Beautiful Fall Drives

October 20, 2023

The fall color season is here! There are some spectacular drives around Boulder Junction. We’re surrounded by the 225,000-acre Northern Highland American Legion State Forest and the fall colors are incredible. The roads here will take you past glacial lakes and brilliant stands of hardwood. The forest is so dense that on some roads, you’ll feel like you are traveling through a tunnel of color. Be sure to check out these beautiful roads in the Boulder Junction area.

Ben Bendrick Drive

This is a quick drive, just south of Boulder Junction – the road is only about 1.5 miles long – but worth working into a fall drive. The road skirts the eastern edge of Trout Lake, a beautiful body of water that’s one of the largest lakes in the Boulder Junction Area. The foliage along the road is as golden as the views. There are some great places to get out, stretch your legs and take in the sights. There’s also a nice hiking trail nearby.

Rustic Road 60 (Cty. Hwy. K)

You’ll find Cty. Hwy. K south of Boulder Junction – it connects with County Hwy. M. Head east toward Sayner-Star Lake and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful colors of a variety of deciduous tree species. The tranquil 12-mile route passes old logging camps and an old saw mill. A trailhead for the Lumberjack Trail is located on the road’s north side – it’s a great place for a fall stroll. This trail is also pet-friendly!

Cty. Hwy. B

This road north of Boulder travels roughly east-west through some beautiful wild areas. From Boulder Junction, it can be reached via Cty. Hwy. M North. You’ll see some incredibly picturesque lakes on this highway – some are so small that they are unnamed. Take the road west toward Presque Isle and you’ll pass the turnoff for the Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area (East Bay Road). This 2,189-acre conservancy is a popular place for fall hiking and birdwatching.