As the autumn colors deepen, both in the United States and Canada, driving or hiking can lead to heavenly landscapes. Let’s refer to the latest viewing reports below and fully explore the beauty of autumn.
In a typical year, the peak window for viewing fall foliage is usually from mid-September to late October. However, due to the influence of El Niño this year, the peak period has been delayed by a few weeks. The warm autumn brought by El Niño allows foliage enthusiasts to enjoy the beauty outdoors without enduring the cold.
“Color changes in leaves are triggered by a drop in nighttime temperatures or a cooling trend, so in this warm autumn brought by El Niño, color changes in some areas may be slightly delayed, or the duration of autumn colors may be extended,” said Susan Dudley, a biology professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, to Global News.
Lake Superior, shared by the United States and Canada, surrounded by Ontario, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, is an excellent place to admire autumn colors. Here are the latest autumn color guides released by “Lake Superior Magazine.”
Minnesota’s North Shore puts on one of the region’s most spectacular autumn color displays every year. Inland maples turn red first, followed by the birch and aspen trees along the shores of Lake Superior gradually changing color.
Visitors can drive along the North Shore Scenic Drive or visit Gooseberry Falls State Park, Tettegouche State Park, and hike while enjoying the autumn colors. They can also visit the Sawtooth Mountains near Lutsen and Oberg Mountain to overlook vast stretches of colorful autumn leaves from high vantage points.
The North Shore usually experiences two peak fall foliage periods, which means there might be significant differences in maple leaf conditions between the lakeshore and the higher inland areas.
Check out the latest fall color conditions:
Minnesota DNR Fall Color Finder
Driving around Bayfield Peninsula on Highway 13 in Wisconsin is a classic self-drive route for admiring the autumn colors of Lake Superior.
Along the way, visitors can stop in Bayfield to gaze across the lake at the Apostle Islands or continue westward through forests to Brule.
Another option is to take a ferry to Madeline Island. The trails there and the coastline of Big Bay State Park seamlessly blend the deep blue waters of Lake Superior with the vibrant autumn hues.
Check out the latest fall color conditions:
Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan boasts hundreds of miles of autumn color landscapes. Visitors can head to the Keweenaw Peninsula, travel north along the M-26 and US-41 highways to Copper Harbor, or explore waterfalls and colorful forests in the Porcupine Mountains.
Another popular choice is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, where visitors can appreciate brilliant fall foliage along with sandstone cliffs and the expansive views of Lake Superior.
Due to the peninsula’s extensive lakefront, as the autumn colors progress, there are always beautiful places worth visiting.
Check out the latest fall color conditions:
Explore Fall Michigan Color Map
In Ontario, Canada, the rugged terrain creates stunning autumn scenery. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park along Highway 587 offers colorful views, while the Thunder Bay Lookout and other observation points present vast autumn forests and Lake Superior.
Lake Superior Provincial Park combines colorful broadleaf forests with rugged lakefronts located between Wawa and Sault Ste. Marie, making it another popular spot for fall foliage.
For hiking enthusiasts, trails like Nokomis, Awausee, or Orphan Lake are great options. Alternatively, for a more relaxed journey, driving along the Trans-Canada Highway within the park also offers spectacular autumn vistas.
Check out the latest fall color conditions:
Ontario Parks
One of the most famous spots for leaf-peeping in Canada is the Maple Road stretching across Ontario and Quebec, along with the highly-regarded Algonquin Provincial Park.
● Popular maple-leaf viewing spots for residents of Toronto.
● The maple leaf season typically concentrates from late September to early October.
● Major attractions include Highway 60, lakes, forests, and hills.
● On September 25, 2026, the Ontario Parks issued a report indicating that Algonquin has approximately 80% of its leaves changed, mainly displaying yellow and orange hues.
● Official data shows that Sugar Maples and Red Maples usually reach their peak colors from the last week of September to the first week of October.
● Algonquin Provincial Park
● Agawa Canyon
● Muskoka
● Niagara Parkway / Niagara Falls
● Thousand Islands
● Blue Mountain
● Mont-Tremblant
● Laurentians / Laurentides
● Charlevoix
● Canyon Sainte-Anne
● Mount Royal Park
● Prince Edward Island
● Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia
● Fundy National Park in New Brunswick
● VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver
● Whistler
1. The Berkshires, Massachusetts:
Mohawk Trail, Mount Greylock
2. Blue Ridge Parkway, VA/NC:
Milepost 355-469, Linn Cove Viaduct
1. Adirondack Mountains, New York:
High Peaks Scenic Byway, Lake Placid
2. Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire:
Sabbaday Falls, Hancock Overlook
3. Logan Canyon Scenic Byway, Utah:
Bear Lake Overlook, Tony Grove Lake
4. Green Mountain Byway, Vermont:
Smugglers’ Notch
5. Great Lakes Region:
Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois
1. Acadia National Park, Maine:
Cadillac Mountain, Park Loop Road
2. Traverse City, Michigan:
M-22 Scenic Drive, Sleeping Bear Dunes
3. Pere Marquette State Park, Illinois:
Great River Road, Park Trails
4. Connecticut River Valley, Connecticut:
Essex Steam Train, River Cruises
5. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio:
Brandywine Falls, Scenic Railroad
6. Door County, Wisconsin:
Peninsula State Park, Highway 42
7. Poconos, Pennsylvania:
Bushkill Falls, Route 402
Eastern Mountains:
Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
1. Ozark Mountains, Arkansas:
Scenic Byway 7, Ozark National Forest
2. Buckhorn Lake State Park, Kentucky:
Laurel Fork Creek, Park Overlook
3. Vogel State Park, Georgia:
Blood Mountain, Lake Trahlyta
1. Gatlinburg & Smoky Mountains, Tennessee:
Clingmans Dome, Newfound Gap Road
2. Colorado:
Maroon Bells in Aspen, Rocky Mountain National Park
3. Sierra Nevada Mountains, California:
395 Highway + wilderness areas