Fall Color Photo Tour

[GRDadof3]

Now that some of the leaves are starting to change (especially the Maples), I thought it would be a good idea to showcase our beautiful natural resources here in West Michigan. I took some pics at lunch today in downtown Rockford and along the White Pine Trail, which I'll post when my photo site is working Everyone else please contribute.

[GRDadof3]

Here are my photos from Rockford, the Autumn Capital of West Michigan:

This is an old railroad bridge just below 10 Mile Road that is part of the White Pine Trail:

Keep your eye on the 30" Salmon in the lower right:

The Rogue River is a coveted trout and salmon "catch and release" stream. People travel from as far away as Ohio and Indiana to fish the fabulous waters of the Rogue.

More of the White Pine Trail just South of downtown Rockford (longest finished "rail to trail" in Michigan, stretching 100 miles from Grand Rapids to Cadillac)

http://www.whitepinetrail.com/

Rockford Main Library

Part of the old historic downtown Rockford, including the infamous Corner Bar, with living spaces above coming soon. The Rockford area is one of the fastest growing areas in Michigan.

I also got some great photos of Collins Park and Heritage Hill, which I hope to post soon.

Enjoy!

[ZachariahDaMan]

Beautiful pictures! Thanks for posting them. I look forward to seeing the ones of Collins Park and Heritage Hill.

[GRDadof3]

Thanks Zach! The other ones will be more Fall-ish

[GRDadof3]

Here are some Fall color photos of the Heritage Hill area:

Love that blue house!

With more to come

[GRDadof3]

Collins Park along Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids

Vivid colors against the clay tile roof of Spectrum - Blodgett Campus

More Heritage Hill

I never thought I would like a purple house

Gotta love Fall!

[ZachariahDaMan]

Those are great pictures! Thanks for posting them. Collins Park looks beautiful.

[fluffy]

I love fall! I have this weekend off and plan on snapping quite a few. Hope to have some entries to this thread on monday!

[GRDadof3]

Here's some more:

Took a walk around Aquinas College's campus

Then off to Heritage Hill again

[GRDadof3]

Another good Fall color photo tour on the East side of Grand Rapids:

Take Knapp East out to Pettis, turn right (South) and go to 2 Mile Road, take a left on 2 Mile and take that to Egypt Valley. You have a couple of options here:

1. Keep going East on 2 Mile which takes you through some beautiful landscape and right past the cemetary which supposedly contains the "Ada Witch", and then it goes out to Honey Creek.

2. Or take a left at 2 Mile and Egypt Valley and head back to Knapp, then take a right and head East to Honey Creek.

Once you are out to Honey Creek, take it North to Cannonsburg Road. This intersection of Honey Creek and Cannonsburg is the historic town of Cannonsburg. Stop into the great little place Honey Creek Inn, which has a great selection of imported beers and seafood on the menu. Don't worry, the locals here don't bite

Then follow Cannonsburg back West to Pettis, turn left (South) on Pettis and head back to Knapp. You can also explore Grand River Drive in either direction off of Knapp, which looks like a Porsche commercial this time of year with the hills and curves.

Here are some sample photos from that area:

Even the gas station is cute and pedestrian friendly in Cannonsburg

A lot closer than Vermont.

Enjoy!

[ZachariahDaMan]

I love the pictures, GRDadof3!

[mpchicago]

You are making me a little homesick Jeff We used to take drives out that way, and your right it's not that diffirent than Vermont. Honey Creek from Pettis to Cannonsburg is a great drive! I'm feeling a little cooped up here in this 18th floor office

[GRDadof3]

Thanks guys! I'll bet many are surprised to hear that you mpchicago, working on the 18th floor overlooking downtown Chicago, would be jealous of us driving around the countryside. Although I do look forward to it every year In fact, we need to restock our Honey Crisp Apples, mmmmmm

[GRDadof3]

Some more fall foliage photos from this morning. Disappointingly, there are not a lot of Maples downtown, which have the most striking colors right now. It sounds like due to the lack of rain in the previous month, colors will only be "fair to good" this year:

I try to give some context to these, instead of just taking photos of colored leaves:

Some nice colored trees and shrubs between Eberhard and the Museum

Campau Plaza Honeylocusts

A beautiful Maple at Veterans Park

Great vantage point from a small park on Fairview (right in Bwindi's neighborhood )

These plants are great for color. I don't know if they are Sumac? They also line the highway on I-196 Westbound at the Lake Michigan Drive curve, and are quite breathtaking.

I think this weekend will be it, and then everything starts turning that brownish shade.

Enjoy!

[NCB]

Beautiful Pictures!

[ZachariahDaMan]

Wow, great pictures!

[GRDadof3]

Why thank you all! I have some more.

Foliage on Brick

Although not foliage, this red door on an old factory on Godfrey stopped me in my tracks

[publius]

Three nice color tour routes listed in Saturday's Press, maps included

..including one that visits the three covered bridges on the east side...

..another that includes the pumpkin train on the west side...

[ZachariahDaMan]

Awesome pictures!

[GRDadof3]

Just when I think I'm done, I keep seeing some pretty vivid colors that I just have to share:

Evergreen Lake Office Park has a cool walking trail around the lake

M-44 (E Beltline/Northland Drive) heading North out of Grand Rapids

Belmont Hwy

Hard to blame these people for wanting these views year round

The new Rockford Meijer is actually situated pretty well in a hollow

Another road off of 10 Mile

This stretch of 11 Mile is breathtaking

(that's pure color)

Horse ranch near the construction site where I work

And a great trail near the site that I like to hit when I get the chance

Which comes out at the Rogue River

Enjoy!

[GRDadof3]

Golfed at Boulder Creek the other morning, and got these great shots of the fall colors (and yes, I pretty much take my camera everywhere now )

A beautiful course, and not too expensive either considering the quality

[NCB]

Beautiful Pictures!

[ZachariahDaMan]

Nice pictures!!

[dbrok]

Here are some photos from last weekend taken at the Fred Meijer Nature Preserve near Cannonsburg:

[GRDadof3]

Awesome photos dbrok! Is this the Nature Preserve at Pickerel Lake on Ramsdell?