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Updated Sep 28
Pictured: Cuyahoga Valley · typical peak look

Fall foliage near Detroitday trips within 250 miles

Where can I see fall foliage near Detroit?

We track 11 fall foliage places within 250 straight-line miles of Detroit, in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and West Virginia. The nearest is Cuyahoga Valley, about 112 miles away (usually Oct 15–21).

Updated Sep 28. Sources: National Park Service, Best fall colors in Cuyahoga Valley ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Forest Service, Au Sable Vista ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Pick your week

Pick a week: the places usually in their window then light up. Each place's own usual window, or its region's or state's timing where it has none (labeled); not a forecast.

Week of Oct 1

  • Usually peaking this week
  • Other weeks

Usually in peak the week of Oct 1

By distance from Detroit

Straight-line miles; roads are longer
  1. 112 miCuyahoga ValleyUsually Oct 15–21
  2. 141 miAu Sable RiverLocal timing: Oct 1–31
  3. 169 miErie RefugeUsually Oct 11–20
  4. 206 miAllegheny National Forest, PennsylvaniaAt one spot: Oct 8–14
  5. 210 miNiagara Falls, New YorkStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October
  6. 211 miIndiana DunesUsually Oct 11–20
  7. 213 miCook Forest State Park, PennsylvaniaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
  8. 221 miAllegany State Park, New YorkStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October
  9. 228 miOhio River Islands RefugeUsually Oct 11–20
  10. 236 miKinzua Bridge State Park, PennsylvaniaStatewide: usually well under way by late October
  11. 244 miIroquois RefugeLocal timing: Oct 1–10

See two in one trip

Nearby places whose usual fall color windows overlap

Questions people ask

What's the closest fall foliage to Detroit?

Cuyahoga Valley, about 112 straight-line miles away. Usually Oct 15–21.Source: National Park Service, Best fall colors in Cuyahoga Valley ↗ (opens in a new tab)

When is the best week for fall foliage near Detroit?

Usually the week of Oct 15: 7 of the 11 places with timing are in their usual window then (Cuyahoga Valley, Au Sable River, Erie Refuge and Niagara Falls, New York and more). A season can run early or late.Sources: National Park Service, Best fall colors in Cuyahoga Valley ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Forest Service, Au Sable Vista ↗ (opens in a new tab), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, A fall foliage tour of the Northeast ↗ (opens in a new tab), USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Indiana Dunes things to do ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where does the fall color season start first near Detroit?

Au Sable River (141 miles): local timing: Oct 1–31.Source: US Forest Service, Au Sable Vista ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How far are these places from Detroit?

From 112 to 244 straight-line miles; roads are longer. 0 are within 100 miles.