Ready for peak color.
Very colorful out there this week, reds were awesome.
Welcome to week 9 of the 10th Annual UP Fall Color Report. This is the #1 place for information on the changes of fall across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Driving Stats for 2023 UP Fall Color Report
Week 8: Miles driven: 1535 miles - 109 gal of gas
Weeks 1-8: Miles driven 7515mi - 543 gal of gas
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Hitting peak color now.
Overall color change across the UP - 50%-peak
Videos for last week 8 fall color drives are now live on Youtube if you want to watch them.
Before reading any further please read this it could save your life.
With tens of thousands of leaf peepers on the roads this week and next please be safe out there on the roads and in the wilderness. There will be about 5x the amount of traffic on the roads in the next couple weeks than the previous week, more traffic equals more opportunities to get hurt of killed on the highways.
Please be careful about stopping along roads and highways during peak color season with the traffic it’s probably not a good idea. Do not stop on US41 along the covered drive (there’s no shoulder) to take pictures, this road is very windy with ups and downs with some vehicles going as fast as 60-65mph when speed limit is 45mph. Be careful around cliffs and waterfalls, getting that selfie 2 inches from the cliff edge isn’t worth loosing your life or serious injury, I am sure there would be someone who would miss your smile.
Hope everyone had a wonderful week. I have been very busy these last few weeks driving around the UP and trying to get some things done before the cold weather arrives. Also had some vehicle work done mid week and that put me behind for getting in fall color drives, so I really had to make up mileage. I put on 1500 miles this last week, I think the most driven in a week over the last 10 years for the Fall Color Report.
Color change was pretty aggressive this last week. I saw some areas go from 50% color to peak in a matter of 3 or 4 days. Other areas are still sitting at 50% color, but those percentages will go up quickly with any cool nights and warm days with overcast skies. It doesn’t take long after reaching 70% color to hit peak color
Above: Silver Lake Basin, Marquette county - 9.25.23
We have good color right now across much of the UP, not peak across the entire UP yet, but it never happens all at the same time ever, we have such varied topography and with two Great Lakes around us things different inland than shoreline.
I would get your vehicles ready, camera batteries charged, and your coolers packed with food because these fall colors are going to amaze you. The Upper Peninsula never ceases to amaze most, I am still amazed at the new things I find when exploring and I grew up here, I don’t believe there is anyone alive who has seen more places in the UP than myself.
Fall Color Tours - private fall color tours - UpperPeninsulaTours.com
Secret overlooks, waterfalls amidst the fall colors, and beautiful backcountry roads.
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Detailed UP Fall Color Report below
Detailed Weekly updated UP Color Change Map
Videos for week 8 driving around the UP.
Pictures for week 8 around the UP.
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