Exploring Beyond the Tunnel of Trees
When you think of fall colors and color tours in northern Michigan, most likely the first thing that comes to your mind is the famous M-119 Scenic Byway that is more commonly referred to as the Tunnel of Trees. This stunning 20-mile drive is so popular that people not only come from all over Michigan, they come from all over the United States and some even travel from other countries, just to experience it. There are countless articles, web sites, pictures, and YouTube videos of people’s experience driving through the tunnel. At my job at a local chamber of commerce, we start getting inquiries surrounding the Tunnel of Trees as early as July. During the month of October, we can receive up to 20 calls a day asking us if it is peak color in the area, but more specifically, if the Tunnel of Trees has reached peak. Don’t get me wrong, this route is absolutely gorgeous. I have personally driven this stretch of M-119 from Harbor Springs all the way up to Cross Village several times in my life. In addition to admiring all of the colors of the trees above and around me, I love to gawk at all of the large, beautiful houses, and admire the views of Lake Michigan. I also enjoy stopping at Good Hart General Store, Legs Inn, and Peninsulas. So yes, if you have never experienced the Tunnel of Trees, and you don’t mind a narrow and winding road, I would say this should be on your color tour bucket list. However, the fall leaves are not just stellar on this route, they are breathtaking all over northern Michigan, and if you want to avoid the crowds of cars and people driving the Tunnel of Trees this season (there can be thousands of vehicles in one day), there are other places that you can experience the vibrant colors on the trees. There are several longer routes that you can take to explore fall in northern Michigan, and those can be seen by clicking here. Outside of these more well known routes to experience the fall foliage in and around Petoskey, I am going to highlight a couple of paths that I have discovered while driving around the north.
Personally, when I am viewing the fall colors on the trees, I like to see pops of green from the pine and cedar trees that are interspersed among the red and sugar maple trees, as well as the birches, oaks, and dogwood, and this is one of the reasons that I have always enjoyed the drive from Petoskey to Wolverine. The 22 mile drive out Mitchell Street which turns into Wolverine Road is winding and tree- covered and can be quite stunning when the color of the leaves reaches its peak. This is not a route that is usually very busy, and as mentioned previously, you can view many different kinds of trees. I recently discovered that this stretch is actually a part of a longer, 62-mile circle referred to as the Tri-County Tour.
The 31-mile drive from Charlevoix to Bellaire via US 31 and M 88 is amazing as well. When I lived in Charlevoix I discovered this route one fall, Saturday afternoon when I was craving a sandwich from Short’s Brewing. This road is also quite curvy, but I was blown away at how beautiful the view was. We passed small villages and farms as well as thousands of trees before arriving at our delicious destination. There are many areas where you can pull off on the side of the road for pictures.
Autumn has arrived once more in northern Michigan, and with it a brilliant tapestry of orange and yellow and red leaves. Whether you decide to venture through the famous Tunnel of Trees, or whether you decide to take a path that is a little less traveled, make sure you get out in the next few weeks and enjoy the gorgeous scenery because it will soon be gone. For more ideas and to help plan your perfect color tour, the Petoskey Area Visitor’s Bureau website is very helpful and informative. Click here to view.
