Fall Color Tour in Michigan: Leaf-Peeping Drives Near Olswell

When is peak fall color in Michigan?

Timing moves with the weather, but peak color typically reaches the Upper Peninsula first, in late September to early October, then Kalkaska and Traverse City in early to mid October, Grand Rapids in mid October, and Adrian in mid to late October. Rainfall, temperature and frost shift it year to year, so check current conditions before you travel.

Drives near each store

Adrian: Southeast Michigan

Olswell Adrian: 1465 W Beecher Rd, Adrian, MI 49221

Color here usually peaks last of the four stores, in mid to late October. Lenawee County has rural roads, small lakes and river valleys, so use a map app to plan a loop that fits your time. Adrian is also an easy trip from the Ohio border, and cannabis bought here must stay in Michigan. See the Olswell Adrian store page and the Adrian live menu.

Grand Rapids: West Michigan

Olswell Grand Rapids: 1940 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508

Color usually peaks in mid October. Grand Rapids pairs city restaurants and museums with river and forest drives a short way out; use a map app to find a route. See the Olswell Grand Rapids store page and the Grand Rapids live menu.

Kalkaska: Northern Michigan

Olswell Kalkaska: 102 Northland Plz, Kalkaska, MI 49646

Color usually peaks early to mid October, ahead of the southern stores. Kalkaska sits in forest and lake country, and the Au Sable River area near Grayling, about 27 miles by road, is another fall color destination. See the Olswell Kalkaska store page and the Kalkaska live menu.

Traverse City: Northern Michigan

Olswell Traverse City: 728 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49686

Color usually peaks early to mid October, with orchards, vineyards, bay views and forest on the same drive. Ideas:

• Old Mission Peninsula: orchards, vineyards and bay views
• Leelanau Peninsula: wineries, orchards and overlooks
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore: see the National Park Service site for current road and trail conditions. It is federal land, so no cannabis there, ever. See the Sleeping Bear Dunes guide.

See the Olswell Traverse City store page and the Traverse City live menu.

How to fit Olswell into a color tour

Orders are held until the end of the business day, so the easy plan is to order in the morning, drive your route, and pick up in store afterward. You pay cash at pickup, and there is an ATM on-site. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID showing you are 21 or older. First-time customers get 25% off their first visit. Deals vary by store, so check the live menu. Inventory rotates, so check the live menu for what is in stock. Olswell does not deliver.

Keep your purchase at your lodging, and never carry it into a national park or national lakeshore.

Keep the drive clear

Scenic routes take full attention: winding roads, photo stops, pedestrians crossing to get a shot, and fog or sudden rain. Never use cannabis before or during a drive, and never in the car, parked or moving. Do not use it at overlooks, on trails or at orchards and festivals either. Those are public places, and Michigan does not authorize public consumption.

If you use cannabis during the trip, do it only after the day's driving and hiking are finished, on private property that allows it. Start low, especially if you are tired, and give edibles an hour or two. Check your lodging's policy before you book, since many hotels prohibit it.

Fall extras

• Hiking. Many scenic routes include maintained trails. The North Country Trail, Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Boardman River trails are popular in the Traverse City and Kalkaska area. Hike sober, since wet leaves and early frost make footing tricky.
• Orchards and farm stands. Fall drives pass apple orchards, pumpkin farms and farm stands selling cider and pies.
• Festivals. Many Michigan towns host harvest, apple and craft events. Attend them as public events, with no cannabis.
• Wine country. Traverse City's tasting rooms are a fall draw. Do the tasting rooms on their own day, with a designated driver or a ride, and keep cannabis out of that day. Do not mix alcohol and cannabis.

Weather and safety

• Temperature swings: mornings can be near 40F and afternoons near 60F, so layer up.
• Rain and fog: fall storms and valley fog can arrive fast. Check your tires, brakes and wipers.
• Early frost: Northern Michigan can frost overnight, so watch for icy bridges.
• Cell coverage: remote stretches can drop signal, so tell someone your route.

Your next step

Pick your store and order ahead: Adrian, Grand Rapids, Kalkaska or Traverse City.

Michigan cannabis tourism guide Where you can and cannot consume in Michigan

For adults 21 and older only. Must present valid government-issued photo ID. Please consume responsibly.

Never drive while impaired. Cannabis impairs reaction time and judgment, which is unsafe on a scenic drive or any road.

Michigan recreational purchase limits: up to 2.5 ounces per transaction, with no more than 15 grams of it as concentrate.

Sources: Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency