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These are the 'can't miss' roads to see the best fall colors in Michigan

Posted at 10:30 AM, Sep 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-17 10:48:32-04

Fall is almost here and that means Michigan will begin to change colors as the trees turn from green to red, yellow and more.

For those looking to see the best fall colors, county road agencies in Michigan have released a list of "can't miss" local roads for fall colors across the state.

Peak color season estimates are from Oct. 7 to Oct. 28, with the Upper Peninsula getting peak color first and earlier before moving south.

Drivers can also post on the County Road Association of Michigan Facebook Page or Twitter page with the hashtag #LoveFallRoads to let everyone know about roads near you.

The roads below are those chosen by the CRA and are listed in order of expected leaf coloring dates starting from the UP and then going south.

Upper Peninsula (October 7-14)

Chippewa County

  • 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 

Northern Lower Peninsula (October 14-21)

Alpena County

  • Bolton Road to Long Lake Road
  • Nicholson Hill Road and Scott 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: 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 (October 17-21)

Barry County

  • Hickory Road from M-43 to east near Gilmore Car Museum

Clinton County

  • Maple Rapid Roads from Harris Road to Ta llman 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 (October 21-28)

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 21-28)

Macomb County

  • Wales, McKail and Fisher roads in Bruce Township
  • M-53 between 23 and 26 Mile roads

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