I’ve lived in Wisconsin all my life (except that first year we were married and we were living in the Detroit area). Fall never fails to be beautiful in Wisconsin. In fact, the graphic below features a photo I took at my parent’s home near Fond du Lac. Fall trees do not get much prettier than that! Where we live, in south-central Wisconsin, the color is peaking now. Today was a beautiful fall day and would have been a great day to explore the best fall foliage in beautiful Wisconsin.
It’s the end of October now so further north, the colors are likely fading, but fall is a glorious time to get out and discover all the beautiful fall leaves and autumn scenery that Wisconsin has to offer, so here are just a few of the best areas to do just that!
Hayward Lakes Area
This area of over 50 miles of driving routes through Sawyer County take you right through the gorgeous Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. All of the fall scenic routes are designated by a nice leaf design to follow throughout your way. This is also a popular fall vacation destination, so there are a lot of nice resorts, restaurants, and amazing fishing spots.
Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway
Start your trip along the Bayfield Peninsula on one of their tours and it will take you into Ashland and to the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center. Simply follow Highway 13 and the Lake Superior shore north to the little harbor town of Bayfield and enjoy a nice and scenic day. This will lead you to the Apostle Islands National Seashore which covers 12 miles and has six lighthouses. What a lovely drive this is for water lovers too with is coastal islands to check out along with awesome sea kayaking if you are up for it. Some say it’s some of the best.
Hilltop Color Tour
In central Wisconsin is the Hilltop Fall Color Tour which is where three of Wisconsin’s highest points are located which include, Wausau, Ogema, and Neillsville.
There is a 60-foot observation tower in Rib Mountain State Park that is a can’t miss when you are in this area because the view is so spectacular and is right below to admire and photograph. Another amazing fall foliage drive is near The Highground which is close to Neillsville for it offers gorgeous hillsides and a touching memorial park that is dedicated with sculptures as a tribute for war veterans of Wisconsin.
Lake Geneva Area
Lake Geneva is one of our favorite places in the summer, but don’t miss it in the fall! With close to 20 miles of scenic fall colors to admire in the fall, Lake Geneva is the perfect place. Locals and vacationers have been coming for such a long time and autumn is such a popular time of year. There are many routes to chose from for a long and leisurely scenic drive, such as, R-11, R-12, and R-36 which gives you access to the Lyons State Wildlife Area. The Lake Geneva area is a great place to also enjoy fall colors by visiting the golf courses or heading out on one of the fun cruises on the lake.
Door County
Door County has got to be one of the best destinations in Wisconsin year around, but don’t miss going in the fall to take in everything that autumn in Wisconsin has to offer. As the leaves begin to change ever so slightly and even more so with the further nouth you travel, you will find some of the most breathtaking views near the waters of Lake Michigan. Not only is Door County scenic, you can experience everything fall has to offer including fall festivals, orchard tours, delicious fresh foods at local farmers markets and restaurants. You won’t want to leave! Read more about autumn in Door County, Wisconsin here.
In southern Wisconsin especially, the colors appear darker and are perfect for nature and scenic photography lovers.
One of the best places to check out when the best time to capture Wisconsin’s beautiful fall colors is by referring to http://www.travelwisconsin.com/fall-color-report for the latest and greatest information. Get out there and take it all in this season!
