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My Upper Peninsula Fall Bucket List Waterfalls, Hikes & Scenic Stops
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items There’s something about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the fall that makes me want to grab the camera and hit the road! 🍁 Between the waterfalls, brilliant fall colors, Lake Superior views, scenic drives and beautiful hiking trails, the UP was made f...
Map
This HAS to lead the list. Lake of the Clouds is one of the UP's signature fall views, with an overlook high above the lake surrounded by miles of colorful forest. You can enjoy the main view without a major hike or use it as the starting point for a... It's PEAK right now!
Lake of the Clouds
If you're chasing panoramic fall color, add Summit Peak. A relatively short hike takes you to an observation tower at the highest point in the Porcupine Mountains, where the forest seems to stretch forever beneath you.
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness SP--Summit Peak
This is one I'd absolutely make time for. Trails and boardwalks take you along the Presque Isle River past Manabezho, Manido and Nawadaha Falls, giving you rushing water, rocky gorge scenery and beautiful fall forest all in one stop.
Presque Isle River Waterfalls Loop Trail
Bond Falls is one of those UP waterfalls that looks like it belongs on a postcard. The Ontonagon River tumbles over a wide series of rock ledges surrounded by forest, and the accessible boardwalk makes this a great stop even if you're not looking for...
Bond Falls
One road trip stop gives you access to multiple waterfalls! Follow the Black River toward Lake Superior and explore falls including Great Conglomerate, Potawatomi and Gorge Falls, with short trails branching from the scenic byway.
Black Riv Nat'l Forest Scenic Bywy
Here's something completely different. The massive ski-flying structure rises high above the surrounding forest, and the views over the Western UP can be incredible when autumn color is spreading across the landscape.
Copper Peak
You don't even need hiking boots for this one! Brockway Mountain Drive climbs high above the Keweenaw Peninsula and delivers sweeping views of Lake Superior, Copper Harbor and miles of forest — exactly the kind of place I'd want to be during peak col...
Brockway Mountain Dr
For hikers who want a little more adventure, Bare Bluff rewards you with dramatic views over Lake Superior and the Keweenaw shoreline. The terrain can be challenging, but the combination of cliffs, blue water and fall color makes this a special one.
Bare Bluff Overlook
This is the kind of place I love finding for a fall bucket list. A forested trail follows a series of waterfalls and rocky gorge scenery, giving you a quieter Keweenaw experience away from some of the area's busier attractions.
Hungarian Falls
One of my favorite kinds of fall stops — relatively short hike, HUGE payoff. Climb the stairways and trails to the overlooks at the top for beautiful views across Lake Superior, Marquette and the surrounding forest.
Sugarloaf Mountain
If you're already visiting Marquette, don't skip this. You can walk trails or follow the scenic loop around the peninsula for Lake Superior shoreline, rocky cliffs, forest and gorgeous viewpoints without committing to an all-day hike.
Presque Isle Park
Fall might be one of the prettiest times to experience Pictured Rocks. Colorful hardwood forest meets towering sandstone cliffs and the deep blue water of Lake Superior — and you can choose everything from short overlooks to longer hikes.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
For a real hiking day, this is the one. The Chapel area combines waterfalls, forest, Lake Superior shoreline and iconic Chapel Rock, giving you several of the UP's signature landscapes in one adventure.
Chapel Falls Trailhead
You can't make a UP fall bucket list without Tahquamenon. 🍂 The enormous Upper Falls surrounded by autumn foliage is classic Michigan, and you can also explore trails and the Lower Falls area to turn the stop into a full fall day.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park
I'd finish with a stop that's easy to miss when you're driving US-2. Pull over at the Cut River Bridge and take the stairs and trails down into the wooded gorge — in fall, the combination of towering trees, the river and Lake Michigan shoreline makes...
Cut River Bridge