Fall Color Scenic Drives Around Lake Superior - 2009

Fall Color Update 9/27/09

We just returned from the Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula. Maples are turning and should be quite colorful by the upcoming weekend. Oaks, Aspens, and Birches have yet to turn but may start soon. Some bushes and shrubs like Sumac are turning. Michigan Tourism reports color is looking good in the Porcupine Mountains and the drive along Michigan 26 to Houghton is showing red. North into the Keweenaw on US 41 is at 35 - 40% and should be showing good color over the next week or so. In central and eastern UP, the colors are a week or two behind that in the west. In Wisconsin, from Hurley to Ashland-Bayfield to Superior, Maples are turning - more so away from the Lake - and beginning this coming weekend travelers should find some colorful fall foliage (approaching 50% of peak). Along Minnesota's North Shore, color change is less than 25% of peak from Duluth to Tettegouche State Park but more advanced (25 - 50%) from Lutsen to Grand Portage. Wayne at the Mystic Isle Motel near Wawa, Ontario reports color change has begun and forecasts peak color in two weeks. Lindsey at the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario tourism office expects peak color in a week or two. We are hoping to hear soon from North of Superior, Ontario during the coming ten days so stay tuned.

Reports from 2008 (for historical comparison)

Update 10/5/08

Wisconsin from Superior to Bayfield to Ashland is getting more colorful and peak color could come during this week . . . . Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula is at or a little past peak color along Highways 26 and 41. Brockway Mountain Drive should hit peak color later this week. Ditto for the Porkies which were not quite peak color last week. Color should still be good from Marquette to Sault Ste. Marie . . . . Minnesota North Shore color is at peak in the Lutsen-Grand Marais-Grand Portage region, and beginning to show elsewhere. Color change of Aspen and Birch are usually one to two weeks behind Maples . . . . Ontario color should be at or beyond Peak, with the yellows of Birch and Aspen now predominating over the Maples.

Report from 9/27/08

Wisconsin Travel Dept reports peak color change from Ashland to Hurley is about 30% and less than 25% from Bayfield to Superior. Peak color would be two to three weeks away. Color around Mellen and Potato Falls should be nice the last week in September, pencil in October for elsewhere along the lake . . . . Trina at Michigan's Keweenaw Chamber office reports color change at 15% and the Keweenaw travel bureau reports color change as high as 30% in some locales. Michigan.org reports color near Ishpeming and Marquette approaching 25%. So expect to begin seeing good color from the Porkies to Marquette the week of Sept 28th, but Peak Color in the Keweenaw may not occur until the following week or two. Color change in the UP is coming a little slower than last year, but do to recent rains it may last longer. . . . . Minnesota DNR reports that color change between 25 - 50% in the Lutsen-Grand Marais-Grand Portage region, but only about 10% change elsewhere along Lake Superior. Lutsen and Oberg mountains are said to be approaching full color as their forests contain good stands of Maple. Color change of Aspen and Birch are usually one to two weeks behind Maples . . . . Bruce at Ontario's North of Superior Tourism reports good fall color and expects beautiful colors the next two weeks. So the next two weeks would be a good time for that Fall Color trip along the northern shore. Tara at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario reports color change at about 30% and expects full color by the end of the month, first week in October. Wayne at the Mystic Isle Motel near Wawa reports a hard frost and color change beginning.

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Have a color report to pass along or a question - write me

Ross Reinhold - roscoetrails@gmail.com