MiBackroads

In Michigan, when you’re not driving on the Interstate, we like to say you’re taking the backroads. They’re the long way, or the scenic route. The beautiful country roads with the best views, where memories are made. Where the drive is the destination. The backroads are the roads you take to stop in the summer for sun-kissed sweet corn, and in the fall for freshly picked crisp apples. And more often than not, those backroads are owned or maintained by your local county road agency.

The County Road Association of Michigan has worked with the state’s 83 county road agencies to develop a list of the best county roads in the state for taking in the scenery. From viewing awe-inspiring autumn leaves to heading to that special secluded spot where the sunsets are extra special on warm summer nights, these are MiBackroads.

See below for 2024 dates to start planning ahead!

Upper Peninsula (Sept. 25 - Oct. 9)

Chippewa County

  • North and South Caribou Lake Roads in the DeTour Village area
  • Gogomain Road from Goetzville to Pickford
  • Lakeshore Drive from Brimley to M-123
  • Salt Point Road from M-28 to Lakeshore Drive

Dickinson County

  • Kramer Drive on the north side of the city of Iron Mountain
  • Metropolitan Road near Felch

Gogebic County

  • Black River Road to Black River Harbor
  • Lake Road from Ironwood to Little Girls Point and Superior Falls
  • Black River Road from Bessemer to Copper Peak and Black River Harbor
  • Wolf Mountain Road from US 2 to Wolf Mountain
  • County Road 519N from Wakefield to the mouth of the Big Presque Isle River and Porcupine State Park
  • Thousand Island Lake Road from US 2 to Sylvania Wilderness Park

Houghton County

  • Covered Drive Road
  • Freda Road
  • Calumet Waterworks Road

Iron County

  • Ottawa Lake Road/Hagerman Lake Road loop
  • Pentoga Trail (CR-639) to CR-424 along Chicagon Lake and Pentoga Road from CR-424 to Brule River
  • Bates-Amasa Road (CR-643) US-2 to US-141 by Paint River and Hemlock River
  • Gibbs City Road and Ponozzo Road

Keweenaw County

  • Brockway Mountain Drive
  • Lac La Belle Road
  • Gratiot Lake Road
  • Mohawk-Gay Road
  • Eagle Harbor Road
  • Cliff Drive
  • Five Mile Point Road

 Marquette County

  • Triple A off County Road 510 in Big Bay
  • M-35 from County Road 480 to Gwinn

Ontonagon County

  • South boundary road from Presquile to Ontonagon

Northern Lower Peninsula (Oct. 2 - Oct. 16)

Alpena County

  • Bolton Road to Long Lake Road
  • Nicholson Hill Road
  • Scott Road
  • Long Rapids Road

Antrim County

  • Deadmans Hill Road from US 131, Deadmans Hill Overlook viewing the Jordan Valley
  • Eddy School Road between Bellaire and M 66
  • Alba Hwy between M 66 and US 131
  • “The Breezeway” C 48 Atwood Road between US 31 in Atwood and Boyne Falls in Charlevoix County

Crawford County

  • CR101 looking north from CR100 (“Pioneer Hill”)

Emmet County

  • Pleasantview Road north of Boyne Highlands to Robinson Road
  • Robinson Road from State Road to Pleasantview Road
  • State Road from Harbor Springs to Cross Village
  • Brutus Road from Pleasantville Road to US-31
  • Mitchell Road from Fletcher Road to Cheboygan County line

Grand Traverse

  • Supply Road
  • Hobbs Highway
  • J Maddy Parkway

Leelanau County

  • North Eagle Highway
  • Newman Road
  • Port Oneida Road
  • Gills Pier Road
  • Schomberg Road

Mason County

  • Lakeshore Drive from Oceana Drive to Iris Road
  • Hawley from Pere Marquette Highway to Walhalla Road
  • South Masten Road to Washington Road and the Ruby Creek area
  • North Lakeshore Drive along Hamlin Lake
  • Custer Road from Hogue Road to US-10

Montmorency County

  • Pleasant Valley Road
  • Farrier Road
  • Carter Road
  • Meridian Line Road

Oceana County

  • (start in Claybanks Twp)  Scenic Drive from Webster north to 16th ave north to Buchanan, then east to 18th then north to Silver Lake Rd.  Continue on Silver Lake Rd north to N Shore Dr to 24th, 24th to Fox to Ridge, and Ridge north to Longbridge, Longbridge to east to US 31 BR Monroe (Pentwater Twp).
  • (start in Ferry Twp)  154th north from M20 to Loop Road, Loop Rd west to 148th Ave, 148th Ave north to Pierce Rd, Pierce Rd West to 144th Ave and 144th Ave north to Crystal Valley (Madison Rd, Crystal Twp)

Osceola County

  • 80th Ave from River Rd to 20 Mile Rd
  • 20 Mile Rd from 80th Ave to 180th Ave

Presque Isle County

  • Long Lake Highway from M-65 into Alpena County
  • E-634 Highway from Polaski Road west to Lake May Road
  • W-638 Highway Ocqueoc Road from Walker Highway to North Allis Highway from Ocqueoc Road west to M-211.

Wexford County

  • Fall Color Scenic Routes, all starting from downtown Cadillac:
    • Route 1:  Cadillac Lakes (20 miles)
    • Route 2:  Hodenpyl Dam (70 miles)
    • Route 3:  Pine River (65 miles)
    • Route 4:  Lake Missaukee (35 miles)

Map of Wexford County.

Mid-Michigan (Oct. 2 -16)

Barry County

  • West State Rd from Hastings to Middleville
  • Gun Lake Rd from M-179 (near Gun Lake) to M-179 (near Hastings)
  • Yankee Springs Rd from M-37 to Delton Rd South of Middleville

Clinton County

  • Maple Rapids Road from Harris Road to Tallman Road
  • Tallman Road from Maple Rapids Road to Stone Road
  • Stone Road from Tallman Road to Wacousta Road
  • Wacousta Road from Stone Road to Hyde Road
  • Peacock Road from M-78 to Cutler Road
  • Clark Road from Upton Road East

Jackson County

  • Seymour Road from N Elm Avenue to Trist Road
  • Kimmel Road from Thorne Road to Draper Road

Shiawassee County

  • Grand River Road from Laingsburg to the Village of Byron

West Michigan (Oct. 9-23)

Berrien County

  • Blue Star Memorial Highway along Lake Michigan from Van Buren to M-63
  • M-63 south to St. Joseph
  • Red Arrow Highway from Stevensville to Lakeshore Road in New Buffalo
  • Red Arrow Highway to Union Pier then back to Warren Woods Road
  • Red Highway to Madron Lake Road in City of Buchanan

Kalamazoo County

  • Route 1: East Kalamazoo County – Starting from the intersection of 29nd Street and Q Avenue (51 Miles)
  • Route 2: North Kalamazoo County – Starting from the intersection of 33rd Street and G Avenue (45 Miles)
  • Route 3: South Kalamazoo County – Starting from the intersection of 8th Street and O Avenue (73 Miles)

Full Map of Fall Routes

Kent County

  • Honey Creek Avenue from Pettis Avenue to Cannonsburg Road
  • Bailey Drive from Vergennes Street to Lincoln Lake Avenue
  • Fallasburg Park Drive from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue
  • 5 Mile Road from Lincoln Lake Avenue to Gavin Lake Avenue
  • Gavin Lake Road from 5-mile road to Belding Road
  • Wabasis Avenue from Belding Road to 12 Mile Road
  • Ramsdell Drive from 5 Mile Road to 11 Mile Road

Muskegon County

  • Scenic Drive from Memorial Drive to Michillinda Road
  • Along Lake Michigan shoreline and Duck Lake

Ottawa County

  • Lakeshore Drive from Grand Haven city limits to Ottawa Beach Road/Holland State Park
  • Hayes Street from M-11 intersection to Berlin Fair Drive/the Berlin Fairgrounds in Marne
  • Leonard Street from intersection on Leonard Street/S. Lake Avenue in Village of Spring Lake to Lamont
  • Mercury Drive/Green Street/N. Cedar Drive from Grand Haven to Riverside County Park

Southeast Michigan (Oct. 9-23)

Macomb County

  • 24 Mile Road between Van Dyke Freeway and Shelby Road
  • Tillson Street between Sisson Street and South Main Street
  • M-53 between 28 Mile Road and 32 Mile Road
    • Along the route, there are apple orchards for travelers to get a taste of Macomb County pies, donuts and cider along with fall vegetables at the local produce stands
  • Lakeshore Drive between 8 Mile Road and Marter Road
  • Macomb Orchard Trail
  • Campground Road between 29 Mile Road and 31 Mile Road
  • Mt. Vernon Road between Dean Road and 31 Mile Road

Oakland County

Independence Township:

  • Rattalee Lake between Ellis and M-15
  • Hadley Road between M-15 and Shappie
  • Shappie Road between Hadley and Perry Lake Road
  • Pine Knob Road between Sashabaw and Clarkston Road

Commerce Township:

  • Wixom Rd – Charm to Sleeth/duck lake intersection
  • Richardson Rd. – Martin Parkway to Newton
  • Wise Rd. – Canal to Carrol Lake

White Lake Township:

  • Porter Rd
  • Pontiac Lake Road to Culhbert to White Lake Road (This route you see beautiful foilage, the lake and Ruggles Farm)
  • Gale Rd
  • McKeachie Rd

Orion Township:

  • Scripps Rd. between M-24 & Joslyn Rd
  • Greenshield Rd. Joslyn Rd. to Kern Rd. (both sides of M-24 and it is a Natural Beauty Rd.)
  • Kern Rd. Silverbell to Clarkston Rd.

Oxford Township:

  • Delano Rd. (from Ray Rd. to Davison Lake Rd.) – Natural Beauty Road
  • Ray Rd. (0.65 mile east of N. Oxford Rd. to Lake George Road in Addison Township) – Natural Beauty

Southfield Township:

  • Beverly Road -from 13 ½ Mile to 14 Mile Road that passes by the Evans Nature Preserve

Washtenaw County

  • Huron River Drive between Mast Road and US-23
  • North Territorial Road between US-23 and M-52