10/01/2026
🍁🍂🍁 I have a feeling that after this coming week of cooler temps and forecasted rain, we’ll be seeing some beautiful color begin to appear here in Boyne very soon!
As a professional photographer, I’ve kept fairly decent historical records over the years, and looking back at the last five, we’ve typically hit peak color in the Boyne area around October 12-14. The exception was 2021, when we didn’t peak until around October 22!
This time of year is also such a good reminder of why people love living in Northern Michigan. Around here, the lifestyle really is part of the real estate. Lake Charlevoix, trails, ski hills, rivers, vineyards and little towns like Boyne City aren’t just places you visit on the weekend. When you live here, they become part of everyday life. Whether I’m photographing families here or helping someone find a place to call home, I never get tired of showing off what makes this area so special.
So, with fall color right around the corner, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite spots around the BOYNE CITY area this time of year:
📍 Boyne Mountain SkyBridge 🍂
One of our newer area highlights, the Boyne Mountain SkyBridge is a MUST SEE any time of year, but especially when colors are at their peak! The chairlift ride alone and the view from the top of Boyne Mountain are absolutely breathtaking, not to mention standing over the valley on the glass section of the bridge. Boyne Mountain is also a great place to hit the trails on a mountain bike.
📍 Avalanche Mountain 🥾
A favorite for locals and visitors alike. The view of Lake Charlevoix from the top is well worth the 462-step climb! Winding around the backside of the ridge is a 3-mile hiking trail, along with an 8-mile mountain bike trail system.
📍 Kayaking on Deer Lake, Thumb Lake or the Boyne River 🚣♀️
Nothing beats seeing fall color from the water on a warm autumn afternoon, and as an added bonus, the waterways are usually much quieter this time of year.
📍 The Hill Nature Preserve 🥾
The Hill offers beautiful views of Lake Charlevoix and the surrounding ridges that make this area so incredible. It’s accessed by a roughly 2.5-mile trail system that is well marked and easy to follow.
📍 Boyne River Nature Area 🍁
This lesser-known spot is tucked behind Boyne City’s Air Industrial Park off M-75. There’s a rain garden filled with native plants and a pavilion that makes a perfect fall picnic spot. A trail leads down into a heavily wooded wetland area, then continues along the base of the hills with boardwalks and docks where you can stop to fish or simply enjoy the river.
📍 Boyne Valley Vineyards 🍷
What fall color tour is complete without a stop at one of our local vineyards? There are so many great options throughout the Petoskey region, but this one happens to be a favorite of mine. Boyne Valley has a laid-back vibe, accessible hiking trails and gorgeous views from its second-story treehouse. What’s not to love?
Happy leaf peeping!! 🍁🍂🍁
Boyne Area Chamber Boyne Valley Vineyards Friends of the Boyne River
