Michigan Fall Colors: Here’s When They Will Peak
The weather has felt like fall at least a few days in September, although we’ve had some warmer days, too. Regardless, people are ready for autumn and have pumpkin everything…
Autumn leaves
The weather has felt like fall at least a few days in September, although we've had some warmer days, too. Regardless, people are ready for autumn and have pumpkin everything already in full swing. With the anticipation of autumn and the spooky season, many people are looking forward to the fall colors that radiate throughout Michigan each season.
So, when should Michiganders expect to see those vibrant fall colors in the Mitten? SmokyMountains.com has released its annual fall foliage prediction map, which is an interactive map that indicates when autumn colors are expected to peak across the U.S.
According to the map, most of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan will have "minimal" color the week of Sept. 12, while a few parts of the U.P. will experience "patchy color." This seems accurate, because as I look around, I hardly see any leaves changing color yet. While the fall colors are beautiful, I'm actually happy to still see green, because I want summer to last as long as possible. Sorry, leave peepers.
For the week of Sept. 19, most of Michigan will have "patchy" colors. Moving to the following week of Sept. 26, most areas of Michigan will have "partial" colors while sections of the U.P. in the western and eastern areas will be "near peak." The real colors are expect to come into play in October. Around Oct. 10, the map projects that most of Michigan will be in "peak color," and some parts of the U.P. will already be past peak. By Oct. 24, the majority of the northern part of the U.S. will be past peak. That said, plan your fall color excursions with those dates in mind, knowing that most of the colors will be finished by mid-to-late October. By Halloween, chances are most of those beautiful fall leaves will be on the ground.
I'm always surprised how many people say fall is their favorite season, but it is a beautiful time of year, especially in Michigan. I personally think Michigan offers some of the best fall colors in the entire U.S., and now there's proof that the Mitten is a great place to see vibrant fall colors. I'm already seeing a few leaves changing colors, and while it's beautiful, I have to admit I wasn't very happy to see the changing leaves, since it means summer is winding down. I'm not ready for it to end.
The crew at US News & World Report has put together a list of the best places to view fall foliage in the U.S. "There's no other time of year quite like fall," they state. "Brisk, cool mornings give way to afternoons warmed by the sun, and the drop in temperature causes leaves to change from shades of green to a kaleidoscope of warm colors before winter sets in. The displays of color are different across the U.S., but they're all brilliant when leaf-peeping season is at its peak."
Of course, the best times to view fall foliage differs by region and year, so check with your local spots before venturing out on a big fall foliage viewing trip. "Many top destinations to view fall's splendor have leaf and foliage reports, maps and trackers so you can follow the local predictions and current conditions – and arrive just in time for the best of the season," US World & News Report says.
Read on for the full list of the best places to see fall foliage in America, including one famous Michigan spot. Where is your favorite spot to view the fall colors in Michigan? Reach out to me on social media and let me know your favorite areas to view the colors in Michigan.
Acadia National Park, Maine
McKenzie River Scenic Byway, Oregon
The Berkshires, Massachusetts
Charlottesville, Virginia
Payette River Scenic Byway, Idaho
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Cheyenne, Wyoming
French Lick West Baden, Indiana
The Mississippi River Valley, Minnesota
Breckenridge, Colorado
Hudson, New York
Stowe, Vermont
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Lake Superior Scenic Byway, Wisconsin
http://www.lakesuperiorbyway.org/
Highlands, North Carolina
Tunnel of Trees, Michigan
North Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada
The Ozarks, Arkansas
Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Scenic Byway, Maryland
Anchorage to Kenai, Alaska
The Poconos, Pennsylvania
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Source
This list is via <a href="https://travel.usnews.com/features/top-places-to-see-fall-foliage-in-the-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Travel.usnews.com</a>.
