2015 Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report

Stay tuned to this page for updates on fall colors across the Upper Peninsula.
Share your Fall Colors pictures with us on Twitter @funintheUP or Instagram @funintheUP using hashtag #UPfallcolors or you can also send pictures to us by email info (at) fuintheup.com

Week 9 - Oct 12, 2015 - Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report.

This is the last week to have any sort of chance to see peak color. Most of the UP has now developed into peak color or at least 85%. The winds and rains coming tonight throughout the UP will knock a lot of the leaves of the trees especially along the roadsides. If you haven't already planned to come up early this week you might miss the best color.

---Western UP ---
US2 from Marinesco to Ironwood is now around 85%-100% color. The views are very nice right now on Mt. Zion in Ironwood or taking a trip to Copper Peak north of Bessemer will give you some nice color views, probably the best color right now and will start to fade early this week. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is anow around 90% minimum color in the interior and around 80%-85%% around the Lake Superior Shoreline. If you haven't been up to the Porkies yet this is probably your last good week of color up here, things will start to fade after this weekend. M28 from Bruce Crossing is at peak color right now. Wakefield to Ironwood is now reaching peak color about 95% now. Driving to Big Powderhorn and Indianhead Mtn had some great views this week. Copper Peak is always nice, but I wouldn't wait until this weekend to go there, you'll see a lot of muted colors then. If you are in the Ontonagon area you will notice the colors especially at Jct 45 to Ontonagon and going south to Bergland on M64. Probably now they are 100% peak color.
---Northern/Central UP---
Marquette area is now at least 85% color look for peak this week and by the weekend. Teal lake is looking nice now with it being at about 100% peak. Views from Sugarloaf, Hogsback Mountain, and Mt Menard(Mt Marquette) the views will show about 85% color, look for peak this weekend. The drive to Munising past Au Train is about 90% peak color. As always take a stop at the Rest Area lookout on the hill and you will give a nice view of color at Grand Island and over Pictured Rocks.
US41 from Champion to Covington Jct is past peak. US41 Covington Jct to Baraga 100% color. There just isn't much bright color along this stretch this year. Usually the hills around Canyon Falls are amazing. The view in Alberta at Lake Plumbago though is amazing right now, the color (100%) though is fading fast. M28 to Bruce Crossing about 90%-100% color. Baraga to Houghton on US41 (90%-100% color). M26 from Hancock to Lake Linden is very nice right now, with it being 90%-100% color. Take a stop at the Dredge and view the colors along Torch Lake they are nice right now. If you wanted to take a nice color trip going along Bootjack road to Jacobsville is very nice right now with 100% color show.
Now heading north along US41 to Copper Harbor you will start to notice colors at about 90% color. Mohawk to Phoenix (90% color) is always nice especially when you start getting by the Snow Thermometer and getting a view of the Cliffs. Take m26 to Copper Harbor and drive back on US41 and you will notice the colors starting to give way. Must stops up here are Mt Baldy, and Brockway Mountain for great views of the forests below and Lake Superior. If you want to take a peaceful drive make your way to Lac La Belle and Bete Gris, Awesome! You can also goto Mt Bohemia (85-95% color) and ride the chairlift for some great views of the surroundings for the color chair lift ride. Gay, Big Traverse and Little Traverse (90% color) are giving some nice color right now, look for peak to be this week.
---Eastern UP---
Seney stretch has been past peak. Your drive from Seney to Newberry (100% color) is real nice now. As you get into McMillian you will notice some very nice color. Your ride on 123 to Tahquamenon Falls State Park will have a lot of color still with it fading this week as the winds blow leaves off the trees. This is an amazing drive this week. Of course you also need to stop at Tahquamenon Falls, expect this week to be busy as it is the last week of great color up this way. M77 North to Grand Marais is very nice right now also 85%-95% color, watch for full peak this week. Those of you driving up from downstate Michigan coming up M117 from Engadine or M77 from Blaney Park will notice a lot of color now, with it being about 90%-100% color. The Soo area has some great color also with it being almost peak (80%) color. Taking I75 south from the Soo to St Ignace will have a lot of nice color and it is about 80-90% color now, probably reaching peak this week. Your drive on US2 from St Ignace to Manistique will be very nice now. There are a lot of little places to stop a long the way to get some nice pictures and of course the beach along Lake Michigan is always fun to stop. Cut River Bridge is now about 80% color with peak being this week.
---Southern UP---
Talk about fast changing colors. We can now say most of the lower half of the UP is now at 85% to 100% color. Things are fading fast now that the weather cooled off last week. This past weekend was a little warmer so it kept some color from fading as fast as it could have. If you are coming up to the UP and driving through this the southern UP now you should start seeing lots of bare trees appearing and lots of browns and faded yellows and oranges. There are still some good colors to be seen though, it is truly hit and miss now.

Week 8 - Oct 5th, 2015 - Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report.

This week is the week to start making your way up into the UP if you haven't already, The colors across the UP have developed a lot. There are areas which are almost at peak and will be peak by the end of the week. This years colors aren't as bright as in years past but there are still some nice colors to be seen. Get up here and view the colors this week or by the latest early next week. Overall there is at least 60% color up to peak colors.

---Western UP ---
US2 from Marinesco to Ironwood is now around 80-90% color and should be peak color by last this weekend early next week. The views are very nice right now on Mt. Zion in Ironwood or taking a trip to Copper Peak north of Bessemer will give you some nice color views, probably the best color right now and will start to fade early next week. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness StAte Park is anow around 85% minimum color in the interior and around 70% around the Lake Superior Shoreline. If you haven't been up to the Porkies yet this is probably your last good week of color up here, things will start to fade after this weekend. M28 from Bruce Crossing is at peak color right now. Wakefield to Ironwood is now reaching peak color. Taking a stop in Bergland at Lake Gogebic would be a good option to see color along the water. Driving to Big Powderhorn and Indianhead Mtn would be a good chance to climb the ski hills and take a view of the colors from higher up. If you are in the Ontonagon area you will notice the colors really starting to pop especially at Jct 45 to Ontonagon and going south to Bergland on M64.
---Northern/Central UP---
Marquette area is now at least 70% color. Teal lake is looking nice now. Views from Sugarloaf, Hogsback Mountain, and Mt Menard(Mt Marquette) are very good right now as you are starting to see some nice color and the views are always amazing anytime of the year. Munsing area has some good color once you get past Au Train along the water especially closer to Munising. As always take a stop at the Rest Area lookout on the hill and you will give a nice view of color at Grand Island and over Pictured Rocks.
US41 from Champion to Covington Jct is now at 100% color, so things will fade now this weekend. This is one of the fastest color changing areas in the UP. L'Anse to Baraga you are starting to see some good color with some reds and bright oranges, but the colors just aren't what they usually have been along this stretch as in years past. Taking M28 to Bruce Crossing you will start to notice the color really starting to pop now. There are some nice areas along this stretch with farms and open fields with lots of maples giving a show. Taking a stop at Agate Falls in Trout Creek would be fun, there is the falls of course, and a view from the Train Trestle gives you an overhead look of the falls and a view of the canopy. Baraga to Houghton on US41 (85% color) is not that great this year, but there are a some little pops of color along the way. Usually the Chassell hill gives a good show of the surrounding hills but this year it is pretty muted. You will have to take these drives right now if you're in the Houghton area. 1.) M26 to Mass City awesome colors this is 100% peak this week. Also take Misery Bay Road to Misery Bay or Agate beach there are some awesome colors along this road, don't wait till next week for this trip! As always the colors along M26 are very nice, this year a little muted but when they change they amaze every year. Now heading north along US41 to Copper Harbor you will start to notice colors at about 70% color. Mohawk to Phoenix (70% color) is always nice especially when you start getting by the Snow Thermometer and getting a view of the Cliffs. Take m26 to Copper Harbor and drive back on US41 and you will notice the colors starting to give way. Must stops up here are Mt Baldy, and Brockway Mountain for great views of the forests below and Lake Superior. Don't miss it. If you want to take a peaceful drive make your way to Lac La Belle and Bete Gris, Awesome! You can also goto Mt Bohemia (80% color) and ride the chairlift for some great views of the surroundings for the color chair lift ride. The roads into Gay and Big Traverse and Little Traverse (80% color) are giving some nice color right now, look for peak to be this next week.
---Eastern UP---
Seney Stretch (past peak) to Newberry isn't all the great until you get closer to Newberry. Once you start arriving towards the Fox River you will notice hills with colors and lots of color starting to really show. Once you are out of Newberry heading north to Tahquamemon Falls State Park (75% color) you will notice some good color starting to pop. A visit to Tahquamenon Falls is also a must. Take a ride up to Paradise and Whitefish Point also while you are here, some nice color (70% color) along the shoreline right now. South along M77 is a nice ride there are some good colors showing now probably at 75% color. US2 from St. Ignace to Blaney Park is always a nice color show (65% color). There is a good amount of color near the Cut River Bridge always a good place to stop as well.
---Southern UP---
The Southern UP has changed a lot in the past few days. It went from 50-60% color to 75-90% color. Manistique and Escanaba areas reporting at least 75% color. As you head west on US2 you will really get into some nice colors, look for colors to peak this week by Iron Mountain, Crystal Falls, and Watersmeet. There are some nice views in Crystal Falls area (the city built on a hill).

Week 7 - Sept 26th, 2015 - Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report.

So this past week has really been different from the prior few weeks. Depending on where you are in the UP the percentage of color change is great because we have had some cooler days and had a little rain this past week. Anywhere from 80-90% color as low as 30% color along Lake Superior and in the far reaches of the Keweenaw. Also this year the colors overall are muted with a few areas around the UP showcasing bright colors typically along marshes or lakes that are inland 10-50 miles inland from Lake Superior or along the Portage Canal in the Copper Country. This past week we saw the temperatures drop about 10-20 degrees daytime and evenings which has brought out colors which weren't seen the days prior. The warmer weather hindered the color change and caused some leaves on trees along open fields and along roadsides to burn up and turn brown and fall off the trees. Overall this weekend we are on our projected peak for some areas and not quite 50% in others. Most areas in the UP now are at least 30% minimum color. It might not look like a lot of color in some areas and again that is due to the muted colors as a result of the later warmth of summer and the lack of moisture in the ground in some areas.

---Western UP ---
US 2 from Marinesco to Ironwood is about 60% color should reach up to 75-80% color by the weekend. Ironwood area north should be a good time to take a ride up Mt Zion or get a view from Copper Peak ski jump always a fun adventure and awesome view. You won't regret this trip. The Porkies are around 75% color and reaching 85% color in some areas along South Boundary Road. If there is a time to visit the Porkies it would be this week and this weekend, no later than mid next week. Bruce Crossing to Bessemer is pretty nice especially after you pass Ewen, some areas a long M28 where there are marshes and creeks you will notice some nice reds and oranges, a lot of yellows. The Bergland area always has some nice colors and taking a drive up 64 to White Pine would be a nice trip too. if you want some good views take a drive to Mt Zion in Ironwood, Powderhorn Ski hill, or to Indianhead ski hill.
---Northern UP---
US41 north of Calumet drive just started changing significantly, the covered drive one of the more fun drives is just starting to change probably about 20-30% color, but should change quickly now with the cooler temps coming. Eagle River, Eagle Harbor, Gay, Lac La Belle, pretty much the same across the Keweenaw, just now starting to really change. Houghton and Hancock area are at about 40-50% color, there are some nice colors along US41 from Hancock to Calumet and along M26 from Lake Linden to Hancock especially in Mason and just past Dollar Bay. Painsedale to Mass City is amazing right now, you wouldn't believe how much color has really progressed here, so much so I would put peak color being this weeken and colors being over by the beginning of next week for this stretch of road. If you are in the area drive down Misery Bay road you will enjoy the quickly changing color. M38 to Baraga from M26 will have a lot of nice showy leaves, some good reds, oranges, and yellows of course. If you wanted a good off the road ride, take a trip down FFH-16 from M38 to M28 Kenton. M28 from Bruce Crossing to Covington Jct was at about 50-60% color in some areas. The trees along the Middle Branch Ontonagon River at Agate Falls were at about 30% color, looked to be a little more the father away from the water you went. US41 drive is amazing right now from Ishpeming to Covington with colors being at peak 100% color by this weekend along Tioga Creek area. A nice drive if you have 4 wheel drive or a truck is the drive up to Craig Lake State Park. Lake Michigamee is slowly showing colors probably at about 60% color on the edges of the lake. US41 from Covington Jct to Houghton, you won't notice a lot of color change especially from Baraga to Chassell, with more color out from Chassell to Houghton around 50-70% with some nice colors around Nara Nature Park to Michigan Tech University.
---Eastern UP---
Areas around Tahquamenon Falls are just now starting to show some good colors. The falls a popular area for color viewing is about 40% color, look for it to increase with the cooler weather. The drive along M28 Munising to Newberry should give you a little color show, especially in the Seney stretch area. South along M77 you will notice a little color. Continue on towards Strongs and you won't notice a lot of color change either. US2 from St. Ignace to Blaney Park is around 40% color should be more by this weekend.
---Southern UP---
The Southern UP is now starting to show some bright reds and oranges, with the always present yellows. US2 Manistique to Iron River will be a nice drive for you this week, get out and see some good color especially the more west you go. I would say it is around 50-60% color with peak being mid to late next week.

Week 6 - Sept 19th, 2015 - Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report.

This week has been a little slow for color still in most areas. Now noticing aeas in the Porkies starting to change along Boundry Rd. and people are noticing colors starting to pop from the lookout at Lake of the Clouds one of the most popular places in the UP to view fall colors. Things in the southern UP are sorta slow for colors with some maples along some inland lakes in the Iron River, Marinesco, Crystal Falls areas giving a nice show already. Covington Jct to Three Lakes should start seeing colors get up to over 60% color this week.

---Western UP ---
Ironwood, Wakefield, Lake Gogebic area, and the Porkies are seeing some bright yellows, some reds along M28 from Ewen to Wakefield. Areas around Powderhorn ski hill are starting to change. If you wanted to take a ride up to Mt Zion in Ironwood you would notice some colors to the north around Copper Peak ski jump. The Porkies have a slight change up to about 45% color now so the Summit Peak or Lake of the Clouds lookout would be a good place to go for early color. The drive along US2 west won't be to exciting right now nor will the drive on M28 from Bruce Crossing to Ironwood.
---Northern UP---
Slow color change is about all to say here. Copper Country as a whole is about 40% color, still a little warm and dry at this point plus the colors are really muted. The views from Mont Ripley right now aren't all that pretty for color nor from Quincy Hill looking over Houghton and over to South Range. The drive from Painsedale to Mass City is coming along nicely probably about 70% color right now, this is always one area of the UP that always changes quickly and fades quickly so getting to this area of the UP would be suggested for a good color ride, particularly down Misery Bay rd in Toivola, and also from Twin Lakes to the hills before the Firesteel Rivers. Anything beyond the Firesteel Rivers is about 60% color change with a lot of bland muted yellows and oranges right now. The reds are really popping on the going west on M26 past Twin Lakes near the small lakes and marshes, next week they should really pop out. Calumet north to Copper Harbor is about 15-25% color at this time with nothing to significant to report. The drive from Lake Linden to Gay will have a little color, the Lac La Belle area Mt Bohemia lookout you won't see much color at this time. Eagle River to Eagle Harbor is muted colors of yellow and oranges very few reds. Taking 5 mile point road is always a nice ride, you will notice little color along here as well. Overall we need some colder nights soon or the colors will be really muted.
---Eastern UP---
Tahquamenon Falls, Seney Wildlife area, eastern to Paradise are seeing very little color. The most color to the east is always in the Tahquamenon Falls State Park, probably the most visited waterfall in the UP which is always pleasant with beautiful colors, but they aren't popping here yet.
---Southern UP---
Colors are slowly changing, some bright reds and oranges appearing around US2 near Iron River to Crystal Falls. The drive along US2 overall won't be to exciting right now. There are colors however, but don't be surprised when you see very little color and often a little less intense. Definately running behind in this neck of the woods this year. Iron Mtn to Menominee along US41 South is the same thing very little color change probably around 30% color.
Chicaugon Lake Inn - FB page
Chicaugon Lake Inn - FB page

Week 5 - Sept 12th, 2015 - Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report.
Peak Colors later than past few years.
Fall colors have been slowly coming along. The colors started to appear about the 3rd week of July to the 1st week of August. Thinking that the weather was going to cool down a bit we were on par for colors as the past few seasons. Not much has been happening lately in color change because of the warmer weather. This warmer weather has been causing a lot of the trees that have been developing color to loose their leaves already, things are really dry with the lack of rain this summer. With the upper 70s and lower 80s possible early this coming week we can safetly say peak season will be the in the first week and a half of October for Northern Houghton and Keweenaw Counties. The past few seasons it has been the last 2 weeks of Sept.
I will have a more in depth color report early this coming week from around the UP. Stay tuned!
Share your fall color pics with us. hashtag #UPfallcolors - funintheUP on Instagram - Twitter - Facebook - you can also send pictures to us by email info (at) fuintheup.com

Pic from Chicaugon Lake Inn on Facebook

Week 4 - Sept 7th, 2015 - Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report.

This week we saw some warmer than usual temperatues in the upper 70s and low 80s across the UP. I will say this has put the color season behind slightly. Things are drying up more than expected which will is causing a few leaves to fall of the trees already as their is no water in the ground. This could hinder the development of the colors this year the leaves could just die and turn brown and fall of the trees if it doesn't cool down or rain this week. Ferns on the roadsides are looking really brown. There isn't much change in colors to report from last week because of this warmer temperature. I would'nt even say there was a 2% change in color from last weeks report. Will it cool this next week, hope so, but not complaining at all, this late summer is great. Still seeing a lot of people at the beaches and people still kayaking, and boating too.

---Western UP ---
Nothing significant to report.
---Northern UP---
Nothing significant to report.
---Eastern UP---
Nothing significant to report.
---Southern UP---
Nothing significant to report.

Week 3 - August 31st, 2015 - Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report.

Well it appears that fall colors should be on their way. The temperatures have dropped slightly this week into the 50s. As the weather gets colder the trees start their change. I would say about 3-5% color on about 1/3 of the trees like maples. The poplars have begun to show their yellows and some bushes have started to turn brown, ferns on the roadsides have begun to die. Overall not a lot of change.
---Western UP ---
M28 Covington to Wakefield there are a few patches here and their with color, more so around Covington 141, Agate Falls roadside park, and in the Ottawa National Forest regions where there are swamps along the roadside and rail road tracks. ---Northern UP---
Copper Harbor is seeing some changing leaves, a few reds peeking out along US41 in the Delware area to Lake Medora and to Copper Harbor.
Houghton area from Michigan Tech to Pilgrim River/Nara Nature Park.
Also colors are being seen along M26 from South Range hillside to Ontonagon County to Firesteel rivers. M26 drive is one of the more spectacular color drives in the state with lots of reds that develop.
M38 Baraga to M26 jct there are very little colors showing right now.
Baraga to Marquette there are a few colors showing themselves but not really to much.
---Eastern UP---
Not really to much at this time to report here. Stay tuned, next week maybe with this cool weather they might start to pop.
---Southern UP---
Not many reports coming out of the area. This area of the UP just doesn't have the dense hardwoods like the northern and western UP does, colors will display soon with this cold.

Week 2 - August 24th, 2015 - Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report.
Fall colors started about 3 weeks ago and they are slowly progressing across the Northern and Western UP, Eastern UP not so much.

---Western UP ---
M28 from Bruce to Wakefield and Boundry road through the Porkies are reporting a little color now, mostly some oranges and a few reds. Less than 3% US 2 from Watersmeet to Ironwood there has been some color reported this week. Less than 3%
----Northern UP---
Houghton and Keweenaw Counties - color showing up along US 41 from Covington to Houghton Houghton to Copper Harbor US41 - a little color showing up mostly from Hancock to Calumet and around the Cliffs near Phoenix and some near Delaware to Lake Medora. A few colors spotted up in Copper Harbor
---Eastern UP---
Marquette/Big Bay area - less than 3%
Marquette to Munising - hardly any color reported
Munising area very little


Week 1 - August 17th, 2015 - Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report. There has been a few colors popping up here and there mostly in Houghton, Marquette, and Keweenaw counties. Not to much to report really other than colors just might start showing this week but if the weather stays a little cooler we will see peak season about the same as last year the 3rd to last week of Sept. Stay tuned for next weeks fall color report.