road to just north of Maple Road

≤ Franklin Road

≤ Orion Road between Rochester and Lake Orion

Washtenaw County

≤ Huron River Drive between Mast Road and U.S. 23

≤ North Territorial Road between U.S. 23 and M-52

“Don’t miss” fall drive recommendations are from the County Road Association of Michigan, whose 83 members represent the unified voice for a safe and efficient county transportation infrastructure system in Michigan, including appropriate stewardship of the public’s right-of-way in rural and urban Michigan.

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