Fall Color Tour and Scenic Drive in Grayling MI

Fall Color Tour

What are some local recommendations of places to see color?

Hartwick Pines State Park is wonderful at this time of the year! Another beautiful viewing site is on Lake Margrethe, just west of Grayling. Take M-72 West to McIntyres Landing Road and follow the state campground signs. This is a picnic area, boat launch and rustic state campground.

When do the leaves start to change color in Northern Michigan?

Leaves will start to change color in Northern Michigan generally the last week of September and first week of October. The 2026 prediction of peak colors in our area is October 5th-12th.

Beautiful Fall Colors

David Schmidt

Vivid Fall Tree

David Schmidt

Mushrooms on a tree stump

David Schmidt

County Rd 612

City Park Bridge with Fall Colors

David Schmidt

Fall View

Fall at the Farm

Hanson Hills by Katy Nolph

Recommended Routes for Scenic Driving Tours

A beautiful viewing site is on Lake Margrethe, west of Grayling. Take M-72 West to McIntyres Landing Road and follow the state campground signs. This is a picnic area, boat launch and rustic state campground.

For other scenic drives through Crawford County, take M-93 to Hartwick Pines State Park. After touring the park, continue north until M-93 ends at County Road 612. Follow CO 612 west into Frederic. At the blinking light in Frederic, CO 612 jogs briefly to the south, with an immediate west run. From here, depending on the amount of time you want to spend, there are several possible routes. For “back road” driving, turn right onto Kolka Creek Rd., the first road west of Frederic. Follow Kolka Creek Rd. to Cameron Bridge Rd. then turn left onto North Manistee River Road. When you again reach 612, turn left and return to Frederic.For a longer drive, with all the traveling on a main road, follow 612 west towards Kalkaska until you reach Mancelona Road. At that point 612 ends and you turn left onto Mancelona Rd. Follow it to M-72 and turn left, which is east, and continue back into Grayling.

The contrasting evergreen and hardwood forests of Northeast Michigan are spectacular in autumn. The fall foliage promises to put on a brilliant show. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy a leisurely drive down the back roads, biking or hiking through Hartwick Pines State Park, or taking in the riverside colors while canoeing down the world famous AuSable and Manistee Rivers. Local canoe liveries are open, and the weather is still warm enough for a pleasant afternoon on the water.