KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Trees across West Michigan will soon be swathed in color, and what better way to enjoy them than with a drive down a back road in your local area?
The County Road Association of Michigan has teamed up with the state’s 83 county road agencies to develop a list of the best roads for fall color.
The list itself can be found online at the CRA’s new web page called MiBackroads at micountyroads.org.
There, drivers can find a list of fall color drives reflecting the best suggestions from five county road agencies in West Michigan.
Collectively, Michigan’s county road agencies manage 75 percent of all roads in the state, including 90,000 miles of roads and 5,700 bridges.
Peak viewing conditions for West Michigan are expected from October 7 to October 14.
Listed in alphabetical order, the following counties’ best fall color drives are:
West Michigan (Oct. 7-14)
Berrien County
- Blue Star Memorial Highway along Lake Michigan from Van Buren to M-63
- M-63 south to St. Joseph
- Red Arrow Highway from Stevensville to Lakeshore Road in New Buffalo
- Red Arrow Highway to Union Pier then back to Warren Woods Road
- Red Highway to Madron Lake Road in City of Buchanan
Kalamazoo County
- G Avenue – 2nd Street to 6th Street, Alamo/Oshtemo Township
- U Avenue – 29th Street to 32nd Street, Brady Township
- O Avenue – 38th Street to 42nd Street, Climax Township
- 37th Street – M-96 to G Avenue, Charleston/Ross Township
- AB Avenue – Douglas Avenue to 12th Street, Cooper Township
- R Avenue – 29th Street to 34th Street, Pavilion Township
- East CD Avenue – 24th Street to D Avenue, Richland Township
- 5th Street – W Avenue to V Avenue, Prairie Ronde Township
- 39th Street – FG Avenue to M-89, Ross Township
- Y Avenue – Portage Road to 24th Street, Schoolcraft Township
- 8th Street – Texas Drive to O Avenue, Texas Township
- YZ Avenue – 38th Street to 42nd Street, Wakeshma Township
Kent County
- Honey Creek Avenue from Pettis Avenue to Cannonsburg Road
- Bailey Drive from Vergennes Street to Lincoln Lake Avenue
- Fallasburg Park Drive from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue
- 5 Mile Road from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue
- Gavin Lake Road from 5-mile road to Belding Road
- Wabasis Avenue from Belding Road to 12 Mile Road
- Ramsdell Drive from 5 Mile Road to 11 Mile Road
Muskegon County
- Scenic Drive from Memorial Drive to Michillinda Road
- Along Lake Michigan shoreline and Duck Lake
Ottawa County
- Lakeshore Drive from Grand Haven city limits to Ottawa Beach Road/Holland State Park
- Hayes Street from M-11 intersection to Berlin Fair Drive/the Berlin Fairgrounds in Marne
- Leonard Street from intersection on Leonard Street/S. Lake Avenue in Village of Spring Lake to Lamont
- Mercury Drive/Green Street/N. Cedar Drive from Grand Haven to Riverside County Park
