Fall colors 2024: When leaves change and best places in Michigan to see them
- Michigan trees start to change colors between late September and mid-October.
- Trees in the Upper Peninsula tend to change colors earlier than those in the Lower Peninsula.
- State parks, especially along the Great Lakes, are some of the best places to watch the trees.
One clear sign that fall is approaching is not just the change in weather — prompting some people to retire their summer sandals and trade them in for sneakers — but the change in leaves too. Michigan trees start to change colors between late September and mid-October.
Michigan is home to over 14 billion trees which make up over half of the state’s land, and the state parks are some of the best places to see acres fall colors during color-changing season.
Generally, the color-changing season peaks in mid-October and runs through the month, depending on where you are in the state.
Leaves in the Upper Peninsula and the northwestern U.P. near the rugged region around Tahquamenon Falls will change first, followed by leaves on the east side of the state, along Lake Huron, according to a map from SmokyMountains.com. Leaves in West Michigan are the last to change.
Related:
- Michigan fall colors 2023: Peak colors may be late. Blame El Niño
- Michigan can expect warmer-than-normal temps in early fall, forecaster says
Leaves in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula are estimated for now to reach peak colors between Sept. 23 and Sept. 30, according to the SmokyMountains.com map. Leaves in east Michigan are expected to peak between Sept. 30 and Oct. 7, while leaves in west Michigan could peak between Oct. 7 and Oct. 14.
Trees are always ‘fall colors,’ we just can’t see them
Shorter days and colder nights help break down the enzymes in the leaves, which function at a certain temperature. Those enzymes signal the plant to start producing less chlorophyll, which is responsible for the green pigment of the plant. That is when red, yellow, orange and brown burst like fireworks across Michigan forests.
“The oranges and the yellow, those are there. We don’t see them because of the chlorophyll,” said Bert Cregg, a horticulture professor at Michigan State University.
“The breakdown of chlorophyll … hides everything else and so when that breaks down then we see these other compounds,” he said.
Trees on the outskirts of a forest or line to the side of major roads and highways tend to change colors first and be redder since they are exposed to more heat and sunlight, Cregg added.
Best places to see fall colors
State parks, especially along the Great Lakes, are some of the best places to watch the trees. One of the best times of the year in Michigan.
Trees along Lake Superior at Tahquamenon Falls State Park and Porcupine Mountains have started to change color but will peak in the coming weeks.
The Tunnel of Trees is 22 miles of colorful trees along M-119, a state trunkline highway in northern Michigan.
Ocqueoc Falls in northern Michigan is surrounded by hardwood forests filled with trees of various hues. It is the largest waterfall in the Lower Peninsula.
Holland State Park overlooks Lake Macatawa where leaves will start to turn color between early and mid-October.
The color change sequence in the U.S. as forecast by Explorefall.com. The sequence goes from green, indicating little to no color, to black, meaning past peak color. (Photos courtesy of Explorefall.com)
See what new members are saying about why they donated to Bridge Michigan:
- “In order for this information to be accurate and unbiased it must be underwritten by its readers, not by special interests.” - Larry S.
- “Not many other media sources report on the topics Bridge does.” - Susan B.
- “Your journalism is outstanding and rare these days.” - Mark S.
If you want to ensure the future of nonpartisan, nonprofit Michigan journalism, please become a member today. You, too, will be asked why you donated and maybe we'll feature your quote next time!