News Photo by Steve Schulwitz The leaves in Northeast Michigan are beginning to change, but the National Weather Service in Gaylord said it will be several more weeks until the colors reach their summit. Alpena officials are seeing an increase in visitors in the fall who are driving, hiking, or biking to see the leaves.

ALPENA — The color of the leaves on the trees in Northeast Michigan are beginning to change, but meteorologists say it will be several more weeks, at least, until the peak color arrives.

Once the colors reach their full splendor, they will be the headline attraction for tourists visiting the region and locals who want to take in the scenery.

According to National Weather Service Meteorologist Sabrina Jauernic, who works in the Gaylord office, said most of northern Michigan has begun to see foliage change color. She said it is still in the early stages, however, and people who want to see the trees at their most glorious may want to hold off for a spell.

“We’re not at our peak, yet, and it likely won’t be until the second or third week of October before we do,” Jauernic said. “There is some colors out there now, but it is really not much more than a splash here and there.”

Jauernic said people who can’t wait to see the leaves could go through the popular Tunnel of Trees, which runs along M-119 from Harbor Springs to Cross Village. She said the trees there are still not at their peak, but are beginning to show some color. Anyone who wants to see the trees fully changed now will have to travel across the Mackinac Bridge to do so.

“They are into their peak in the Upper Peninsula, right now,” she said.

Communities on the west side of the state, such as Traverse City, Charlevoix and Petoskey, that are near the Tunnel of Trees, enjoy an extended tourism season because of the number of people from outside northern Michigan who visit to see the colorful leaves.

Alpena Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau President Mary Beth Stutzman said Alpena has experienced an uptick in late-season tourists for the last several years as people come to drive, hike, and bike through our forests. She said they also enjoy other recreational activities while here.

“We have seen a steady increase for about the last six years, and are experiencing very strong fall seasons,” Stutzman said. “It is our number-two season, behind summer. We see activity for September, October, and a little bit of November.”

Stutzman said more people are choosing to come to Alpena and other areas in Northeast Michigan because it is less congested with people and traffic than other cities.

“We’re seeing a trend where people are seeking destinations that aren’t overrun with tourists, and that is a great time for the Alpena area to shine,” she said. “Travelers are actively seeking places that aren’t visited as frequently as other , more popular destinations, and we have a great experience to provide them.”

Stutzman shared a few places people can go to enjoy the leaves and other recreation in the coming weeks. She said there are routes around the lighthouses in Presque Isle County and forests around the area’s state parks. Black River Hills in Alcona and around the sinkholes near Posen also are great places to watch the changing leaves. A person can also see many colors simply by walking through any forest in the area.

“Hiking on the trails is a good way to not only see the colors, but watching for the migratory birds, enjoying the clean fall air and see the other unique sights in the Alpena area,” Stutzman said. “Each fall is also a little bit different. Sometimes we see more red, others more yellows or purples. The fact that they are not all the same makes it a little more enjoyable.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.