Chase Fall Colors in the U.P.

Route 1: Lake Antoine - Old Faceful, Pine Creek Bluffs

From Iron Mountain, head north 1 mile to Lake Antoine/Quinnesec Road.

Drive along the scenic north shore to Lake Antoine Park (3 miles), which offers a beach, picnic area, playground, and fishing.

From there, turn left out of the park onto Upper Pine Creek Road and follow to Pine Creek Bluffs (8 miles) for a great sunset view.

Continue south on Upper Pine to Boundary Line Road (9 miles). Turn left on Boundary Line Road.

Follow Boundary Line Road for about 1 mile, then turn right onto Valley View Road (10 miles).

Follow Valley View Road, turn right on Scenic Road (12 miles), and you'll end up back on US 2 West.

Take US 2 west. At the 15-mile mark, Fumee Falls Roadside Park will be on your right. This is a delightful little falls with a few stairs to take to the top.

US 2 West will take you back to Iron Mountain.

Route 2: Scenic Mine Outlook, Metropolitan Mountain, Sturgeon River Drive

From US 2 at Waucedah, take County Road 569 (Waucedah/Foster City Road) north 16 miles to historic Foster City, the site of an old saw mill.

Bonus route: Boarding House Road gives you some beautiful overviews of farms and color, but it does dead-end, so you'll have to retrace.

From Foster City, head west on Hwy 69 toward Felch (suggestion: stop at Red Arrow Tavern for a bite to eat).

Take scenic Metropolitan Road, just past Felch. It is a beautiful road to take, and you'll go right by the historic Zion Lutheran Church.

You can go back out to Hwy 69 on Church Road, Cow Pass Road, or Tower Road, or stay on Metropolitan Road until it comes back out to Hwy 69.

Turn onto Hwy 69 West to Hwy M-95 South, to get back to Iron Mountain or continue to Routes #3 or #4.

Bonus stop: Randville Bar and the Tom King Native American memorial (across the street from the tavern).

Route 3: Peavy Falls Dam, Beautiful Michigamme River

This route takes you to two beautiful, secluded sites.

From M-69 in Sagola, head west and turn left to explore the Peavy Falls Dam.

Continue on to the Michigamme Dam.

Both areas provide quiet, public fishing spots in a scenic wilderness setting.

Route 4: Rock Dam, Carney Lake, Rock Lake, Pine Creek Bluffs

Note: This tour is a little more rugged, with some logging roads.

From Iron Mountain, take US 2 West to M-95 North (4 mi). Turn right (east) onto Sportsmen's Club Road.

Drive 2 miles to Carney Lake Road, then turn right again (south).

Drive 1 mile through a former gravel pit to a fork in the road—stay right onto the forest service road, which is curvy but manageable in summer (in winter, AWD or 4WD is recommended).

Drive 1 mile, watch for a dirt lane on the left marked with a "Rock Dam" sign on a red pine. Turn left onto this lane.

Park at the turnaround and walk across the wooden bridge over Hosking Creek to reach Pine Creek and Rock Dam Falls.

Continue through Pine Creek Bluffs to Carney and Rock Lakes (both have public access).

You will need to retrace a portion of the route, with the option to head north to M-95 at Merriman.

Route 5: Picturesque Hydraulic Falls, Giant Pine Mountain Ski Hill

This short drive offers some of the area's best scenery, including a mix of urban and industrial areas.

Take Kramer Drive off Walker/Lower Pine Mountain Road. Follow Kramer Drive to the top of the hill.

Visit Pine Mountain – home to the largest ski jump in the US (176 feet tall on a hill that's nearly 600 feet above the surrounding landscape) – and the UP Veterans Memorial, with spectacular views from the ski lift and jump.

Continue to the Hydraulic Falls Dam for magnificent views from above.

Route 6: Piers Gorge, the Menominee River at its best

From Norway, take US 8 South then turn right just across from True North Outpost to reach Piers Gorge.

A Michigan or Wisconsin Parks pass is needed and is available on-site.

A short drive and walk will take you to a striking stretch of the Menominee River.

Return to US 8 and continue to US 141.

Drive through the beautiful town of Niagara with the precipice on your right, then head back to US 2.