National Forest·Michigan·975,217 acres
Huron-Manistee National Forest
Forecast issued Nov 9, 5:27pm ET
Roadsides and wetland edges turn first, and the woods behind them run a few days later.
Weather Hard frost Tuesday night. Peak may come early and go fast.
No new reports from the ground here this week.
When is peak fall foliage at Huron-Manistee National Forest in 2026?
Our forecast puts peak color at Huron-Manistee National Forest around Oct 12, and the four days to aim for are Oct 11 to 14.
The forest runs from about 642 to 1,268 feet, and the color comes downhill over about 2 days: the high stands around Oct 11, the low ground around Oct 13. That's 3 days later than our model alone would say, because this September has been running warm.
| Week | In the forest | Elevation at peak |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 21 to Sep 27 | Starting to turn | |
| Sep 28 to Oct 4 | Nearly peak | |
| Oct 5 to Oct 11 | Peak color | 1,000 to 1,250 ft, 1,250 to 1,500 ft |
| Oct 12 to Oct 18 | Peak color | 500 to 750 ft, 750 to 1,000 ft |
| Oct 19 to Oct 25 | Just past peak |
- 1,250–1,500 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 116%
- 1,000–1,250 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1125%
- 750–1,000 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1251%
- 500–750 ftLeaves downpeak Oct 1318%
Height off 3DEP inside the forest’s own boundary; each band carries the date our model gives that elevation, corrections and all. The percentage is how much of the forest stands in it.
That’s 3 days later than our model alone would say. This September has been running warm, which shifts peak color.
Plan this tripIf you can only come on certain days
Set the days you can be here. Everything under them answers for those days, not for peak.
Sunday, October 11 to Monday, October 12
You’ll find it peak color.
That's the day our forecast puts peak color here.
- 1,000–1,250 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 11
- 750–1,000 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 12
- 500–750 ftPeak colorpeak Oct 13
- Where to drive
- Tunnel of Trees (M-119), about 91 miles
- What turns
- red maple, white oak, northern red oak, sugar maple, paper birch
What turns, and when
- red maple18%
- white oak15%
- northern red oak15%
- sugar maple15%
- paper birch13%
- quaking aspen9%
Michigan produces some of the most vivid sugar maple color in America, with the Upper Peninsula's maples turning neon orange and scarlet against birch gold and the dark green of hemlocks.
Questions people ask about Huron-Manistee National Forest
- When is peak fall foliage at Huron-Manistee National Forest?
Our forecast puts peak color at Huron-Manistee National Forest around Oct 12, and the four days to aim for are Oct 11 to 14.
- Where is the best fall color at Huron-Manistee National Forest right now?
On Nov 9 the forest is leaves down. The last band to peak was 500 to 750 feet, around Oct 13.
- How long does peak last at Huron-Manistee National Forest?
About four days at the top, Oct 11 to 14, with a week or so either side that's still worth the drive. Across the forest's elevations the color moves over about 2 days, so there's peak color somewhere in it for roughly 6 days.
- Is Huron-Manistee National Forest past peak?
Yes. Peak was around Oct 12, and on Nov 9 it's leaves down.
- What trees turn color at Huron-Manistee National Forest?
Sugar Maple, Red Maple, Quaking Aspen, Paper Birch, Red Oak. Michigan produces some of the most vivid sugar maple color in America, with the Upper Peninsula's maples turning neon orange and scarlet against birch gold and the dark green of hemlocks.
This forecast is built from the species that stand here, their elevation and this September’s weather, and corrected in season by cameras, foresters and our own crew. We score it here against 13 long-running forest cameras: two dates in three land within 9 days of the camera’s own peak. How this map is made
Nearby, and when they turn
- Peak Oct 18 best Oct 17 to 20
- Peak Oct 8 best Oct 7 to 10
- Peak Oct 11 best Oct 10 to 13
- Peak Oct 13 best Oct 12 to 15
Fall color roads near Huron-Manistee National Forest
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the forest, so allow more by road.
- Tunnel of Trees (M-119)
A narrow road along Lake Michigan's northern shore between Harbor Springs and Cross Village. The overhanging canopy turns this into a literal tunnel of color.