This Is the Best Places to See Fall Foliage Without the Crowds, According to Travelers

"The suggested route runs along the southern edge of Lake Superior, which is famous for its 200-foot sandstone cliffs towering over crystal-clear water. It draws hikers and kayakers-and in the fall, leaf peepers who come to see the changing colors of trees like the American beech, sugar and red maple, and yellow birch. The variety of trees is part of the reason why this area is so popular in the fall. First, the hardwood trees change color, then the conifers."

"The fall colors on Michigan's Upper Peninsula generally peak between mid-September and mid-October, with colors typically progressing from the interior of the peninsula toward the Great Lakes. The Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report is a great resource to reference and is updated every Wednesday. In addition to fall colors, the drive provides easy access to some of Pictured Rocks' most iconic sites, including Twelvemile Beach, Miners Castle, and Grand Sable Dunes."

Highway 58 traverses Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along Lake Superior, featuring 200-foot sandstone cliffs, clear water, and access to Twelvemile Beach, Miners Castle, and Grand Sable Dunes. The area hosts a mix of hardwoods and conifers, with species such as American beech, sugar and red maple, and yellow birch driving vivid autumn color. Foliage typically peaks between mid-September and mid-October and progresses from the peninsula interior toward the Great Lakes. The Upper Peninsula Fall Color Report is updated every Wednesday. A $25 day pass is required for Pictured Rocks and can be bought online or at visitor centers. Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport is about an hour away; Duluth International Airport is roughly six hours by car.

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