Take scenic route for Mich. fall foliage tour
As Michigan’s foliage begins to burst into colorful canopies, the state’s county road association has compiled a list — five, actually — of some of the most alluring drives you can take this month, especially when you don’t have to get somewhere fast.
“We’re all looking for new ways to spend our time,” Denise Donohue, CEO of the County Road Association of Michigan, said, adding that “a free fall color tour is the ideal way” to enjoy some of the “natural autumn beauty” the state has to offer.
The association revealed Monday its lists of the best county roads in Michigan for taking in the fall scenery broken down by state region — southeast, west, mid, northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula — based on information from the state’s 83 local county road associations.
The peak viewing dates in southeast Michigan are Oct. 9-23, and in addition to seeing colorful leaves and sunsets, the association said, on some of the roads you’ll even be able to stop for “sun-kissed sweet corn” and “freshly picked, crisp apples.”
“When you’re not driving on the interstate, we like to say you’re taking the back roads,” the state association said in its announcement. “They’re the long way or the scenic route; the beautiful country roads with the best views, where memories are made.”
Here’s the list for southeast Michigan:
Macomb County
24 Mile Road between Van Dyke Freeway h and Shelby Road
Tillson Street between Sisson Street and h
South Main Street
M-53 between 28 Mile Road and 32 Mile h
Road
Lakeshore Drive between 8 Mile Road and h
Marter Road
Macomb Orchard Trail h
Campground Road between 29 Mile Road h and 31 Mile Road
Mount Vernon Road between Dean Road h and 31 Mile Road
Oakland County
Rattalee Lake between Ellis and M-15 h
Hadley Road between M-15 and Shappie h
Shappie Road between Hadley and Perry h
Lake Road
Pine Knob Road between Sashabaw and h
Clarkston Road
Wixom Road between Charm and Sleeth/ h
Duck Lake intersection
Richardson Road between Martin Parkway h and Newton
Wise Road between Canal and Carrol Lake h
Porter Road h
Pontiac Lake Road between Culhbert and h
White Lake Road
Gale Road h
McKeachie Road h
Scripps Road between M-24 and Joslyn h
Road
Greenshield Road between Joslyn Road h and Kern Road
Kern Road between Silverbell and Clarkston h Road
Delano Road between Ray Road and Davison h Lake Road
Ray Road between North Oxford Road to h
Lake George Road
Beverly Road between 13 Mile and 14 Mile h
Washtenaw County
Huron River Drive between Mast Road h and U.S.-23
North Territorial Road between U.S.-23 h and M-52
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.