The first week of September is bringing early signs of fall to the Midwest, and for RVers, this is the perfect time to start planning seasonal getaways. The USDA Forest Service has released its opening fall color report for 2025, covering national forests in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio.
While most areas are still holding onto green leaves, the earliest hints of yellow, orange, and red are beginning to show, giving travelers a preview of the colorful weeks ahead. It’s a great time to get going to see Midwest fall color.
Midwest fall color starts in Minnesota
In Minnesota, the Chippewa National Forest is leading the way. Ash trees are starting to turn shades of yellow, orange, and red, a sure signal that fall is on the horizon. If you’re traveling through northern Minnesota, scenic drives along County Road 7 and around Leech Lake reveal early bursts of color. Cutfoot Sioux Campground offers RV-friendly sites with easy access to hiking trails and lakeside views.
Meanwhile, the Superior National Forest remains mostly green—about 99%—though subtle color is beginning to peek through. Peak color here usually arrives later in September and into October, so RVers can plan longer stays to experience the full spectrum of fall.
Fall for Wisconsin
Over in Wisconsin, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is showing early color across select areas. Scattered patches of red and gold are appearing, particularly along forest edges and higher elevations.
For RVers, Ada Lake Campground in the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest is open through October 5, weather permitting. It features 19 first-come, first-served sites, most of which can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet in length, and easy access to scenic drives, hiking, and photography spots. Traveling early in the season also means fewer crowds, allowing a more peaceful, backroads experience as leaves slowly begin to turn.
Michigan dreams
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is off to a faster start. The Ottawa National Forest reports about 5–10% color change. Recent cool mornings, including a touch of frost, have nudged the trees into shifting early. For RV travelers, scenic drives along M-64 and the Lake Superior shoreline offer expansive views of autumn’s first hints.
Black River Harbor Campground is in the national forest, and is ideal for RV camping, providing easy access to forest roads and hiking trails. This year it’s bring your own water, as water service is off until 2026. Early September here gives a preview of the dramatic color that usually peaks in mid-to-late September.
Ohio’s autumn
Farther south, in Ohio, the Wayne National Forest shows a blend of late-summer green and early autumn shades. Hilltops are displaying isolated patches of color while valleys remain mostly green.
For RVers, the Zaleski State Forest Scenic Byway and backroads near Tar Hollow State Forest offer rolling landscapes perfect for leisurely drives. Lake Hope Campground provides RV-friendly sites and is an excellent spot to watch the changing leaves over several days.
Follow along with Forest Service reports
The USDA Forest Service will continue issuing weekly updates and sharing photos as the season progresses. These reports are a valuable tool for RVers planning routes, overnight stops, and scenic detours. Whether you’re aiming to catch the first subtle hints of color or the dramatic peak display, the Midwest’s forests offer a range of timing and scenery.
With campgrounds filling quickly and cooler nights making for comfortable stays in your rig, now is the perfect time to chart autumn adventures. From northern Minnesota’s lake-studded forests to Ohio’s rolling hills, the Midwest is just beginning its transformation, and the best fall colors are still ahead.
Sources include U.S. Forest Service.
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RVT1125b
While canoeing this weekend in SE MN I noticed two trees along the shore of the lake with a tad of color. One had some deep reds, the other a small splotch of yellow. Other than that, 100% green. Too early yet down here.
Still about two weeks away in Colorado. On the Front Range, it’s in the 80’s this week, with lows around 50. So, still too warm for fall color down here. But we are in a USFS cg. at 10,000′ on Grand Mesa next week, so may see a few early aspen changing. Our best chance of leaf-peeping this fall is probably our early October RV trip to ride the Galloping Goose from Chama to Antonito on the C&TS RR. The southern San Juans at 8-10,000′ along the CO-NM state line should be peaking about then.
Thank you for the current descriptions and the source information, Russ and Tina! Seems a good idea to find a nearby RV park or campground.
🤣 I saw that you ran this comment through spellcheck, Neal.🤣🤣🤣 (And it cut off the d on campground in the process.) (Inside joke between Neal and me.😉) Have a good night.🤗 –Diane
Thank you for the descriptions of the current state of so many areas, so many forests, Russ and Tina! Seems a good idea to leave the RV in a campground or RV park and take the smaller vehicle to leaf-peep. Have a great day and safe travels!
Leaves are changing in my front yard. I live in Wisconsin.
In NEPA in the higher elevations I noticed trees starting to change color. Seems early this year.