Michigan fall colors 2025: Peak times and best spots to see them

Michigan’s foliage typically turns in late September and early October, marking the arrival of fall. Photo credit: Jonathan Oosting/Bridge Michigan.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan (bridgemi.com), a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. To get regular coverage from Bridge Michigan, sign up for a free Bridge Michigan newsletter here (https://bit.ly/BridgeMichiganNewsletter).” 

by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan)

One of the surest signs that fall is coming to Michigan isn’t the morning chill or the swap from sandals to sneakers. It’s the explosion of reds, oranges and golds that slowly sweep the state’s 14 billion trees.

This year, the fall colors will begin to emerge in mid-September in the Upper Peninsula, with leaves near Gaylord starting to turn around Sept. 22 and becoming more vibrant by the end of the month, according to fall foliage forecasts.

The UP is expected to hit peak color the first week of October, while northern Lower Michigan should peak in early to mid-October. The rest of the state will light up later in the month, wrapping up the season around Halloween.

Behind the show is a little science. As days grow shorter and nights cooler, chlorophyll, the green pigment that dominates in summer, begins to break down, revealing pigments that have been hiding all along.

Leaves along highways and on the edges of forests often change first and can appear more vivid thanks to extra sun exposure. That means a routine drive can turn into a scenic route during the state’s most colorful season.

A colorful reputation

Fall color tours routinely bring tourists to Michigan, and the region’s reputation for fall scenery continues to grow nationally.

Last year, USA Today ranked the UP the best place in the country to see fall colors, citing its 7 million acres of forest, Great Lakes shorelines and 10 designated color routes covering nearly 1,500 miles.

Travelers looking to time their fall color tours more precisely can sign up for weekly updates from UPTravel.com, beginning September 17.

Pure Michigan, the state’s tourism arm, also has a weekly newsletter that includes fall color updates and tourist attractions.

Best places to see fall colors

Michigan’s state parks, many tucked along the shores of the Great Lakes, remain some of the best spots to take it all in.

Whether it’s the fiery reds surrounding Tahquamenon Falls, the sweeping overlooks in the Porcupine Mountains or the hardwoods glowing around Ocqueoc Falls, the largest waterfall in the Lower Peninsula, there’s no shortage of views.

Classic routes, like the Tunnel of Trees along M-119, promise 22 miles of postcard-ready scenery. In West Michigan, the fall colors near Holland State Park and the Lake Macatawa shoreline will peak in October.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.