County road agencies release 2019 “don’t miss” list
of local roads for fall colors
Lansing MI – As Michigan’s humid summer comes to an end, every county will soon be bursting with crisp red, yellow and orange fall leaves that transform the landscape across the state.
“Driving the county roads is an ideal way to view fall colors,” said Denise Donohue, executive director for the County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan. “This list of ‘don’t miss’ fall color drives reflect the best suggestions from nearly two dozen county road agencies who know the best color spots in their area.”
“CRA invites the public to enjoy a free fall color tour out on Michigan’s county and local roads,” Donohue said. “Fall is a special time of year to discover new drives that showcase Michigan’s natural beauty.”
Peak viewing conditions are expected from September 20 to October 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.
The following regions are listed in order of expected leaf coloring dates starting from the Upper Peninsula and moving south.
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
Houghton County
Covered Drive Road
Freda Road
Calumet Waterworks Road
Iron County
Ottawa Lake Road/ Hagerman Lake Road loop
Pentoga Trail (CR-639) to CR-424 along Chicagon Lake and Pentoga Road from CR-424 to Brule River
Bates-Amasa Road (CR-643) US-2 to US-141 by Paint River and Hemlock River
Gibbs City Road and Ponozzo Road
US-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
NorthernLower 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 US-131 viewing Jordan River Valley
Jordan River Road off US-131
Pinney Bridge Road off M-66
Cascade Road off Alba Highway (CR 620)
Crawford County
CR101 looking north from CR100 (“Pioneer Hill”)
Emmet County
Pleasantview Road north of Boyne Highlands to Robinson Road
Robinson Road from State Road to Pleasantview Road
State Road from Harbor Springs to Cross Village
Brutus Road from Pleasantville Road to US-31
Mitchell Road from Fletcher Road to Cheboygan County line
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 US-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
Southeast Michigan (October 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 US-23
North Territorial Road between US-23 and M-52
“Don’t miss” fall drive recommendations are brought to you by 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. Collectively, Michigan’s county road agencies manage 75 percent of all roads in the state, including 90,000 miles of roads and 5,700 bridges. County road agencies also maintain the state’s highway system in 64 counties. Michigan has the nation’s fourth-largest local road system.