The United States' Top Fall Foliage Destination

Keweenaw Fall Colors

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is regularly lauded as the United State's top destination for fall color viewing, and the Keweenaw is a gem in this crown. Sweeping landscapes, rugged cliffsides, and winding scenic roads provide visitors with exceptional immersion into the autumn season. This episode of The Crossing Place explores how extreme Copper Country conditions can lead to extreme Copper Country fall color!

A Midwest Autumn Gem

Keweenaw Peak Fall Color

Last week of September through first week of October is when we typically see fall color at its peak!

For current views of fall colors in the Keweenaw, be sure to follow us on Facebook or Instagram. 

What Sets the Keweenaw Above the Rest

The Keweenaw Peninsula is home to tens of thousands of acres of densely forested lands - the Keweenaw Heartlands alone provides 32,600 acres of untouched natural Copper Country forests. Found within these woodlands grow a rich mix of trees, especially those deciduous trees with leaves that change colors in the cooler months. Set against the verdant evergreen trees like pine and cedar, these trees make the Keweenaw landscape leap with color during the fall season:

• Sugar Maples: a fiery red and orange
• Quaking Aspens, Birch, & Elm: luminously yellow and gold
• Oaks: rusty reds and brown

Miles of roads perfect for fall color scenic driving wind around the Keweenaw Peninsula, flowing and cresting around ancient geology and bustling historic communities. Some of these drives are historic themselves, like the Copper Country Trail National Byway! That same extreme landscape that causes the stressors on these trees that equate to incredible color are also exceptional places to explore for fall recreation and autumn viewing. Some of our favorite ways to immerse into the Copper Country fall include:

• Mountain biking Copper Harbor's IMBA Silver-Level Ride Center trails or the Michigan Tech Trails. 
• Hiking the Norwich Bluff or Maasto Hiihto Trails. Find accessible autumn nature viewing at Nara Nature Park.
• Paddling the Sturgeon River and the Sloughs or heading up to preserves like Horseshoe Harbor for Lake Superior shoreline viewing.
• Boat Cruises on the waterways or an Isle Royale Seaplane ride for relaxing leaf peeping!

Enjoy the Colors Responsibly

Recreating in a Keweenaw Fall Wonderland

Love The Keweenaw, in all the different ways you play and explore the vast fall color viewing opportunities in the Keweenaw. To Love The Keweenaw means to respect and preserve the nature and history of these lands and local communities. By making concerted efforts to drive mindfully through communities on your scenic fall drives, respect the the hiking and biking trails, your fellow visitors, and the abundant wildlife, we can all ensure lifetimes of Keweenaw access and appreciation.. For insights on how you can be a good steward, visit LoveTheKeweenaw.org.