What causes the colors? Read this for answers.
Color Report
updated Oct 30, 2008
Scroll down the page for more current viewer reports. User reports are updated daily. The summary report is updated weekly.
Add your report below.
| Upper Peninsula. |
Fall color across much of the U.P. is now past peak. However, a drive through the area would still be a nice way to spend a day.
Report colors in your area using the form below. |
| Northern Lower Peninsula. |
This weekend (Oct 30) will probably be the last time to head for Michigan’s Northern Lower Peninsula to view the balance of fall color. Grand Rapids and Holland are still reporting good color. Stay more to the Southern part of the NLP and you should have a nice driving tour if you go this weekend. Color will be past peak within the next 4 or 5 days in most areas.
Visit our Michigan Fall Color Tours page for a drive route. See user reports below.Report colors in your area using the form below. |
| Southern Lower Peninsula |
| Peak color is happening this week down south. Holly, Jackson, Milford, White Lake (Pontiac State Park), Shelby Township and Tipon all report 100% color per AAA. Head farther south if you travel later in the week (color peak times move south). The show should be over within the next week for all areas of the state.
See viewer reports below and plan your trip using our Michigan Fall Color Tours page for a drive route. Report colors in your area using the form below. Reports are based on our viewers and AAA field reports.
PLEASE TELL US WHAT IT IS LIKE OUT YOUR WINDOW. Reports are accepted from all viewers. Please look out your window and add your report below. Your email address is not used or displayed. |
See Viewer Reports below. Reports from observers (including YOU) may be added any time below. Please contribute. It's as easy as looking out your window or making observations on your next road trip. We would all like to know what's going on in YOUR neck of the woods. Our compiled report comes from user feedback and from AAA Michigan.
------------- VIEWER REPORTS for 2008 -------------
Dates shown were viewing dates.
Add your report below.
Sept 10, 2008 - big daddy - manchester to jackson down austin road. color just starting
Sept 23, 2008 - 4WDGreg - The ground cover in southeast Michigan is starting to turn colors. The bean leaves are yellow and the sumac and ivy are starting to turn red. The trees have faded to a light green color. There are some reds showing but only a tiny percentage of trees have turned colors yet.
Sept 27, 2008 - Peanuts - US 10 by Midland and going North to Cadillac on M115 glorious reds and yellows. Traverse to Kalkaska not many colors yet.
Sept 29, 2008 - jlr48507 - We are planning on being in Traverse City Oct 10-12. But, I am hearing mixed reports about TC and the Color. Thinking about setting it back a week maybe. Does anyone have any information to share?
Oct 3, 2008 - mhop - Drove from Goodman, Wisconsin to Sault Sainte Marie, highways 8, 2 and 28. Colors are spectacular and look like they will improve over the next few days.
Oct 3, 2008 - garepi - I've just come north to Brimley, and the colors are here, but on & off. Through the snowbelt downstate, Gaylord/Grayling area, the colors are about 3 days away from peak. Here the color is about 65-75%. I'll be heading towards home(Holt) via Traverse City/Kingsley way so I can post after I return.
Oct 6, 2008 - 4WDGreg - Colors are at or nearing peak in the far northwestern Upper Peninsula. The Ironwood has a lot of color right now, although there are still lots of green leavest too. The Black River Drive is right about at peak, but when you hike the trails back to the waterfalls, you only see a tiny bit of color.
Oct 9, 2008 - Fanny Mae - East of Lansing, North of Ann Arbor- ivy and sumac past peak, many maple trees @ peak and starting to drop leaves, next week we should see some significant colors for the other trees.
Oct 11, 2008 - CATMAMA - Many maples are changing to their various hues of yellow, orange and red according to variety; burning bushes have started to turn. Color is probably 20-25%. Southgate, MI
Oct 10 to 12, 2008 - jlr48507 - Left for Traverse City on Friday and saw some pretty decent colors up 75 and across 72. TC in general around the water was around 60%. South of TC and Inland on the Peninsula's was around 75%. Took 31 to Petoskey on Sunday and saw some amazing colors around the Torch Lake area. Took the Ski-lift at Boyne and was blown away with the color. Final stop was at Dead Man's Hill off 131 and was blown away there as well. A lot better then last year. WE might head up again this weekend.
Oct 12, 2008 - HonkyTonk - Drove from Niles to Fennville via M40 to watch the geese at the Allegan reserve. The colors are peaking in some species like Sumac, Sassafras and Maples and with the rain coming this weekend most will drop soon.
Oct 12, 2008 - kq7141 - Spent last week in Traverse City area. Color in immediate TC area was about 70%. Best color was along M72 and M22. Also caught great color from Cross Village to Petoskey, East Jordan (M66), and Gaylord. Lots of fabulous color around Beulah along Rt 31 south to Indiana border. My guess is peak color will be in TC area this week.
Oct 15, 2008 - Lisa - In Tecumseh, Michigan, the colours are at about 10-15%. Those that are showing are vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Oct 18, 2008 - Lisa - U.P. to the falls past peak but some spots have good color, Traverse city south to Manisstee still OK but wind and rain have knocked all lot of leaves down. Cadillac, Reed city and Big rapids very good.
Visit our Activities Pages for other Michigan information.
Also see Michigan Fall Color Tours and Michigan Events - Your source for Autumn hiking and driving tours covering all of the state from Detroit to Lansing, Kalamazoo to Traverse City, and North to Mackinac and the Upper Peninsula. We also have information on apple cider mills and festivals. Contribute and ask questions in our user forum.
Usually fall colors begin in mid-September and run through the end of October, peaking at varying times throughout the state depending on frost conditions. Except for the far western quarter of the Michigan Upper Peninsula which peaks from mid-September to early October, all other areas in the U.P. peak from late-September to mid-October. The expected peak color for the Lower Peninsula is from late September to late October. Of course, this is an "expected" time-frame. The actual timing is up to Mother Nature!
|
