Fall Color – Black River Scenic Byway

black river scenic byway
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We were in the Ironwood area at the end of September, about a week early for the best fall color along the National Forest Scenic Byway from Ironwood to Black River Harbor. The best fall color was actually in Ironwood at the Curry Park campground.

fall color curry park ironwood, mi
Curry Park Campground, Ironwood, MI

Even though it wasn’t full color along the Scenic Byway, it was a beautiful sunny day for a drive and the fall landscape was quite colorful even so. On the way to the harbor we passed Powderhorn Mountain Ski Area with attractive splashes of color on the slopes. The best fall color was along the road at higher elevations a few miles before we got to the harbor. Once we got to the harbor itself, color change was more modest.

Fall color close to Lake Superior typically comes a week or two later than color at higher elevations 10 miles away from the lake shore. One of the problems with going a little later than we did, to catch maximum fall color close to the lake, is that some years the October winds will blow all the leaves off the trees before you arrive!

Black River Scenic Byway Fall Color Pictures

black river scenic byway
By Powderhorn Mountain
Scenic Byway Black River
Black River Harbor Drive
Black River Harbor Beach
Not full color, but a beautiful day on the beach
Black River Scenic Byway
Along the drive to Black River Harbor
Black River Harbor Beach
Some color change along the lake shore
Black River Harbor Campground
A little color at the Black River Harbor Campground
Fall color near Ironwood, MI
Some color on the drive to Little Girls Point

Links to More Upper Peninsula Camping and Travel Attractions