Door County again gets national recognition for its fall colors

Christopher Clough, Green Bay Press-Gazette
·3 min read

DOOR COUNTY - Peak fall colors aren't expected for another two to three weeks in Door County, but the glory of the Peninsula's tree leaves changing from green to brilliant red, orange and yellow is again being recognized by a national travel website.

An article on Trips to Discover, which calls itself a "travel discovery platform" that offers reviews and ideas to travelers, listed Door County among its "20 Best Places in the U.S. for Fall Colors." The story was written by K.C. Dermody, described by the site as an experienced international traveler and freelance travel writer.

In her article, Dermody called the Door "one of the Midwest’s best fall foliage destinations." She suggested following State 57 along the Lake Michigan side of the Peninsula, noting the lighthouses not far off the road (such as iconic Cana Island and Upper and Lower Range Lights in Baileys Harbor), "along with bursts of scarlet, gold, russet and vermilion that line highways and form canopies over country lanes."

Dermody also noted that the communities throughout Door County, with its tourist-driven economy, offer many things for visitors to do during the fall season.

The foliage in Peninsula State Park shows off its fall colors. A recent article on a national travel website named Door County as one of the 20 best places in the U.S. to view fall colors.
The foliage in Peninsula State Park shows off its fall colors. A recent article on a national travel website named Door County as one of the 20 best places in the U.S. to view fall colors.

There's still time to plan before those colors arrive on the Peninsula. As of Sept. 20, the fall color report by Travel Wisconsin, the official website of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, lists Door County at only about 5% of peak fall color, with its estimated peak coming in the second week of October. Those planning to check out the colors in the state should visit the website in the coming weeks for updates.

No other locations in Wisconsin were listed in Dermody's story, the nearest one to Door County being the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Other fall color spots cited in the article include the Green Mountain region of Vermont, the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway in Oregon, the Black Hills region of South Dakota and areas around Aspen, Colorado, and Taos, New Mexico.

This isn't the first time the local fall colors have been recognized nationally. In 2019, the Peninsula was named as the country's Best Destination for Fall Foliage in a USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice online poll.

Also that year, a survey of baby boomers conducted by the AARP Travel Center ranked Door County as one of the top 12 fall vacation destinations for seniors in the U.S. based largely on the fall scenery, recommending a drive along the Door County Coastal Byway (the State 42-57 loop from north of Sturgeon Bay to Northport and back) and driving or hiking through Peninsula State Park.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County recognized nationally for its fall colors (again)