There are few better places for a fall color adventure than Lake Superior. As autumn reaches its peak, find the best times to get out and explore—whether by car or on foot—with these helpful fall color reports from all four corners of the Big Lake.
Tom & Jen Hedberg
Minnesota
The North Shore puts on one of the region’s great fall shows, with maples blazing inland before the birch and aspen along Lake Superior follow. Take the North Shore Scenic Drive, hike among the overlooks and waterfalls at Gooseberry Falls or Tettegouche State Park, or head into the Sawtooth Mountains around Lutsen and Oberg Mountain for sweeping views of the color. The North Shore often experiences two waves of peak color, so conditions can vary considerably between the lakeshore and higher inland terrain.
Check current conditions: Minnesota DNR Fall Color Finder
Bayfield, WI — Lake Superior Magazine
Wisconsin
Follow Highway 13 around the Bayfield Peninsula for a classic Lake Superior fall drive, with plenty of opportunities to stop in Bayfield, look across the water toward the Apostle Islands, or continue west through the forests toward Brule. Another option is taking the ferry to Madeline Island, where the trails and shoreline at Big Bay State Park add Lake Superior blues to the autumn palette. Travel Wisconsin
Check current conditions: Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report
Yooper Steve
Michigan
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula offers mile after mile of fall color. Head to the Keweenaw Peninsula for the winding drive up M-26 and US-41 toward Copper Harbor, explore the waterfalls and colorful forests of the Porcupine Mountains, or pair brilliant foliage with sandstone cliffs and Lake Superior vistas at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. With such a large stretch of shoreline, there’s usually somewhere worth exploring as the color works its way through the U.P.
Check current conditions: Explore Fall Michigan Color Map
Visit Thunder Bay
Ontario
North of the border, rugged terrain makes for some spectacular fall views. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park offers color along Highway 587 and from overlooks including Thunder Bay Lookout, while Lake Superior Provincial Park combines brilliant hardwood forests with the rugged shoreline between Wawa and Sault Ste. Marie. For a hike, try the Nokomis, Awausee or Orphan Lake trails; for an easier outing, simply following the Trans-Canada Highway through the park provides impressive views. Ontario Parks
Check current conditions: Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report
