Where to see leaves change as Washtenaw County nears peak fall color

admin 0 Comments October 15, 2022

, 2022-10-15 09:00:00,

After a slow start to leaf peeping season, Southern Michigan is finally seeing the brilliant colors of fall.

Last week, MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrosa identified a trend of cold, near-freezing mornings that caused rapid development in fall color to sweep across the northern part of the state. This week, chilly mornings and overnight frost in Washtenaw County have begun to bring the color out of leaves in our corner of the state.

MLive photographers spent the week checking all corners of the county for colorful autumn scenes. Check out the gallery above to get an idea of what to expect when you visit the popular fall color sites below.

Boaters paddle down the Huron River as fall colors show along the Border-to-Border Trail between Dexter and Ann Arbor on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Dexter-Huron, Delhi and Hudson Mills Metroparks

Southeast Michigan’s Huron-Clinton Metroparks provide a perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of Metro Detroit and embrace the natural beauty of fall color. Washtenaw County is home to Delhi Metropark, Dexter-Huron Metropark and Hudson Mills Metropark, all of which are connected by the Washtenaw County Border-to-Border Trail along the Huron River. Bridges over the river offer serene fall scenes like the one above. The Metroparks can be entered by trail, or parking is available for $10 per day or via a $40 annual pass for Washtenaw, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, or Wayne County residents. Non-residents can get an annual pass for $45.

Fall Colors across Washtenaw County — Fall colors show at Rolling Hills Park in Ypsilanti Township on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Rolling Hills County Park

Not far from rural U-Pick farms, Rolling Hills County Park offers 439 acres of year-round outdoor activities from sledding and disc golf to a pool and waterpark. In the fall, it’s best toured on foot or by mountain bike along its many miles of trails. Washtenaw County residents may enter the park for $6 per day or pay $30 for a yearly pass. For non-residents, the fee is $10 daily or $45 per year.

Manchester, Milan and Southern Washtenaw County

Rural southwestern Washtenaw County offers rolling tree-lined gravel roads, historic barns and farmland, nature preserves just minutes away from shopping, dining and events in cities like Manchester, Saline and Milan.