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| Black River Harbor, Michigan |
county or traveling near the Wisconsin-Michigan state line, plenty of great autumn trails await.
National and state
National and state
forests cover the region of second-growth forest, which is rich in colorful maples, basswood, oaks, aspen, birch and more.
Day hikers can enjoy splendid autumn colors on a Lake Superior beach at Black River Harbor in the Ottawa National Forest. The 0.75-mile round trip hike to and along the beach includes crossing a suspended footbridge over the Black River. The beach stretches between the blue great lake and a forest of basswoods, ash, birch, aspen, sumac, elder, oaks and maple mixed amid stately white pines. Colors range from yellows and golds to scarlet and burgundy, from tans and browns to crimson and orange. From U.S. Hwy. 2 west of Bessemer, take County Road 511/Powderhorn Road north. Turn left/northwest onto Black River Road, which naturally becomes the Black River National Forest Scenic Byway. Park in the lot at the end of the byway. The trail heads northeast from the lot’s center to the bridge.
Iron County
A beautiful fall scene at a rapids awaits in Copper Country State Forest. The 1.2-mile round trip Horse Race Rapids Trail heads to a Paint River canyon boasting 80-foot high rock walls. As gliding through the canyon, the river drops more than 20 feet over several yards. The forest surrounding the river in autumn is a colorful mix of oak, birch, basswood, ash, aspen, sumac, elder, and maple with many evergreens. From Crystal Falls, Michigan, take U.S. Hwy. 2, south. Turn left/east onto Horserace Rapids Road. A parking lot and the trailhead is at the road’s end.
Dickinson County
A pretty autumn setting awaits at Fumee Falls near the Wisconsin-Michigan border. The 0.13-mile round trip Fumee Falls Trail includes a bridge over a creek below the falls and a brief walk to an overlook above it. The falls drops 25 feet over three ledges, with the highest one at 10 feet. Ash, aspen, basswood, birch, elder, oak, sumac and a number of evergreens line the trail and falls. From Quinnesec, take U.S. Hwy. 2 east. Look for the pullout on the road’s left/north side at the edge of town.
Menominee County
Day hikers can head to a stunning rapids over ancient volcanic rock in the Menominee River State Recreation Area. The 0.2-mile round trip Pemene Falls Trail heads to a Menomonee River rapids. The rapids drops 10 feet over a 30 yards and offers plenty of rocky shoreline to walk up and down. It’s particularly pretty in autumn when basswood, ash, birch, aspen, oak and sumac along with evergreens cast the shoreline and river in harvest hues. From Carney, Michigan, take Hwy. G-18 west toward Wisconsin. Before reaching the border, turn right/north onto State Road. In a little more than a mile, a turnoff to the falls is on the left/west; park at the end of the road.
Yellow-leaved birch and evergreen cedar and pine line a waterfall at the end of the LaSalle Falls Trail. The 1.9-miles round trip partially heads along the Pine River to the 20-foot high waterfalls, which slides down a long rock ledge. LaSalle Falls is the highest waterfall in this part of the state. From Florence, take County Road N south. Turn right/west on County Road C then right/north onto LaSalle Falls Road. After crossing Halls Creek, park in the lot on the right/north side of the road. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail.
Forest County
The 1-mile Franklin Nature Trail loops through varied sights that are particularly splendid in autumn. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest trail begins in mixed hardwoods full of yellow and orange leaves then passes stands of towering white pines and huge hemlocks. A boardwalk winds 400 feet over a bog where tamaracks turn the color of brass. From Eagle River, take Wis. Hwy. 70 east. Turn right/south onto Military Road/FR 2178 then left/east onto Butternut Lake Road/FR 2181. Stay on Butternut Lake Road/FR 2181. The parking lot is in 4.4 miles on the right/south.
Iron County
An impressive waterfalls surrounded by a gorge of fall colors awaits on the Potato River Falls Trails. Three paths for a combined 0.5-mile round trip heads to a series of cascades and falls that drop about 90 feet over the Potato River. One trail heads to the 40-foot drop over the Upper Falls, a second trail to the-50 foot Lower Falls, and another to a lookout. Red, yellow and orange leaves line the gorge below the falls, and fallen leaves float and swirl upon the flowing river. From Hurley, take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. Turn left/south on Wis. Hwy. 169. Go right/west on Falls Road. The trail leaves from the Potato River Falls Campground.
Marinette County
A walk through a forest in the state’s rare Northeast Sands eco landscape awaits hikers at Governor Thompson State Park. The 3.5-mile Forest View Trail loops through a forest of yellow-leafed aspen, orange and red maples, and marigold scrub oak dotted with evergreen jack pine and hemlock. Less than 3 percent of Wisconsin falls into the sands eco landscape. From Crivitz, take County Road W west. Turn right/north onto Parkway Road then left/west onto Ranch Road. Enter the parking by going right/north on Paust Lane. Park in the lot for Woods Lake and walk north alongside Paust Road to the trailhead.
Vilas County
Among the best spots to enjoy fall colors is a lakeshore, especially deep in a wooded area. The 0.55-mile ADA accessible Tom Roberts Nature Trail in Northern Highland American Legion State Forest fits the bill, heading through a mixed forest of sugar maple, white birch, and large-toothed and trembling aspen, balsam, and red and white pine with great views of Muskellunge Lake. Whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, coyote and fisher tracks often are spotted on the trail. From Woodruff, take U.S. Hwy. 51 north. Turn right/northeast onto County Road M and then right/east on County Road N. Go left/northeast on the road to Crystal Lake Campground then left/north on Crystal Lake Road. Park at the Nature Center.
Michigan
Gogebic CountyDay hikers can enjoy splendid autumn colors on a Lake Superior beach at Black River Harbor in the Ottawa National Forest. The 0.75-mile round trip hike to and along the beach includes crossing a suspended footbridge over the Black River. The beach stretches between the blue great lake and a forest of basswoods, ash, birch, aspen, sumac, elder, oaks and maple mixed amid stately white pines. Colors range from yellows and golds to scarlet and burgundy, from tans and browns to crimson and orange. From U.S. Hwy. 2 west of Bessemer, take County Road 511/Powderhorn Road north. Turn left/northwest onto Black River Road, which naturally becomes the Black River National Forest Scenic Byway. Park in the lot at the end of the byway. The trail heads northeast from the lot’s center to the bridge.
Iron County
A beautiful fall scene at a rapids awaits in Copper Country State Forest. The 1.2-mile round trip Horse Race Rapids Trail heads to a Paint River canyon boasting 80-foot high rock walls. As gliding through the canyon, the river drops more than 20 feet over several yards. The forest surrounding the river in autumn is a colorful mix of oak, birch, basswood, ash, aspen, sumac, elder, and maple with many evergreens. From Crystal Falls, Michigan, take U.S. Hwy. 2, south. Turn left/east onto Horserace Rapids Road. A parking lot and the trailhead is at the road’s end.
Dickinson County
A pretty autumn setting awaits at Fumee Falls near the Wisconsin-Michigan border. The 0.13-mile round trip Fumee Falls Trail includes a bridge over a creek below the falls and a brief walk to an overlook above it. The falls drops 25 feet over three ledges, with the highest one at 10 feet. Ash, aspen, basswood, birch, elder, oak, sumac and a number of evergreens line the trail and falls. From Quinnesec, take U.S. Hwy. 2 east. Look for the pullout on the road’s left/north side at the edge of town.
Menominee County
Day hikers can head to a stunning rapids over ancient volcanic rock in the Menominee River State Recreation Area. The 0.2-mile round trip Pemene Falls Trail heads to a Menomonee River rapids. The rapids drops 10 feet over a 30 yards and offers plenty of rocky shoreline to walk up and down. It’s particularly pretty in autumn when basswood, ash, birch, aspen, oak and sumac along with evergreens cast the shoreline and river in harvest hues. From Carney, Michigan, take Hwy. G-18 west toward Wisconsin. Before reaching the border, turn right/north onto State Road. In a little more than a mile, a turnoff to the falls is on the left/west; park at the end of the road.
Wisconsin
Florence CountyYellow-leaved birch and evergreen cedar and pine line a waterfall at the end of the LaSalle Falls Trail. The 1.9-miles round trip partially heads along the Pine River to the 20-foot high waterfalls, which slides down a long rock ledge. LaSalle Falls is the highest waterfall in this part of the state. From Florence, take County Road N south. Turn right/west on County Road C then right/north onto LaSalle Falls Road. After crossing Halls Creek, park in the lot on the right/north side of the road. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail.
Forest County
The 1-mile Franklin Nature Trail loops through varied sights that are particularly splendid in autumn. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest trail begins in mixed hardwoods full of yellow and orange leaves then passes stands of towering white pines and huge hemlocks. A boardwalk winds 400 feet over a bog where tamaracks turn the color of brass. From Eagle River, take Wis. Hwy. 70 east. Turn right/south onto Military Road/FR 2178 then left/east onto Butternut Lake Road/FR 2181. Stay on Butternut Lake Road/FR 2181. The parking lot is in 4.4 miles on the right/south.
Iron County
An impressive waterfalls surrounded by a gorge of fall colors awaits on the Potato River Falls Trails. Three paths for a combined 0.5-mile round trip heads to a series of cascades and falls that drop about 90 feet over the Potato River. One trail heads to the 40-foot drop over the Upper Falls, a second trail to the-50 foot Lower Falls, and another to a lookout. Red, yellow and orange leaves line the gorge below the falls, and fallen leaves float and swirl upon the flowing river. From Hurley, take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. Turn left/south on Wis. Hwy. 169. Go right/west on Falls Road. The trail leaves from the Potato River Falls Campground.
Marinette County
A walk through a forest in the state’s rare Northeast Sands eco landscape awaits hikers at Governor Thompson State Park. The 3.5-mile Forest View Trail loops through a forest of yellow-leafed aspen, orange and red maples, and marigold scrub oak dotted with evergreen jack pine and hemlock. Less than 3 percent of Wisconsin falls into the sands eco landscape. From Crivitz, take County Road W west. Turn right/north onto Parkway Road then left/west onto Ranch Road. Enter the parking by going right/north on Paust Lane. Park in the lot for Woods Lake and walk north alongside Paust Road to the trailhead.
Vilas County
Among the best spots to enjoy fall colors is a lakeshore, especially deep in a wooded area. The 0.55-mile ADA accessible Tom Roberts Nature Trail in Northern Highland American Legion State Forest fits the bill, heading through a mixed forest of sugar maple, white birch, and large-toothed and trembling aspen, balsam, and red and white pine with great views of Muskellunge Lake. Whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, coyote and fisher tracks often are spotted on the trail. From Woodruff, take U.S. Hwy. 51 north. Turn right/northeast onto County Road M and then right/east on County Road N. Go left/northeast on the road to Crystal Lake Campground then left/north on Crystal Lake Road. Park at the Nature Center.
