Fall Color is Filling Out in Upper Peninsula, Says AAA

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 26 -- Michigan's annual fall color show is filling out across the far western and northern Upper Peninsula. The peak is expected in early October, reports AAA Michigan.

AAA's weekly survey of state parks and regional visitor's bureaus shows predominant color in most areas of the U.P. Naturalists at F.J. McClain Lake State Park in Calumet report that red and purple hues are 70 percent developed there. Newberry observers report color development at 75 percent, with vibrant reds and yellows. In the Ontonagon area, as well as Crystal Falls, Ishpeming and Manistique, color development is up significantly from last week (50-70 percent developed). Due to drought conditions across much of the U.P., many leaves are falling without changing color.

Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace also report color development between 50 and 70 percent.

In the Northern Lower Peninsula, color is just beginning to appear. At Mackinaw's Wilderness State Park, color development is reported at 25 percent - at Hoeft State Park in Rogers City,

Fall color watchers looking for the best viewing opportunities can call Travel Michigan at (888) 78-GREAT (784-7328) for color updates provided by AAA Michigan each Wednesday through October. Updates also will be posted at AAA.com (enter ZIP code, click ABOUT AAA tab), or visit www.michigan.org.

AAA Michigan offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 1.6 million members in Michigan. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with approximately 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization with more than 50 million members in the United States and Canada.