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Lake Superior Scenic Drive, Upper Peninsula, and Wisconsin Fall Colors

Scenic color drives ashland, wisconsin
Fall Color Scenic Drive - near Gurney, WI & Potato Falls

Wisconsin Lake Superior Fall Color Drives

US Highway 51 ends its northern journey through Wisconsin when it intersects with US Highway 2 outside of Hurley, WI. At this point the color tour traveler looking for scenic fall color drives has a choice. Do I go east into Michigan's Upper Peninsula or do I head west towards the Bayfield Peninsula?


Fall Color Tour Directory
Scenic Drives
Scenic Wisconsin Fall Color
- Ashland & Bayfield WI Color Tour
- Bayfield Orchard Fall Tour
- Potato River Park & Falls
- Copper Falls State Park
- Amnicon Falls State Park
Michigan UP Scenic Fall Color
- Black River Harbor & Water Falls
- Presque Isle Water Falls
- Porcupine Mountains Fall Foliage
- Keweenaw Copper Harbor Color
- Old Victoria Color
- Tahquamenon Falls Color
- Central UP Fall Color Tour

Minnesota Scenic Fall Color
- Duluth Skyline Drive Fall Foliage
- Scenic Railroad Color Train
- Minn North Shore Fall Color

Maps of Scenic Fall Color Drives along Lake Superior

spacer- Wisconsin Scenic Color Tour Map

wi mi scenic color drive map

spacer - Michigan UP Scenic Color Tour Map
michigan up color tour road map

Over the course of the last few years we managed to do both, from Duluth, Minnesota to Paradise, Michigan. A number of these scenic drives are profiled in our Fall Color Tour Directory arrow

By the way, another favorite fall attraction is bird migration. Hawk's Ridge in Duluth is a popular spot for viewing raptor migration. Another popular spot for viewing the fall migration is Whitefish Point in the upper peninsula.

A Fall Color Tour Bonus - Water Falls

We had expected great color along the Black River Scenic Byway that runs down to Black River Harbor and Campground. It lies in a part of black river harbor rainbow fallsthe Ottawa National Forest rich in old growth mixed northern hardwoods - hemlock, birch, and maple.

Our surprise was finding the colorful Black River waterfalls roaring in spectacular fashion. Lower Potato River Falls Fall color picture This discovery prompted us to add Potato River Falls (near Gurney, Wisconsin) to our itinerary - and we were richly rewarded in finding it displaying both color and dancing water.

A couple we met at Black River Harbor told us the waterfalls in their glory happens fairly often in the fall in this part of the UP. Apparently as the cold, below freezing evening temps kill off the marsh grass and vegetation, it is like removing a dam, thus releasing more water into the river systems. Add some fall rains (and snow) like we had in the fall of 2005 and you have waterfall conditions that rival springtime.

Covered Bridge Lower Falls Amnicon Falls
In another fall color trip traveling on US Highway 2 from Ashland Wisconsin, we found the same thing at Scenic Amnicon Falls State Park about 15 miles east of Superior, WI. Double bonus. Fall color time and the river and falls were roaring.



In a later fall color scenic tour of the UP in the we were able to catch some nice fall color at the Porcupine Mountains. The views from the Lake of the Clouds Overlook and Summit Peak are kodak moments during the summer and when they are splashed with fall color they are outstanding.

 

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summit peak - porcupine mountainsUS 41 Keweenaw Peninsula Fall Color

Porcupine Mountains - Great Scenery, Great Hiking and Keweenaw Peninsula scenic fall color drives


More Lake Superior Fall Color Scenic Drives

On one fall color trip we toured scenic areas of the central and eastern Upper Peninsula, from Munising to Sault Saint Marie hoping to catch some nice fall color change. In some areas the color change was modest, but in other areas we caught some nice color.

Upper Tahquamenon Falls Fall Color

Tahquamenon Falls in blazing color near Paradise, Michigan was terrific. Lots of water going over the falls from recent rains and some nice fall foliage change. Near ideal fall weather.

 

We reported on our Upper Peninsula Fall Color trip in ScenicPathways.com - here's some pages to check out:

SuperiorTrails
Lodging

Fall Color Munising and Grand Marais, Michigan

Fall Color Sault Saint Marie

Fall Color Marquette, MI

During another fall color trip we covered Fall Color along the Minnesota North Shore Scenic Drive running along Lake Superior from Duluth, Minnesota to Thunder Bay, Ontario. In later years we were back in the Michigan Upper Peninsula catching Fall Colors in the Porcupine Mountains.

In future years we'd like to sample the color elsewhere around the lake. One attraction I've been wanting to catch is taking the Agawa Canyon train ride during Peak Color season. Based on the forest ecology, I'd expect to see some nice color from Sault Ste. Marie and up to Wawa Ontario.

 


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Joanne's Scandinavian Christmas

Bayfield Holiday Events & Activities

santa visit
Duluth Holiday Events and Fun.

gooseberry falls park
Winter - Michigan UP
Winter - Wisconsin Winter - Minnesota
Winter - Sault Ste Marie.



Grandpa Tony's madeline island and Most popular Madeline Island AttractionsSee our guide to interesting and fun things to see and do on Madeline Island.

Bayfield Apostle Islands Sea Caves
See photos from our recent Apostle Islands
Sea Caves
cruise.

sea caves apostle islands national lakeshore
Apostle Islands Sea Caves Hiking Trail is about a 3.5 mile round trip from Meyers Beach to the Bayfield Sea Caves

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Lake Superior Travel Directories

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Upper Peninsula
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Fall colors from the top of Moose Mountain
Minnesota North Shore Fall Colors from the top of Moose Mountain.

Apple Bratwurst at Apple Fest
Bayfield Apple Festival

October 6 - 8, 2017

Superior Wisconsin Brew Pubs Pizza
Fun things to see and do including great Burger & Pizza Bars in Superior Wisconsin

Hauser's Orchards
Orchard Touring
Take a scenic drive of
farms and orchards in the Bayfield area.

Little Manitou Falls
Wisconsin Waterfalls

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Hotel, Motel Lodging
Ashland, Superior, Ironwood, Wisconsin South Shore

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Lake Superior Circle Tour Road Map & Guide to Travel Attractions around Lake Superior.


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Duluth's amazing Bentleyville Duluth Christmas Lights Village.

How to recognize Lake Superior Agates and Beach Rocks.Lake Superior Agate?

Best Wisconsin Lake Superior Agate Beaches

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Devil's Island Lighthouse Apostle Islands
See the lighthouses on an Apostle Islands Cruise.

copper falls, copper falls state park
Copper Falls State Park
is near Mellen, Wisconsin.

Enjoying the great swimming Beach Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island.
Madeline Island Big  Bay Park


Amnicon Falls Upper Falls
Upper Amnicon Falls at Amnicon Falls State Park

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Golf Courses Around Lake Superior
See our
Reviews of Best Wisconsin golf courses on Lake Superior.

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