2025 Autumn Colors in Michigan

 Michigan has had beautiful fall colors all the way into November this year.  Here are some parks and places we visited this Fall. 

October 14 2025 Ludington State Park 

October 14 2025

Gales Pond County Park in Oceana County

October 15

Stearns Creek County Park (north)

October 17 

Hofma Preserve, Grand Haven Township Park

October 19 2025

Connor Bayou Park, Ottawa County

October 21 2025 

Hofma Preserve, Grand Haven Township Park

October 21 2025

Stearns Creek Park, Ottawa County Park

October 24 2025

Rosy Mound Natural Area, Ottawa County Park

Barred Owl along the trail at Rosy Mound.

October 25 2025 Hofma Preserve

Tulip Tree

The leaves started to change color here around the middle of October.  The trees held their leaves a long time.  

Most mornings I have been riding my bike around the neighborhood. Every day I pedaled past the most colorful tree.  Finally, one day I stopped and took a picture.

Next post Wedding Anniversary trips up north. And more Fall color!

Grand River Ravines North in November

2011 November 07
Grand River Ravines North

The new entrance on 42nd Ave (just south of Luce St and south of Grand Valley State University) is open, parking is about 1/2 mile from the Grand River.

We walked the .5 miles on a paved drive, to the left of us was a deep ravine,

to the right was a field full of dried wildflowers.  And Tulip trees!

                    Leaf of the Tulip Tree

As we neared the river we veered off to the north, up over the hills to a wonderful ravine where we found Paw Paw trees!  Up maybe15 feet off the ground we spied the brown fruit of the Paw Paw. 

We managed to knock it free to examine it.  It was very ripe.  We found the seeds are quite large, well it is a big fruit.  I think this is about as far north as Paw Paws grow in the wild.

 Eww!

                        Paw Paw seed

              Leaf of the Paw Paw tree
We headed up over the next hill into another ravine, no Paw Paw here.  This property is part of GVSU I think, but there are no signs to indicate that.   At some point we went a bit inland along a creek, and admired more ravines and hills.  Then we went back to the main part of the park which has a house and pole barn on it.  Grand River Ravines North is ~ 1.25 miles south of M-45 along the Grand River.

    Grand River


We walked through the small covered bridge near the edge of the river, and found mustard plants blooming. 

We also found  goldenrod, asters, and  Chicory with flowers.  This was in November, that's late for wildflowers to be blooming in Michigan.


We walked south of the house and saw an American Bald Eagle high up in a tree next to a nest. 

We wandered through the woods then walked to the van.

          Cool Tree

                        Dried Asters

House and barn at Grand River Ravines North
Here are more signs...

It was 59 degrees at 1 pm on November 7!  Beautiful day for a walk.