Ten places worth the turn.
Waterfalls, rapids, trails, overlooks, and quiet places that reward getting off the main road. These are the ten places we would build a fall drive around.
A series of cascading falls along the Ontonagon River, with a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk and six viewing platforms near the base.
A short 0.7-mile out-and-back trail leads to the rushing Paint River, where rocky shores and rapids offer one of the county's unique fall-color views. Allow about 20 minutes.
A 2.5-mile paved, wheelchair-accessible trail follows the old ore-hauling rail line between Caspian and Iron River, passing the Iron County Museum and connecting visitors to the county's mining history.
A 3.5-mile multi-use trail system winds through the forest on the southwest side of Crystella Ski Hill, offering a scenic route for hiking and biking in Crystal Falls.
A 30-minute hike on the primitive Ge-Che Trail leads to Orville's Bench overlooking Lake Ottawa, where a pristine shoreline and evidence of habitation dating back at least 2,000 years add depth to the experience.
A county park on Chicaugon Lake, held since 1924 to preserve the Ojibwa burial ground within it — one of the fourteen Iron County Heritage Trail sites, and a place where the color comes off the water as much as off the trees.
A 0.5-mile hike through the Ottawa National Forest leads to three cascading drops, offering a rugged waterfall experience for those willing to venture off the beaten path.
A former iron-ore mine reclaimed by nature, Fortune Pond is now a remarkably clear, deep-water destination tucked into Iron County's forest. In fall, the surrounding hardwoods frame the blue-green water, revealing a landscape where the county's mining history and wild character meet.
A 2-mile nature trail winds through Bewabic State Park on Fortune Lake, with swimming, paddling, fishing, and camping adding plenty of ways to explore the park.
A scenic overlook above Lake of the Clouds offers sweeping views across forested hills and one of the U.P.'s most memorable fall-color landscapes.
Bonus gem
Not one of the ten, but worth the drive.
Brule Mountain sits above the surrounding hardwoods, where the higher elevation brings a different perspective on fall. From the slopes and surrounding roads, the forest opens into long views across Iron County, with color stretching over the rolling hills and valleys below. It is one of those places where going a little higher changes the view completely.
Make a trip of it.
A driving itinerary
Turn the ten gems into a route that makes sense for a day on the road.
Where to eat
Find places to stop for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or something quick between gems.
Where to stay
Find a place to settle in after a day exploring Iron County.
What's happening
See fall events and local happenings worth building your trip around.
More to explore
Find trails, lakes, recreation, and other ways to spend your time here.
Plan your trip
Tell our AI travel assistant what you want to do, and get help building your Iron County trip.
Plan Your Fall Color Drive
Explore the interactive map to see how fall color moves across the U.P. and start planning your drive through Iron County.
Fall color dates are approximate
- Early colorSept 15–21
- Building colorSept 22–30
- Peak colorOct 1–7
- Late colorOct 8–15
- 01Bond Falls
- 02Horserace Rapids
- 03Apple Blossom Trail
- 04Iron Endurance Trail System
- 05Orville's Bench
- 06Pentoga Park
- 07Duppy Falls
- 08Fortune Pond Quarry
- 09Bewabic State Park
- 10Lake of the Clouds
- 11Brule Mountain
Explore 10 hidden gems across Iron County, plus a bonus stop at Brule Mountain.
Early color
September 15–21
The first turn shows in the high western country and along the ridges. Most of the peninsula is still green.
At this point in the season, these gems are typically in their best color window
Color timing varies with weather, elevation and year. These dates are a seasonal guide, not a guarantee.
Where to stay in Iron County
AmericInn
by Wyndham
Chicaugon
Lake Inn
Lakeshore Motel
Ice Lake
Pioneer
Lodge
Ski Brule
Village
Tall
Pines