Rogers City still has some beautiful fall color, but most of the area is past peak. Knaebe's Apple Farm & Ciderworks is open through the first week in November, which is great for families to enjoy the end of the season. Nearby, Ocqueoc Falls is a beautiful area to check out the last of the fall’s splendor around the universally-accessible waterfall. Adults and teens can dare to explore the Moltke Maize Maze for one more weekend to get in the Halloween spirit! Before the haunts, enjoy an afternoon stroll and check out the specialty shops in downtown Rogers City.
Oscoda is at peak color with beautiful beech and birch trees on the River Road National Scenic Byway, where leaves that have fallen are decorating the landscape with the brightest lemon yellow. Pack a lunch, or grab takeout from Desi's Family Dining & Cocktails, and head west to visit a variety of scenic lookouts. Take a stroll or a hike, then enjoy your picnic as the wind drops leaves in a kaleidoscope of magenta, crimson and yellow all around you. Canoe or kayak the AuSable River, hike the Highbanks River Trail and ride the Wildcat Biking Trail.
For fun on the farm, Brycelynn's Pumpkin Patch (October 25-26) offers a variety of activities for families like hayrides, jugglers and light shows in Tawas City. Celebrate Halloween this weekend at the Halloween Parade in Downtown Oscoda (October 26) and Hallo-Weekend Oscoda (now through October 27).
Traverse City is reporting spectacular peak fall color throughout the region. The trees are vibrant, and the temperatures are perfect for your northern Michigan getaway. Go leaf-peeping along hundreds of miles of biking and hiking trails, from dirt tracks to paved trails for the whole family. Check out the TART trail system, or sip wine at one of nearly 50 wineries in the area that offer amazing views of the changing colors. Visit a farmers market for fresh apples, produce and pumpkins, or stop by an alpaca farm like Rainbow Valley Family Farms where you can pet and feed these friendly animals. Complete your fall getaway an annual event like the Traverse City Zombie Run (October 26), Iceman Cometh Bike Challenge (November 2) and Traverse City Beer Week (November 8 -16)
While peak color has passed at Crystal Mountain in nearby Thompsonville, the area still has trees with some gorgeous orange leaves, but many are beginning to fall. There’s time to enjoy the panoramic views of four counties from Crystal Mountains Buck Quad Chairlift during a Fall Chairlift Ride! Attend the last Fall Fun Saturday (October 26), a day full of fall activities that everyone is sure to enjoy like pumpkin carving, fun scarecrows created by the resort staff, fall crafts and delicious donuts. In addition, guests can jump on the bungee trampoline, play laser tag, try archery or rent a bike.
Visitors can discover peak fall color in Manistee County with both the inland and coastal areas saturated in deep red, yellow and orange. Play disc golf at Udell Rollways among the pretty fall leaves and tee it up at Wolf River Golf Park, which is open through October 31 for fall golf. Or stroll the walkways of the Manistee's Riverwalk and Arcadia's Marsh to enjoy the crisp autumn air. Visitors can also attend Manistee’s annual Fall Festival (October 26) and visit Whoville's Haunted Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Kaleva (now through October 26). For a haunting experience, explore the Ghost Ship Haunted House (Fridays and Saturdays in October) aboard the SS City of Milwaukee.
In Clare County, peak color is expected in the coming days with beautiful maples, oaks and poplar trees painted with autumnal hues. Hike through Mid Michigan College's trails on the Harrison Campus, or go riding on the completed Pere Marquette Rail Trail. Get in the Halloween spirit at the Deadwood Grove Haunted Forest at Mid-Michigan College's Harrison Campus, and enjoy the cool weather during the Clare Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk (October 26) and Village of Farwell Halloween Fun (October 26).
In the Petoskey area, the famous Tunnel of Trees is ablaze with fall color and will reach peak color this weekend. Discover vibrant orange maples that lie more inland beginning to turn a deeper burnt orange as they are transitioning past peak color. Along the Tunnel of Trees route, check out Offield Family Viewlands, hike to the lookout at Avalanche Mountain Preserve or take a bike ride on Little Traverse Wheelway. Sunset Park in Petoskey is always a great lookout point to see the colors across the bay in Harbor Springs too! Walk around to look at outdoor art like murals and statues throughout Petoskey and other parts of the region while enjoying the peak fall colors.
Visitors can also take a scenic chairlift ride during peak week in the Petoskey area, or play some disc golf while the weather is right at one of the many disc golf courses in the area like Kiwanis Park in Harbor Springs and Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls. Check out unique and seasonal events like Beardstoberfest (October 26), Halloween Bash at Gypsy Distillery (October 26) and the last Fall Fest Weekend at Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs (October 26-27). Find more events in the Petoskey area here.
Nearby, Charlevoix is reporting peak fall color that visitors can enjoy along Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix. The beautiful fall foliage makes for a picture-perfect getaway, and must-visit attractions include the charming downtown, Earl Young Mushroom Houses, Castle Farms and Lake Michigan coast.
Most of the Cadillac area is at peak color now, with other parts continuing to change with beautiful and vibrant shades! The weather has been great, and Cadillac expects a couple more weeks of prime fall color viewing. See how conditions change week to week here. Plan your outdoor adventure to enjoy hiking, biking, paddling, ORV rides and golf while surrounded by fall color. Don’t forget to visit Dick Family Farm and Manton Fall Family Fun Festival to celebrate the season with the whole family, or find frights along the The Dead End Haunted Trail (October 26).
Visitors can still find vibrant fall colors in the Gaylord area, but the leaves are falling fast. With gold and crimson maples and aspens overhead, you'll find just as much color beneath your feet now. Trails are blanketed in an array of fallen leaves, adding a special splash of color to Gaylord's forests. Hiking and biking are excellent ways to experience fall color in the area, and the Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve and Aspen Park are two exceptional places to get out and experience nature this fall. Both trail systems have a mix of diverse forest, fields and wetlands to create scenic backdrops even as the leaves fall. Gaylord’s elk herds are still very active at this time of the year. They can be found in captivity at the City Elk Park, or in the wild in the Pigeon River Country State Forest.
Celebrate at seasonal events in Gaylord like the Haunted Bluffs (now through October 26) and Doggy Halloween Costume Contest (October 26) at Snowbelt Brewing Company. This weekend is also the last chance to visit the Downtown Farmer's Market under the Pavilion and experience fall farm fun at Fleming Farms and Prusakiewicz Family Farm (October 26-27). Gaylord is welcoming trick-or-treaters on Halloween where local businesses will hand out candy under the Pavilion.
Photo: Deadman's Hill Loop, courtesy of the Gaylord Area Convention & Tourism Bureau
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