There’s really no wrong route to choose when it comes to fall color drives in Michigan, but to help make your trip planning easier, the County Road Association of Michigan -- which manages the state’s more than 90,000 miles of county roads -- compiles an annual list of favorite county roads for fall color around the state.
This year the CRA is sharing that list by region, published weekly on the organization’s Facebook page. Last week the focus was on great Upper Peninsula fall color drives, and this week they’re sharing the best drives across Northern Lower Michigan.
“A trip down a county road is the ideal way to take in Northern Michigan’s fall colors,” Denise Donohue, CRA’s executive director, said in a statement. “County road agencies are experts on the best viewing spots, and their handpicked selections are perfect for experiencing a safe, enjoyable autumn afternoon.”
Below, nine county road agencies in the Northern Lower Peninsula share the best spots for beautiful leaves this season. Peak viewing conditions for the Northern Lower Peninsula are expected to appear from September 24 to October 7.
Alpena County
- Bolton Road to Long Lake Road
- Nicholson Hill Road
- Scott Road
- Long Rapids Road
Antrim County
- Deadman Hill overlook off US-131 viewing Jordan River Valley
- Jordan River Road off US-131
- Pinney Bridge Road off M-66
- Cascade Road off Alba Highway (CR 620)
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Crawford County
- CR101 looking north from CR100 (“Pioneer Hill”)
Emmet County
- Mitchell Road from Fletcher Road to Cheboygan County line
- Pleasantview Road from M-119 to Robinson Road
- Robinson Road from State Road to Pleasantview Road
- State Road from Harbor Springs to Cross Village
- Stutsmanville Road from Pleasantview to W. Townline, then W. Townline Road north
- Brutus Road from Pleasantville Road to US-31
- Welsheimer Road from W. Stutsmanville Road to Middle Village Drive
- Middle Village Drive from Welsheimer Road to M-119
- Williams Road from US-131 to Resort Pike Road
- Resort Pike Road from Williams Road to Indian Garden Road
- N. Conway Road from US-31 to Tower Road, Tower Road to Pleasantview Road
Leelanau County
- North Eagle Highway
- Newman Road
- Port Oneida Road
- Gills Pier Road
- Schomberg Road
Mason County
- Lakeshore Drive from Oceana Drive to Iris Road
- Hawley from Pere Marquette Highway to Walhalla Road
- South Masten Road to Washington Road and the Ruby Creek area
- North Lakeshore Drive along Hamlin Lake
- Custer Road from Hogue Road to US-10
Montmorency County
- Pleasant Valley Road
- Farrier Road
- Carter Road
- Meridian Line Road
Presque Isle County
- Long Lake Highway from M-65 into Alpena County
- E-634 Highway from Polaski Road west to Lake May Road
- W-638 Highway Ocqueoc Road from Walker Highway to North Allis Highway from Ocqueoc Road west to M-211.
Wexford County
- Fall Color Scenic Routes, all starting from downtown Cadillac Route 1: Around the Lakes (20 miles) Route 2: Northwest to Mesick (63 miles) Route 3: Southwest to Hoxeyville/Luther/Briston (64 miles) Route 4: Northeast to Lake City/Manton (32 miles)
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