New England gets all the hype for fall color, but here’s a secret: the Upper Midwest has some of the most beautiful fall color in the world. Here are three fall color destinations so beautiful, you won’t believe they’re in the Midwest:

Why this blog? Hi there! My name is Maddy and I’ve been working as a travel writer and hands-on outdoor guide in the Great Lakes Region and beyond since 2018. It’s my mission to help connect people to meaningful adventures outside. The Upper Midwest feels like my backyard, and I’m happy to show you around!

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Three Surprisingly Beautiful Midwest Fall Color Destinations

From Midwest mountains to cozy lakes with Finland vibes, here are the Midwest fall color spots that you won’t even believe are in the Midwest:

1) Traverse City, Michigan

If you’re looking for a cozy fall with lakeside picnics, hiking trails to river overlooks, and hundreds of options for cozy cabins in the woods, look no further than the outskirts of Traverse City, Michigan. Here, you can find bright red maple leaves and an impressive late October fall color show paired with all the comforts of an exciting downtown area.

I grew up visiting my grandparents in this area, and have nothing but warm and fuzzy memories about autumns up in the woods here. If I were planning my ideal Traverse City autumn getaway, I would be sure to stop at Horizon Books downtown and scout out an ideal hammock spot on a lake.

If you have the time and are looking for beautiful outdoor scenery, take a day trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes where you can find some really gorgeous hiking trails and beaches.

Beyond the beaten path, one of my favorite things about the Traverse City area is how many gorgeous spots you can find along the North Country Trail. Tackle any number of day hikes and discover overlooks of river valleys, hidden clear lakes in the woods, bluffs and even beautiful backcountry camping.

Autumn is especially beautiful in this area for watching the salmon run in the crystal clear rivers! You can see this on a majority of the rivers depending on your timing, but by the end of October you can also see the salmon right in the Boardman River in downtown Traverse City.

READ: Ultimate Guide to Traverse City, Michigan

2) Tettegouche State Park, Minnesota

If you’re looking for sweeping views, rugged scenery, and the “edge of the earth” feeling in your fall color quest you may be looking to journey north up to Tettegouche State Park in Minnesota. Personally after several years of living on the North Shore and getting to know this park intimately, I honestly believe this is probably one of the best state parks in the Midwest.

The fall color in Tettegouche State Park is absolutely unbeatable, but keep in mind it changes in stages. At higher elevations and looking inland, you’ll get a slightly earlier show in the first week of October as the hardwood trees change first. Near Lake Superior, the birches and trees nearer the lake tend to hang on an extra week or so. Whenever you choose to visit, you’re in for a treat as the park has so many views to offer.

For a challenging but highly rewarding hike, summit Mount Trudee. At it’s peak, you’ll find sweeping views both of Lake Superior to the south and the Palisade Valley below. The most popular hike in the point is one of the few truly lakeside trails on the Minnesota North Shore — Shovel Point. At less than two miles, follow the cliffs above Lake Superior with dramatic shoreline views. I love hiking this trail because it always really feels like I’m in Northern Maine hiking along the ocean.

Beyond Shovel Point, hike out to High Falls to enjoy fall color at a large and iconic Minnesota waterfall, or explore the many other trails both in the park and outside of it for more overlooks of inland lakes, waterfalls, and fall color opportunities.

READ: 15 Midwest Fall Color Destinations

Tettegouche State Park is just outside of Silver Bay, Minnesota, but many visitors opt instead to basecamp in Grand Marais to the north. Overall, Tettegouche is an especially great fall color destination because it isn’t quite as well-known as many of the other fall color Meccas, but it definietly deserves a spot in the ranking of best fall color destinations of all time.

READ: Ultimate Guide to Tettegouche State Park

3) Porcupine Mountains, Michigan

Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains just might be the prettiest fall destination in the Midwest and one of the most well-known. Despite the park’s notoriety for incredible fall colors, even on peak weekends you’re likely to still be able to find a slice of this large area to yourself. The Porkies are hours away from the nearest major city and truly remote.

For the best fall color views, you absolutely should visit Lake of the Clouds scenic overlook, then hike a portion of the Escarpment Trail. I also recommend checking out the Presque Isle Scenic area for waterfalls. That said, the best way to experience the Porkies is truly a night in the backcountry at one of the backcountry hike-in cabins or gorgeous backpacking sites.

All of these sites are rustic and must be reserved in advance, and permits need to be picked up in person at the Visitor’s Center.

If you’re looking for classic fall color views and scenery that always reminds me of Scotland, the Porcupine Mountains are where you should head next!

READ: Ultimate Guide to the Porcupine Mountains