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Michigan fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in Michigan peaks from about September 26 around Copper Harbor (620 ft) to about October 17 around Detroit (600 ft).
2026 foliage season
Michigan fall foliage map
- Mostly green
- Starting to turn
- Moderate color
- Near peak
- Peak color
- Past peak
- Leaves down
Dots show the 5 Michigan destinations we track, colored by today’s estimated stage. Select one for its forecast, or open the full foliage map to check any city or ZIP code.
Peak calendar
Bars show the typical best-viewing window for each destination. The dark mark is the typical peak. The last column shows today’s estimated status.
How fall color moves through Michigan
Michigan’s color starts at the northern tip of the Upper Peninsula and moves south through the Lower Peninsula over about three weeks. Copper Harbor, on the Keweenaw Peninsula, typically peaks first, around September 26, and Marquette follows around October 1. Mackinac Island peaks around October 4 and Traverse City around October 8. The south is last, with Detroit around October 17.
Scenic drives
M-119, the Tunnel of Trees, follows the Lake Michigan shoreline between Harbor Springs and Cross Village under an arch of hardwoods. Near Copper Harbor, Brockway Mountain Drive climbs along a ridge with views over Lake Superior and the forests of the Keweenaw. M-22 circles the Leelanau Peninsula near Traverse City. Mackinac Island itself has no cars, so it’s best seen by bike, carriage, or on foot.
Planning around the lakes
The Great Lakes keep the shorelines milder in fall, so color near the water can run a few days behind inland forests at the same latitude. In the Upper Peninsula, the inland highlands are the place to look first.
If you miss peak
If the Upper Peninsula is past peak, head south. The northern Lower Peninsula typically peaks about a week later, and southern Michigan holds color into mid to late October.
Trees behind the color
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Michigan?
In a typical year, fall color in Michigan peaks from about September 26 around Copper Harbor (620 ft) to about October 17 around Detroit (600 ft). Timing can shift by about a week in either direction depending on the weather.
Where does fall color peak first in Michigan?
Copper Harbor is usually first among the Michigan destinations we track, with peak around September 26. Higher and more northern spots turn before lower and more southern ones.
Where is the latest fall color in Michigan?
Detroit usually peaks last, around October 17. Detroit is well to the south of the state’s other destinations we track, which is part of why its color comes late.
What trees give Michigan its fall color?
The biggest contributors at the destinations we track include sugar maple, red maple, paper birch, quaking aspen, American beech, and northern red oak.
Check any city or ZIP code in Michigan.
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