Photos show fall bursting into color in Northern Michigan

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Brilliant pops of oranges and reds are quickly taking over the landscape as Northern Michigan reaches peak fall color.

MLive photographer Joel Bissell ventured up M-37 on Old Mission Peninsula to check out the fall colors.

READ MORE: Peak fall color racing across Michigan; See where colors pop the most now

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

An aerial image of fall colors and a farm on Old Mission Peninsula in Grand Traverse County on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

One of the first stops of the day was at the Center Road Scenic Overlook, a hard to miss stop on M-37 near Chateau Grand Traverse. It provides sweeping views of the bay, vineyards and of course breathtaking fall colors.

The well-traveled peninsula features a wine trail with nearly a dozen wineries located up the peninsula’s spine.

Colors were vibrant up the peninsula, and were starting to emerge at Old Mission State Park, the northernmost point on the peninsula.

RELATED: Stretch of beautiful Michigan fall colors leads to this tranquil remote wilderness area

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

An aerial image as fall colors emerge by Mission Point Lighthouse at Old Mission State Park in Grand Traverse County on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Across the West Arm of the Grand Traverse Bay, Bissell traveled along one of Michigan’s most iconic routes, M-22.

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

An aerial image of fall colors along Long Lake, Rush Lake and Platte Lake in Benzie County, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Throughout the course of the Oct. 19 weekend, Bissell searched for fall colors across Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie and Manistee counties.

Colors glistened around Acadia on Sunday, as seen in the image below from Arcadia Scenic Turnout.

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

The view of Arcadia and Lake Michigan captured from Inspiration Point/Arcadia Scenic Turnout along M-22 in Manistee County, Mich. on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Located on M-22 in Manistee County, the overlook also known as Inspiration Point, features spectacular views of Lake Michigan.

Roadways in Northern Michigan were busy throughout the sunny weekend, with thousands of people taking in Michigan’s fall spectacle.

Below are some of his favorite images

Click here for a full fall color gallery.

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

A convertible drives past fall colors along US-31 in Manistee County, Mich. on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

A vehicle drives through fall colors along Day Farm Road in Leelanau County, Mich. on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. To the right is D.H. Day Farm at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

Visitors on the dune climb at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Leelanau County, Mich. on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

An aerial image of fall colors along Platte River watershed in Benzie County, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

Fall colors and a dock on Long Lake in Benzie County, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

A piece of birch in a pile of fallen leaves in Benzie County, Mich. on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

A boat cruises past fall colors on South Lake Leelanau near the Narrows in Lake Leelanau, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

Boats docked in the Narrows in Lake Leelanau, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. The Narrows divide Lake Leelanau into north and south lakes.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

Fall colors along Lakeshore Drive along South Lake Leelanau in Leelanau County, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

Cows feed as fall colors pop along Lakeshore Drive along South Lake Leelanau in Leelanau County, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

An aerial image of fall colors and vineyards on Old Mission Peninsula in Grand Traverse County on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

A vehicle passes color colors along M-22 near Suttons Bay, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

An aerial image of fall colors at Long Lake in Benzie County, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

Renovation work inside the Sleeping Bear Inn in Glen Haven, Mich., the lodge in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore recently reopened after it was shuttered in the 1970s. The getaway is the oldest inn in a national park, predating Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone Park and was built sometime around 1866.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

Fall colors along M-72 in Leelanau County, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

A vehicle drive along 109/Dune Highway at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Leelanau County, Mich. on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

A motorcycle drives past fall colors on M-22 in Leelanau County, Mich. on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

An aerial image of fall colors by Crystal Lake in Benzie County, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

A vehicle drives along M-22 in Benzie County, Mich. on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

A bald eagle perched in a nest in Benzie County, Mich. on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

The view of Arcadia captured from Inspiration Point/Arcadia Scenic Turnout along M-22 in Manistee County, Mich. on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

Sleeping Bear Dunes can be seen from Benzie County, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

A vehicle drives through fall colors along Day Farm Road in Leelanau County, Mich. on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Northern Michigan Fall Colors 2024

A barn with fall colors along Lakeshore Drive in Cedar, Mich. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

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