Discover When Leaves Change Color in Michigan (and 5 Beautiful Places to See Them)

Fall is one of the best seasons. It marks the start of the holiday season and typically means pumpkin spice and apple cinnamon scents. It’s always a pleasure walking through a park and enjoying the cool weather and colorful leaves. Michigan’s weather during fall is a great break before the cold and snowy winter. To enjoy this lovely weather and the crunch of orange, red, and yellow leaves, you can visit multiple places in Michigan. Although there are dozens of places to see fall foliage in the state, here we have a list of 5 beautiful places to see colorful leaves. Keep reading to also discover when leaves change color in Michigan!

When do Leaves Change Color in Michigan?

Michigan experiences fall colors in waves. The leaves change color in Michigan starting in September but can last for as long as early November. However, peak color change in the entire state is generally in the middle of October. Every year though, the expected peak date changes. Currently, some people predict the fall color peak during the first week or two of October. The exact week depends on the region. For example, fall colors in the Upper Peninsula area of Michigan start and peak first compared to the rest of the state. If you can’t make a trip out to Michigan during the first week of October, you might still have a chance of seeing vibrant red, orange, and yellow leaves around Lake Michigan and the southern Lower Peninsula.

The 5 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Michigan

There are a lot more than just five places to view stunning fall foliage in Michigan. This beautiful state is known for its green spaces and many state parks, where you can enjoy the autumn crisp weather by hiking, wildlife viewing, bird watching, biking, and more. Listed below are 5 of the best places to see fall foliage in Michigan.

1. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

One of the best places in the state to view fall foliage is Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, often called “the Porkies”. This lovely state park has a surface area of about 60,000 acres for you to enjoy. During fall, the weather is nice and cool, perfect for taking hikes to stunning places within Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. While here, you can camp, fish, snowboard, hike, and more. Within the state park are also multiple large majestic waterfalls. You can also learn more about the state park and the area by visiting the Porcupine Mountains Visitor Center open from May 15 to October 14. Some animals you may see in the state park are white-tailed deer, barred owls, black bears, coyotes, gray wolves, and bald eagles.

2. Copper Harbor

Next on our list of great places to experience fall foliage in the great state of Michigan is Copper Harbor, an unincorporated and unforgettable community in Keweenaw County. This lovely region is well worth a visit and sits at the northern tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Tourists from all over the country visit the Copper Harbor area, all year long. Many people who come to Copper Harbor enjoy listening to the vibrant leaves crunch at their feet while exploring Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, Manganese Falls, Hunter’s Point Park, and Estivant Pines Wilderness Nature Sanctuary.

3. Palms Brook State Park

Another beautiful place to spend the day admiring vibrant red, pink, orange, and yellow leaves falling from tall trees is Palms Brook State Park. Within Palms Brook State Park are iconic spots like Kitch-iti-kipi, the “Big Spring” of the Upper Peninsula. This stunning state park is hard to look away from, especially during fall as the leaves change. The trees reflect on the water and rustle in the wind. This peaceful place is great for getting away from the city. This state park has a surface area of about 388 acres. It was established in 1929.

4. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

A favorite for many locals and tourists to visit in Michigan is the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. This lovely national lakeshore is especially known for its jaw-dropping hilly shoreline. It’s picturesque and well worth the drive. This lovely lakeshore sits along Lake Superior. It has a surface area of 73,236 acres and was established on October 15, 1966. It’s hard to look away from the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore during any season, but especially fall as the colorful leaves give the lakeshore an extra pop of color! Also on the lakeshore are multiple waterfalls, many of which are easily accessible through a short hike.

5. Saugatuck

Last but not least is Saugatuck, a city in Michigan that is perfect for visiting and enjoying nature. Within this city are Oval Beach, Mount Baldhead Park, and Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Most people come to this charming city to visit the unique Saugatuck Dunes State Park, which features 13 miles of sandy hiking trails and 200-foot dunes. While it may be too cold to take a swim during fall, you can still enjoy this dune state park and the inspiring colorful leaves.