It’s that time of year again! Time to start thinking about a long, cool day on the trail followed by cider and doughnuts. I just booked two little fall getaways this week— one a cabin trip somewhere way up north, and the other a little backpacking trip and I’m starting to get excited about the chill in the air.
Just this week we got our first true taste of autumn, with a Nor’easter rolling in off Lake Superior bringing temperatures down into the low 60s, spitting rain and gray waves— a nice reminder that my favorite part of the year is just around the corner.
Best places to see fall color in Michigan:
From the shores of Lake Michigan, to the highlands of the Porcupine Mountains, Michigan has excellent fall color! Here’s where to begin your search, in order of what I consider to be the best location first:
1) Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Hands down, the best place to see fall color in Michigan is Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Here you can hike the Escarpment Ridge Trail towering over Lake of the Clouds, to a number of waterfalls, and other overlooks throughout the park.
Typically, you can expect fall colors to peak to in mid-October. Personally, I think the fall colors are actually most dramatic here on a chilly, rainy day or right before sunset or after sunrise. Beyond simply checking out the stunning overlooks like Lake of the Clouds or Summit Peak, consider a backpacking trip and venturing a few miles in to one of the dramatic campsites in the Porcupine Mountains.
Overall, the Porcupine Mountains definietly make for some of the most dramatic fall color views in Michigan.
READ: Ultimate Guide to the Porcupine Mountains
2) Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
If you like turquoise water, red sandstone cliffs and dramatic views head over to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore! Here, you can expect a mid-October fall color peak.
For the best views, check out hiking the Chapel-Basin Loop or the out-and-back hike to Spray Falls. Note that fall weather up on Lake Superior more often spells chilly, windy, wave days with temperatures dipping into the 40s F, so pack extra warm if you’re planning on camping.
I’ve worked as a sea kayaking guide on Lake Superior since 2018 and I strongly recommend not kayaking on the lake in October without a drysuit! Pictured Rocks is a bucket-list kayak destination, but you’ll find that the fall brings less than ideal weather for kayaking and even if it looks calm from the beach you’re standing on, you might find it much bumpier around the corner.
READ: Best Things to do in the Pictured Rocks
3) Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes are known for towering sand dunes and world-class beaches, but did you know you can also find excellent fall color here? When planning your trip, keep in mind that the leaves here change along the shore about a week later than farther inland. Usually around the third week of October is a good bet, but I’ve seen peak color here as late as the last weekend of October.
The best places for fall color in the Sleeping Bear Dunes are Empire Bluff Trail, the Pierce-Stocking Scenic Drive, and Alligator Hill. Beyond the official lakeshore, there are plenty of other trails outside of the lakeshore that offer really incredible views as well, like the roadside stop at Arcadia Overlook.
Best Hiking Boots for Women:
For me, fall means hiking season. In fact, it’s honestly the only time of year that I’m really doing any serious miles hiking regularly, since most of my summer is consumed by paddling. Come the ‘ber months though, you can more often find me strapping on hiking boots and ticking off a few trails a week from September through November while the weather is nice.
The right pair of hiking boots makes a huge difference in your experience on the trail. Here are a few of my favorites:
Good reads/listens from lately:
I just finished A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and despite it wracking up a veritable cornucopia of negative reviews, I really enjoyed it. It was one of those books that felt really intentional in that the entirety of the book built toward the climactic scene, which was largely psychological. Oryx & Crake vibes. Main critiques were that the plot was slow, which I disagree with, and that the female main character had no discernible personality traits, which I actually think is intentional. The book is told through the perspective of the teenager who falls in love with the female main character and is characterized as he sees her. To him, she’s both an enigma and someone who’s motivations he never bothers to learn. I feel like it was pretty clear halfway through that he didn’t really know much about Lucy Gray the person and didn’t care to, and so the reader doesn’t get to know her either. Not unlike how Oryx in Oryx & Crake isn’t allowed to ever become a fully-developed character in the book because she is told through the eyes of men who desire her, Lucy Gray operates more as a symbol that haunts the Hunger Games than a full-realized character. Anyways, I liked the book and have started Sunrise on the Reaping.
I continue to devour the Normal Gossip podcast on my walks :)
Should I renew my New York Times subscription? I don’t know
I’m obsessed with the Ali Learns to Read and Write Patreon. If you started reading popular romantasy ironically then accidentally started reading it super unironically, you’ll love it over there.
I hear ya on the NYT dilemma. I find news from AP, NPR, Michigan Advance, and Bridge MI to be high quality, with all being non-profit. Could take money from NYT sub and support them with it.