kent county fall color tour

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Fall Color Tour

West Michigan's abundant forests helped fuel Grand Rapids' rise as "furniture capital of the world" in the late 19th-early 20th centuries. While many hardwoods were sacrificed to sawmills in those years, Grand Rapids remains a tree-lover's paradise.

You’ll see an explosion of fall colors in 150+ local parks , on tree-lined suburban streets , and even alongside expressways as you cruise around town – including a “mountain” of trees that greets you two minutes west of downtown on I-196.

Each year, the Kent County Road Commission releases four fall color routes that showcase the vibrant colors of the season and the natural beauty of the area.

The County Road Association of Michigan identified these Kent County roads as “don’t-miss” destinations for fall color:

• Honey Creek Avenue from Pettis Avenue to Cannonsburg Road
• Bailey Drive from Vergennes Street to Lincoln Lake Avenue
• Fallasburg Park Drive from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue
• 5 Mile Road from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue
• Gavin Lake Road from 5-mile road to Belding Road
• Wabasis Avenue from Belding Road to 12 Mile Road
• Ramsdell Drive from 5 Mile Road to 11 Mile Road

The Grand Ravines' pedestrian bridge is the perfect spot for catching fall color scenery.

Photo by Alina Albin for Experience GR.

Fall Photo Spots

If you want to plan your own driving route, consider these scenic stops for your itinerary. You’ll find all sorts of colorful photo ops as you explore them on foot.

Ada Township Park. This 57-acre park includes a 200-tree arboretum, woodland garden, and nature area with barrier-free warbler trail.

Ada Covered Bridge.  Erected in 1867, this 125-ft. Brown-truss wooden bridge spans the Thornapple River and is open to foot and bicycle traffic. It’s located in Leonard Park , just steps away from the walkable shopping and dining village of Ada .

Blandford Nature Center. An extensive trail network through old-growth forest and a naturalized golf course are ideal for admiring fall’s color palette.

Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens. Hike scenic trails through 100+ acres of forest, wetlands, and a native plant garden for a display of fall finery. Bring binoculars for birdwatching!

Fallasburg Covered Bridge . Opened in 1871, this 100-ft. Brown-truss wooden bridge still accommodates vehicular traffic across the Flat River just north of Lowell. It is adjacent to a forested  county park  crisscrossed with hiking trails . Visit Lowell ’s charming main street, lined with antique shops, art galleries, and restaurants – before or after your tour.

Grand Ravines Park . This Jenison park offers scenic views of the Grand River and a pedestrian bridge, plus a “treehouse” that’s perfect for capturing panoramic vistas of fall color.

Grand River Riverfront Park . Walking paths throughout this Lowell park are lined with fall foliage but the most popular photo spot may be the pedestrian bridge over the Grand River.

Lowell Area Trailway . Staying in Lowell, this 2.5-mile paved pathway connects the Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail with the Wittenbach/Wege Agriscience and Environmental Education Center , which offers another five miles of trails through lush forests, rolling prairies, open fields, and wetlands.

Millennium Park . Just five minutes from downtown, this 1,500-acre park boasts 18 miles of tree-lined hiking/biking trails, many alongside small lakes and the Grand River.

Pickerel Lake Park/Frederik Meijer Nature Preserve. Explore a scenic mix of wetlands, sandy woods, and rolling forest hills and valleys alongside a picturesque 80-acre lake. A 900-ft boardwalk crosses a portion of the lake.

Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery. This 100-year-old family orchard is a favorite fall destination for purchasing or picking 30+ varieties of apples, enjoying cider and homemade baked goods, and engaging with nature via hayrides, a corn maze, a petting zoo, and a mountain bike trail.

Muskegon State Park and Saugatuck State Park . Hike forested sand dunes on the way to Lake Michigan beachfront (and dazzling fall sunsets) at these parks 40-50 minutes from downtown GR.

September and October are prime apple picking months, making it the perfect complementary activity to your fall color tour.

Photo by Polaris, Courtesy of Robinette's

More Fall Fun

Other ideas to supplement your fall color tour:

• See fall foliage from a different perspective – on a leisurely hike/bike ride , alongside a golf fairway , from a canoe or kayak , or as you fish local rivers (it’s salmon and steelhead season!)
• Visit Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park for a different kind of fall color – its annual Chrysanthemums and More! exhibit spans thousands of multi-hued blooms across 158 acres.
• Head to the family farms of  Fruit Ridge Markets  for apples, pumpkins, hayrides, corn mazes, and more.
• Pick your own apples at u-pick apple farms and orchards.
• Enjoy some fresh-pressed fall  cider (and perhaps a just-baked doughnut or two). 
• Try a flight of hard cider on the tucked-in-the-woods patio at Farmhaus Cider – it’s one of many Flights of Flavor food & drink pairings available throughout town.
• Tour local breweries for a taste of pumpkin beer and other seasonal specials.
• Soak up the view from an outdoor restaurant patio – you can see great fall colors at Rose’s on Reeds Lake , Blue Water , Bostwick Lake Inn , Third Nature Brewing  and  Pink Barrel Cellars , among others. Visit during Restaurant Week GR (Nov. 1 - 9, 2024) for special deals on special meals.
• Get a bird’s eye view of the city in fall from MDRD restaurant on the 27 floor of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Lookout Park atop Belknap Bluff or a helicopter tour. 
• Enjoy some man-made color – visit ArtPrize Sep. 13 - 28, 2024 to see hundreds of artworks from international arts, all over downtown Grand Rapids.

WKTV Journal

Where local news matters most.

Kent County has seven roads on the best Michigan roads for color list

By Liam Jackson Capital News Network

As Michigan enters peak color season, local officials across the state have nominated the best roads for motorists to enjoy the changing foliage.

Peak Michigan colors were predicted to start last weekend in the Upper Peninsula and end at the state’s southern border Oct. 29. The County Road Association of Michigan compiled the statewide list of “don’t miss” local roads.

For a complete list of the fall color list, click here .

The more than 120 roads span the state.

There are plenty to choose from.

Michigan has the nation’s fourth-largest local road system. County roads account for 90,000 miles of roads and 5,700 bridges. Although the road association puts the list together, it relies on county officials for scenic road nominations.

All county road commissions were asked what county roads they would recommend to people who are interested in breathtaking fall views, said Dustin Earley, the manager of communications and engagement with the County Road Association of Michigan.

The association asks local commissioners to say, “Look, here’s my favorite road in my backyard,” Earley said.

Fallasburg a favorite in Kent County

“I just think as Michiganders we are really lucky because I’m not sure there is another state that is more beautiful in the fall,” said Maura Lamoreaux, the communications director for the Kent County Road Commission. “You can travel and just enjoy the colors of the season.”

Kent County has seven roads on the “don’t miss” list. Fallasburg Park Drive in Vergennes Township, 15 miles east of Grand Rapids, is one that stands out, Lamoreaux said.

“Fallasburg Park is not only a gorgeous ride, but it is also a beautiful park to take in the fall colors,” she said.

The park’s covered bridge is a registered historical site that celebrated its 150th anniversary last year.

“You kind of feel like you are traveling back in time a little bit,” Lamoreaux said. “There is a sign that says ‘You will be charged $5 for speeding,’ which is a replica of the original sign that was posted on the bridge.”

Kent County promotes a local route with fall scenic views that is hundreds of miles long, Lamoreaux said. The county picks a few stretches of road to add to the statewide list.

Other roads in Kent County

• Honey Creek Avenue from Pettis Avenue to Cannonsburg Road
• Bailey Drive from Vergennes Street to Lincoln Lake Avenue
• 5 Mile Road from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue
• Gavin Lake Road from 5-mile road to Belding Road
• Wabasis Avenue from Belding Road to 12 Mile Road
• Ramsdell Drive from 5 Mile Road to 11 Mile Road

Roads in Ottawa County

• Lakeshore Drive from Grand Haven city limits to Ottawa Beach Road/Holland State Park
• Hayes Street from M-11 intersection to Berlin Fair Drive/the Berlin Fairgrounds in Marne
• Leonard Street from intersection on Leonard Street/S. Lake Avenue in Village of Spring Lake to Lamont
• Mercury Drive/Green Street/N. Cedar Drive from Grand Haven to Riverside County Park

Pure Michigan lists peak color dates by region here:  https://www.michigan.org/fallcolormap

Lakeshore drive popular in the upper peninsula.

Chippewa County in the northeast part of the Upper Peninsula has four roads on the list.

The all-star route is Lakeshore Drive that runs along Lake Superior through the Bay Mills reservation between M-123 and Brimley, said Stephanie Boileau, a road design engineer for the Chippewa County Road Commision. “It doesn’t matter what time of year, it’s gorgeous.”

The route features Lake Superior, a tree canopy, the Bay Mills reservation, the Point Iroquois Lighthouse and multiple access points to beaches.  

“It’s fantastic,” said Boileau. “It’s a road that makes you think, ‘Yes, this is why people love the Upper Peninsula so much.’”

When suggesting roads for the “don’t miss” list, she thinks about people looking to do fall color tours, Boileau said.

“We are looking for those deciduous hardwood trees, the ones that do turn color,” she said. “I also look at what other scenic opportunities you have besides trees. Is there interesting topography? Are there places to pull off and access recreational areas like a beach or state park?”

She prefers more rural areas and avoids submitting commuter routes.

It’s all about getting the best views

“Peak color means that if you can make it to that area within that time frame, you are probably increasing your chances at getting the best views of that color,” Earley said. “Earlier, things are just coming on and near the end of that date the leaves are starting to turn brown and fall off the trees.”

The association lists the roads every year. It subtracts roads undergoing construction or if the county chooses to have it removed. But the list is growing, not shrinking, Earley said.

Tourists are not the only ones benefiting from scenic fall tours in Michigan.

“Most everyone benefits when we have a good fall color season,” said Tony Haller, the executive director of the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our restaurants benefit from it, our hotels benefit from it, all our convenience stores and gas stations get people filling up for gas while they make their tours.

“I couldn’t name a favorite, but that’s the beauty of this list. It’s really the experts of these areas that are helping us list these roads.”

ABOUT  LIAM JACKSON

Liam Jackson is a journalist from Trenton, Michigan. He enrolled at Michigan State in 2018. His journalistic interests include feature stories and sports journalism. In addition to writing for Spartan Newsroom, Liam has also served as the News Editor and Sports Editor at Impact 89FM.

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Best routes for viewing fall colors

The Kent County Road Commission color tour guides travelers along picturesque routes throughout Kent County. Each year, as the region’s fall colors come into view, the road commission lists the routes it anticipates will reveal the most vibrant colors and showcase the natural beauty of the area. 

The road commission began tracking color tour routes in the 1950s, but the practice fell to the wayside for a number of years until it was revived in 2016.

 “The natural beauty of Michigan is hard to surpass during the autumn season. We have designed various routes throughout Kent County to help residents experience the splendor of the changing fall colors,” said Steve Warren, KCRC’s managing director. 

The routes can be driven individually for shorter trips or connected for longer outings. Along the way, day trippers can stop at nearby public parks that offer opportunities for nature walks and picnics or discover local shops, restaurants, farm stands and activities.

Fallasburg Covered Bridge in Fallasburg Park is located along the Eastern Kent County Color Tour Route. Built in 1871 ,it is one of the few covered bridges remaining in Michigan and the oldest that sits on its original site, open to traffic. The Western Kent County Color Tour Routes feature apple orchards, while the Northern Kent County routes will guide drivers to higher elevations with scenic vistas. 

Download the Kent County Color Tour Guide here .

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Photo Gallery: Kent County Fall Color Tour

Fall color in Michigan was impressive this year, and some pockets of yellow, orange, and red leaves remain across the state. We had a chance to get out and explore the Kent County fall color tour before the colors near Grand Rapids had disappeared, and today our photo gallery will showcase some of the things we saw. The Kent County Road Commission published a guide to five sections of the county and the best routes in each part, taking visitors through small towns, past parks and recreation areas, and around all of the usual prime color spots. You can choose to explore the Southeast (Caledonia, Lowell, Cascade), Southwest (Byron Center, Cutton, Cutlerville), East (Ada, Cannonsburg, Vergennes), West (Alpine, Plainfield), or North (Cedar Springs, Sparta, Rockford) tours or combine them all to see the entire county.

From the Kent County Road Commission: “The five routes guide motorists, cyclists and other travelers along county roads showcasing picturesque seasonal scenes.  Along the way, travelers can enjoy Kent County and township parks, each with its own unique character and recreational opportunities. This year’s routes are being designed to avoid active road improvement projects. Drivers are reminded to stay alert for work zones and obey caution signs. Also, fall colors equates to fall harvest. When driving through agricultural areas, drivers must exercise caution, stay alert and remember that farm vehicles moving from field to field cannot turn and brake as easily as passenger vehicles. Slow down, be patient and enjoy a leisurely drive!”

The five routes pass by more than 20 Kent County Parks, helping showcase the outdoor recreation opportunities available near Grand Rapids. The trails at these parks are a great starting point for fall color, and many of these parks are near rivers or streams. Farms and barns provide excellent backdrops for photography. To see maps for these routes head to  https://www.kentcountyroads.net/blog/2020-color-tour-of-kent-county . 2020 was another great year for fall color and we can’t wait to head out on another Kent County fall color tour in 2021!

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Fall Color Tour 2020, hit the open road

The fall color tour is back in Kent County , giving Michiganders the chance to explore parts of the Mitten State they’ve likely never seen before.

The Kent County Road Commission is releasing their updated tour as autumn colors are expected to peak throughout the area on October 12. Each week KCRC will unveil a new route on their webpage and social media outlets. These routes can be driven individually for shorter trips or connected for longer outings. Click here for the first map release, stretching throughout East Kent County . Steve Warren, managing director with KCRC says Michiganders can use the maps to guide them along some of the prettiest geography Michigan has to offer.

“We’ve picked new routes, something that we look at each year to highlight some of the best roads in the county,” Warren said.

KCRC has been offering this scenic tour since the 1950s. This year’s routes interweave 175 miles of road improvements with stops at local hot spots like Seidman Park and Fallasburg Park . Tourists are encouraged to take pictures and post them online with the tag #lovefallroads . You can also tag KCRC @mikcrc on social media.

Warren warns the public to keep an eye out for possible construction and give our road crews a ‘brake’. "I want to emphasize that as people are out traveling our roads, give those construction workers a break. Make sure that they're traveling safely through our work sites."

Warren says the tour is a great way to release pent-up cabin fever stemming from the pandemic and a safe way to enjoy the fall foliage from your own vehicle.

In 2019, the color tour encompassed over 240 miles divided into nine routes, showcasing some of the county's most colorful roadways. So buckle up, take pictures, and have fun.

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Best West Michigan county roads for fall color

• Published: Oct. 07, 2020, 9:39 a.m.

A forest near Wabasis Lake in Kent County shines gold. Photo by Neil Blake | MLive.com Neil Blake | MLive

• Emily Bingham | [email protected]

LANSING, MICH. -- Fall color tours are a time-honored tradition this time of year in Michigan, but they’re especially wonderful this year in particular, considering that they’re a safe, social-distance friendly activity for getting out and enjoying the seasonal beauty.

The County Road Association of Michigan, which collectively manages 75 percent of all roads in the state, might know Michigan’s roads better than anybody -- which is why the organization annually releases lists of fall color routes by region to help people decide where to go for the best autumn views.

This week the focus is on best drives in five counties along Michigan’s west side.

“West Michigan is bursting with color at this time of year, and taking a fall color tour is an excellent way to take in the beauty of the fall leaves,” said Denise Donohue, the CRA’s executive director. “It’s a safe activity for all to enjoy during these unprecedented times.”

In previous weeks, the CRA has released a list of best Upper Peninsula drives as well as best county road drives in Northern Michigan , Southeastern Michigan , and Mid-Michigan . Each list is shared on the organization’s Facebook page .

Peak fall color in West Michigan is expected from October 7 -14, according to the CRA.

Listed in alphabetical order, the following counties' best fall color drives are: 

Berrien County

• Blue Star Memorial Highway along Lake Michigan from Van Buren to M-63
• M-63 south to St. Joseph
• Red Arrow Highway from Stevensville to Lakeshore Road in New Buffalo
• Red Arrow Highway to Union Pier then back to Warren Woods Road
• Red Highway to Madron Lake Road in City of Buchanan

Kalamazoo County

• Q Avenue – 10th Street to 12th Street, Texas Township
• U Avenue – 4th Street to 8th Street, Prairie Ronde Township
• W Avenue – 8th Street to Schoolcraft Village Limits, Prairie Ronde Township
• 14th Street – Lyons Avenue to U Avenue, Schoolcraft Township
• U Avenue – Portage Road to 23rd Street, Schoolcraft Township
• V Avenue – Canadian National Railroad to 28th Street, Brady Township
• 28th Street – V Avenue to UV Avenue, Brady Township
• 34th Street – UV Avenue to V Avenue, Brady Township

Kent County

• Honey Creek Avenue from Pettis Avenue to Cannonsburg Road
• Cannonsburg Road from Honey Creek Avenue to 5 Mile Road
• 5 Mile Road from Cannonsburg Road to Lincoln Lake Avenue
• Lincoln Lake Avenue from 5 Mile Road to 3 Mile Road
• 3 Mile Road from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Fallasburg Park Drive
• Fallasburg Park Drive from 3 Mile Road to Lincoln Lake Avenue
• Bailey Drive from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Vergennes Street

Muskegon County

• Scenic Drive from Memorial Drive to Michillinda Road
• Along Lake Michigan shoreline and Duck Lake

Ottawa County

• Lakeshore Drive from Grand Haven city limits to Ottawa Beach Road/Holland State Park
• Hayes Street from M-11 intersection to Berlin Fair Drive/the Berlin Fairgrounds in Marne
• Leonard Street from intersection on Leonard Street/S. Lake Avenue in Village of Spring Lake to Lamont
• Mercury Drive/Green Street/N. Cedar Drive from Grand Haven to Riverside County Park

12 of Michigan’s most dazzling fall color drives

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