We are not just about the beach and water in Northern Michigan. Fall is a uniquely special time that blows by quickly up in Northern Leelanau County! We welcome you to plan your fall colors road trip around our area and stop by attractions and activities to fill your day around Northport and Omena.
As reported by MLive, their list of leelanau county roads includes TWO in our area for the BEST Fall Colors viewing. Read the full article here and make sure to view our area map with all the area attractions.
Below are some directions to our insiders guide for additional Fall Colors Drives!

 
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M22

The most well known road in the area, and for a good reason. M22 wraps around the entire peninsula from Traverse City up to the Village of Northport, where it turns south, then winds around farms and sand dunes before you drive through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and ends in Manistee.

 

Northern Leelanau Roads Loop

Some of the best sights during the fall are inland! Follow below for our insider’s guide to the best country roads to tour in Northern Leelanau County for Fall Colors!

  • Start in Omena

    • Option 1: Take a left across from Leelanau Cellars up Co. Rd. 626, Thatch towards Sunset Lodge and continue on to Overlook Road, Co. Rd. 631 (the road will turn right, follow the arrow). At the end of overlook, turn left onto M22.

    • Option 2: Just take M22 North towards Northport!

  • Turn onto Lee Man Road which starts to take you up the hills. You will come to a stop sign, and continue left to N Mathison Rd. The road narrows and you will pass Northport Pottery then around the bend to this view below!

Horizon off of n. Mathison Rd.

Horizon off of n. Mathison Rd.

Here is where you choose your adventure!

  • Turn left onto Swede Rd. Co Rd 633

  • At the end of Swede, turn right onto Omena Rd (Co Rd 626) then at the end, turn right to continue on 626, which turns into Jacobson.

  • At the end of Jacobson, turn right onto Jelinek Rd. Go slow around Jelinek as it is orchard harvest season, plus you don’t want to miss the view of N Manitou Island!

  • Turn Right on M22 to go to Northport

  • Turn Left to go to Leland

  • Turn right onto Swede Rd Co Rd 633

  • At the end of Swede, turn left on M22

  • Traveling south on M22, turn right on Carlson Rd. As Carlson Rd comes down a hill, turn left on Onomonee Rd. just before the orchard to access Gill’s Pier / Onomonee Rd. Beach at the end of the County Rd. When you are done at the beach, come back the way you came and turn left onto Carlson Rd. to view one of the most picturesque historic barns in the area to the left. Continue right on Johnson Rd. till it ends at M22.

  • Turn Left on M22 to go to Northport

  • Turn Right to go to Leland

Going South toward Leland
Want to continue your scenic drive, turn left onto N. Eagle Highway just passed Gills Pier Ranch, then turn right to continue on N. Eagle Hwy all the way to Lake Leelanau.

Going North through Northport:
Continue all the way up 201 to the lighthouse at Leelanau State Park or make stops at some of the trails and beaches north of town.

Coming Back South from the Lighthouse:
On your way back into town, there are a series of country roads that lead to some of our favorite trails and parks.

  • Just past Woolsey Lake Airport, Turn right onto Howell rd. which will end and turn left into Ottis Rd. At the end of Ottis Rd, turn right on Kehl rd and to Kehl Lake Natural Area.
    OR

  • If you don’t want to get a hike around the lake, turn left on Kehl Rd which will turn right into Sugar Bush rd.
    Sugar Bush rd ends, and you can turn right onto Kilcherman Rd which will turn left into Christmas Cove Rd. At the end, you will find Christmas Cove Beach.

  • When you are finished at the beach, you can come back up Christmas Cove Rd and it will end at 201. Take a right onto 201 (Mill St.) back into Northport.

  • Another great country road to take for fall color views is Peterson Park road down to the park and beach access. On your way back into town, turn right out of peterson park and follow Fox View to Melkild Rd which turns into 3rd street in town.

 

Best Stops along the way

North of Northport

Lighthouse West

Grand Traverse Lighthouse

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Another unique Leelanau Conservancy trail just south of the State Park, off of Cathead Bay. This area was once a farm. However, the most interesting part of this protected natural area is the natural prehistoric lakeshore edge towards the lake.

The park is home to the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum, a rustic campground, a picnic area, and new children’s play area.

 

M22 South

Green Bird Cellars

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This is the best time to visit Green Bird Cellars!

Just across Swede Rd, just about a mile down the dirt road follow the signs back to their little slice of farmland!

Houdek Dunes

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Fall is a wonderful time to visit the Leelanau Conservancy trails in our area. At Houdek Dunes, you can wind through forest trails with 1 to 3+ mile loops!