Fall colors usually last for several weeks in Northern Michigan, so there is definitely time to plan your fall
getaway to Traverse City and Northern Michigan. Fall is a spectacular time to vacation. Come on up...we
have plenty of vacation rentals for your enjoyment.
Choose a route and enjoy the colors! Bring along a map of the area to help find your way. Here are some
fall color tours to enjoy the area's autumn color display.
Tour #1: One of a Kind - Old Mission Peninsula
Length: 45 miles
The Old Mission Peninsula sticks out into Grand Traverse Bay, nearly 20 miles long and in some places as
little as 1 mile wide. Beautiful scenery of orchards, vineyards and forests make a perfect place for a drive
that combines fall color with beautiful views of the bay, visits to wineries and roadside fruit stands and
great meals.
Take M-37 (Center Road) north out of Traverse City. The road begins with a steep climb through residential
and orchard country, descends to the shore of East Grand Traverse Bay and gradually climbs again to a
spectacular view point near the Chateau Grand Traverse winery that overlooks both East and West Grand
Traverse Bays. STOP HERE! About a mile past the little townlet of Mapleton, turn right onto Smoky Hollow
Road and follow it down through vineyards and orchards to the village of Old Mission -- the oldest
permanent settlement in the area. Take a left turn onto Swaney Road and follow it back to M-37. Now,
turn right, heading north to the Old Mission Point lighthouse.
On the return journey, travel back south on M-37 to Mapleton, turn right onto Bowers Harbor Road and
follow it down to the shore of West Grand Traverse Bay. Keeping to the left, you'll return to Traverse City
on Peninsula Drive along the shore of the bay with wonderful views of Powers Island, Neahtawanta Point
and the distant hills of Suttons Bay across the water in Leelanau County.
Tour #2: "The County" - The Leelanau Peninsula
Length: 105 miles
Georgeous! There is so much beautiful scenery, so many quaint villages and so much history packed into
this area. This tour will take you to the very tip of Michigan's "pinky finger" on her left hand -- through the
villages of Suttons Bay, Northport, Leland, Glen Arbor and Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Travel M-22 North from Traverse City along the shore of West Grand Traverse Bay and turn Left onto Cherry
Bend Road. Travel about a mile or so and turn Right or North on CR 633. CR633 is the perfect rural road that
leads right through the heart of the county to the village of Suttons Bay. In Suttons Bay, you'll rejoin M-22
and travel North along the western shore of West Grand Traverse Bay through the villages of
Peshawbestown, which is home to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Omena and
Northport. From Northport, continue North to the tip of the peninsula and visit Leelanau State Park and
the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum.
Turn back around and head back to Northport, take M-22 West toward the fishing port of Leland. Continue
South on M-22 along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan which travels through a portion of the Sleeping
Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to the village of Glen Arbor. Continue through Glen Arbor on what is now
called M-109, go past the ghost port of Glen Haven and the famous Dune Climb and take the Pierce Stocking
Scenic Drive (permit required) which delivers awesome views of the surrounding lake and dune country.
Turn right when leaving the scenic drive and go about a mile to CR 616. Turn left on CR 616 and travel along
the southern shores of the two Glen Lakes. Past past the lakes the road climbs steeply toward Inspiration
Point. Travel East through the villages of Maple City and the Polish-American town of Cedar. In Cedar, turn
right onto CR 651. Traveling South you will reach M-72. Now turn left which will bring you back to Traverse
City.
Tour #3: Antrim County - Elk Lake, Torch Lake and the Rapid River
Length: 55 miles
East of Traverse City are two bodies of water that add tremendously to the natural beauty of the area; Elk
Lake and Torch Lake. While both are relatively unknown outside of the state, they are nonetheless, jewels
of nature. The steep valley of the little Rapid River has forested slopes that look as though they belong in
the mountains somewhere. This Northern Michigan fall color tour let's you see all three ...Elk Lake, Torch
lake and the Rapid River.
Travel North from Traverse City on US-31. Take the highway past The Grand Traverse Resort getting more
picturesque view of orchards and farms along the shore of East Grand Traverse Bay. In Elk Rapids, turn right
at the light and follow Ames Street, which changes into Cairn Highway. This takes you along the North
shore of Elk Lake, through the village of Kewadin and south on CR 593. This road takes you along the east
shore of Elk Lake, across the Torch River as it empties into Torch Lake and into the village of Rapid City.
Travel East on CR 593, now also known as Valley Road, as it twists and turns its way through the narrow
valley of the Rapid River. A nice stop here is at The Seven Bridges, where the river separates briefly into
several braided streams. Continue through the valley past Rugg Pond, another very scenic area that boasts
of Ernest Hemingway once camped during a teenage fishing trip. You'll eventually meet M-72. Turn right on
M-72 and travel West to Traverse City. While cruising along, you'll see a dramatic vista of Elk Lake and
nearby Lake Skegemog, both known for excellent fishing as well.
Tour #4: A South Side of Town - Long Lake, Interlochen and the Boardman Valley
Length: 55 miles
South of Traverse City are dozens of small lakes, meadows, farming communities and the Boardman River
Valley. This drive takes you through a broad variety of landscapes, from the coves and islands of Long Lake,
the beauty of Interlochen, the villages of Kingsley and Mayfield and the Boardman River Valley.
Go West on Front Street, the main east-west street in Traverse City. As it climbs the hills west of town it
becomes North Long Lake Road. This will take you on the northern edge of Long Lake toward West Long
Lake Road, which travels South to Interlochen. In Interlochen, the road becomes M-137 and travels
between two lakes near the campus of the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Past Interlochen, turn left onto
Youker Road and follow it east to M-37, traveling a short distance will bring you to M-113. Turn left again
and travel to the town of Kingsley.
At Kingsley, turn left again onto Garfield Road which will take you North through the tiny, tiny village of
Mayfield. Blink an eye and you'll miss it! You'll also cross the Boardman River, which really appears as a small
stream at this point. Past the river turn right onto Hobbs Highway and follow it for about a mile to Ranch
Rudolf Road -- turn right. Follow the road for several miles to Rennie Lake Road, turn left and travel past
several partially hidden lakes to join Hobbs Highway again.
Turn left onto Hobbs and travel past more shaded lakes to join Garfield Road. Travel Garfield Road for about
1/2 mile to River Road. Turn right on River Road following it down the Boardman Valley, which begins to
open up. Stay to the left at Beitner Road and follow it as it travels steeply from the valley floor. Continue
past the intersection at US 31 to East Silver Lake Road. Turn right and head back to Traverse City.
getaway to Traverse City and Northern Michigan. Fall is a spectacular time to vacation. Come on up...we
have plenty of vacation rentals for your enjoyment.
Choose a route and enjoy the colors! Bring along a map of the area to help find your way. Here are some
fall color tours to enjoy the area's autumn color display.
Tour #1: One of a Kind - Old Mission Peninsula
Length: 45 miles
The Old Mission Peninsula sticks out into Grand Traverse Bay, nearly 20 miles long and in some places as
little as 1 mile wide. Beautiful scenery of orchards, vineyards and forests make a perfect place for a drive
that combines fall color with beautiful views of the bay, visits to wineries and roadside fruit stands and
great meals.
Take M-37 (Center Road) north out of Traverse City. The road begins with a steep climb through residential
and orchard country, descends to the shore of East Grand Traverse Bay and gradually climbs again to a
spectacular view point near the Chateau Grand Traverse winery that overlooks both East and West Grand
Traverse Bays. STOP HERE! About a mile past the little townlet of Mapleton, turn right onto Smoky Hollow
Road and follow it down through vineyards and orchards to the village of Old Mission -- the oldest
permanent settlement in the area. Take a left turn onto Swaney Road and follow it back to M-37. Now,
turn right, heading north to the Old Mission Point lighthouse.
On the return journey, travel back south on M-37 to Mapleton, turn right onto Bowers Harbor Road and
follow it down to the shore of West Grand Traverse Bay. Keeping to the left, you'll return to Traverse City
on Peninsula Drive along the shore of the bay with wonderful views of Powers Island, Neahtawanta Point
and the distant hills of Suttons Bay across the water in Leelanau County.
Tour #2: "The County" - The Leelanau Peninsula
Length: 105 miles
Georgeous! There is so much beautiful scenery, so many quaint villages and so much history packed into
this area. This tour will take you to the very tip of Michigan's "pinky finger" on her left hand -- through the
villages of Suttons Bay, Northport, Leland, Glen Arbor and Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Travel M-22 North from Traverse City along the shore of West Grand Traverse Bay and turn Left onto Cherry
Bend Road. Travel about a mile or so and turn Right or North on CR 633. CR633 is the perfect rural road that
leads right through the heart of the county to the village of Suttons Bay. In Suttons Bay, you'll rejoin M-22
and travel North along the western shore of West Grand Traverse Bay through the villages of
Peshawbestown, which is home to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Omena and
Northport. From Northport, continue North to the tip of the peninsula and visit Leelanau State Park and
the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum.
Turn back around and head back to Northport, take M-22 West toward the fishing port of Leland. Continue
South on M-22 along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan which travels through a portion of the Sleeping
Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to the village of Glen Arbor. Continue through Glen Arbor on what is now
called M-109, go past the ghost port of Glen Haven and the famous Dune Climb and take the Pierce Stocking
Scenic Drive (permit required) which delivers awesome views of the surrounding lake and dune country.
Turn right when leaving the scenic drive and go about a mile to CR 616. Turn left on CR 616 and travel along
the southern shores of the two Glen Lakes. Past past the lakes the road climbs steeply toward Inspiration
Point. Travel East through the villages of Maple City and the Polish-American town of Cedar. In Cedar, turn
right onto CR 651. Traveling South you will reach M-72. Now turn left which will bring you back to Traverse
City.
Tour #3: Antrim County - Elk Lake, Torch Lake and the Rapid River
Length: 55 miles
East of Traverse City are two bodies of water that add tremendously to the natural beauty of the area; Elk
Lake and Torch Lake. While both are relatively unknown outside of the state, they are nonetheless, jewels
of nature. The steep valley of the little Rapid River has forested slopes that look as though they belong in
the mountains somewhere. This Northern Michigan fall color tour let's you see all three ...Elk Lake, Torch
lake and the Rapid River.
Travel North from Traverse City on US-31. Take the highway past The Grand Traverse Resort getting more
picturesque view of orchards and farms along the shore of East Grand Traverse Bay. In Elk Rapids, turn right
at the light and follow Ames Street, which changes into Cairn Highway. This takes you along the North
shore of Elk Lake, through the village of Kewadin and south on CR 593. This road takes you along the east
shore of Elk Lake, across the Torch River as it empties into Torch Lake and into the village of Rapid City.
Travel East on CR 593, now also known as Valley Road, as it twists and turns its way through the narrow
valley of the Rapid River. A nice stop here is at The Seven Bridges, where the river separates briefly into
several braided streams. Continue through the valley past Rugg Pond, another very scenic area that boasts
of Ernest Hemingway once camped during a teenage fishing trip. You'll eventually meet M-72. Turn right on
M-72 and travel West to Traverse City. While cruising along, you'll see a dramatic vista of Elk Lake and
nearby Lake Skegemog, both known for excellent fishing as well.
Tour #4: A South Side of Town - Long Lake, Interlochen and the Boardman Valley
Length: 55 miles
South of Traverse City are dozens of small lakes, meadows, farming communities and the Boardman River
Valley. This drive takes you through a broad variety of landscapes, from the coves and islands of Long Lake,
the beauty of Interlochen, the villages of Kingsley and Mayfield and the Boardman River Valley.
Go West on Front Street, the main east-west street in Traverse City. As it climbs the hills west of town it
becomes North Long Lake Road. This will take you on the northern edge of Long Lake toward West Long
Lake Road, which travels South to Interlochen. In Interlochen, the road becomes M-137 and travels
between two lakes near the campus of the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Past Interlochen, turn left onto
Youker Road and follow it east to M-37, traveling a short distance will bring you to M-113. Turn left again
and travel to the town of Kingsley.
At Kingsley, turn left again onto Garfield Road which will take you North through the tiny, tiny village of
Mayfield. Blink an eye and you'll miss it! You'll also cross the Boardman River, which really appears as a small
stream at this point. Past the river turn right onto Hobbs Highway and follow it for about a mile to Ranch
Rudolf Road -- turn right. Follow the road for several miles to Rennie Lake Road, turn left and travel past
several partially hidden lakes to join Hobbs Highway again.
Turn left onto Hobbs and travel past more shaded lakes to join Garfield Road. Travel Garfield Road for about
1/2 mile to River Road. Turn right on River Road following it down the Boardman Valley, which begins to
open up. Stay to the left at Beitner Road and follow it as it travels steeply from the valley floor. Continue
past the intersection at US 31 to East Silver Lake Road. Turn right and head back to Traverse City.
| Fall Colors & Tours - Jimmy Mack Vacations |
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