Cross Village Fall Guide: Beyond the Tunnel of Trees

There’s a reason people travel from all over the country to see the Tunnel of Trees in autumn. The narrow road, towering hardwoods and glimpses of Lake Michigan make M-119 unforgettable.

But the Tunnel is only one part of fall in northern Emmet County. Inland from the lakeshore, the roads climb and dip through forests, farms and open countryside.

Cross Village makes a natural home base for exploring them—and for discovering the people and places that keep this corner of Northern Michigan interesting after the busiest part of summer has passed.

Fall color along the Tunnel of Trees near Cross Village, Michigan

Open Our Interactive Fall Color Map

Turn routes and destination layers on or off, and download the map before setting out—cell service is part of what you leave behind up here.

When Does Fall Color Peak Around Cross Village?

After spending the past decade in Cross Village—and looking back through our photographs from each fall—it appears that the inland areas around Cross Village tend to reach their best color around October 17.

That is an estimate, not a promise. Temperature, wind, rain and other conditions can move peak color earlier or later from year to year.

The Tunnel of Trees usually reaches peak color about seven to ten days later than the inland roads. Because M-119 hugs Lake Michigan, the lake moderates nearby temperatures. That can slow the seasonal change along the shoreline while trees only a few miles inland are already showing their brightest color.

This difference gives visitors a wider window for seeing fall color. If the inland roads are beginning to fade, the Tunnel may still be approaching its best.

Explore Our Favorite Fall Color Roads

Our interactive map includes several suggested drives near Cross Village and throughout northern Emmet County. Each route can be turned on or off, and additional layers show scenic stops, walks, farms, fall destinations, food, shops and lodging.

These are established roads rather than remote two-tracks, but they often feel wonderfully removed from the busier routes. Expect hardwood forests, rolling farmland, long views and the occasional barn, orchard or animal pasture.

View the Map Full Size

A few highlights include:

• Stutsmanville Road, with plenty of hills and dips that make it an especially fun drive.
• Robinson Road, connecting the Pleasantview Road area with M-119 through forest and open countryside.
• Pleasantview Road, with elevated views over farms, fields and distant hills.
• State Road and North State Road, passing through the rural landscape around Cross Village.
• Quick Road and Van Road, where the color often feels close enough to touch.
• Offield Family Working Forest Reserve, where you can drive to the upper parking area for a breathtaking view. The walk toward the labyrinth offers another beautiful overlook.

Our mapped routes suggest a direction, but remember that sometimes the best view is behind you. Driving the same road in the opposite direction can reveal an entirely different landscape.

Please enjoy roadside scenery from your vehicle unless you are at a marked parking area or designated stop. The Peace Sign on the Hill, for example, is an unexpected drive-by landmark marked on our map, but it does not have a pull-off. Admire it as you pass and continue to a safe stopping place.

Take a Walk to Lake Michigan

Woollam Family Nature Preserve offers an approximately 1/2-mile walk through the woods to Lake Michigan. It is accessible from the Cross Village side of the M-119 closure and provides a peaceful woodland-and-shoreline break from driving.

Other nature preserves and designated stops are marked on our Google Map.

Spend Some Time in Cross Village

Cross Village is small enough that many of its businesses and attractions are only a short walk—or a glance across the street—from one another.

Stop at Peninsulas for Michigan-inspired clothing, gifts, books, puzzles and locally made goods. We remain open through the end of October, depending on the weather and progression of fall color. We typically stay open about a week later than Legs Inn to welcome late-season leaf peepers. On fall weekends, you will find a rotating selection of vendors in the side yard at Peninsulas, offering items such as cider, baked goods, produce, crafts and local honey.

Our neighbor, The Curio Shop, is also across from Legs Inn, and carries unique gifts and souvenirs to make your Up North trip memorable. 

At the intersection of State & Levering road you will find the Village Mart, Three Pines Studio & Gallery, Black Barn Farm ind Spirit Lake Retreat. Everything is close together, making the village easy to explore on foot.

Three Pines Studio & Gallery features work by Northern Michigan artists along with gardens, studios, exhibitions and workshops. Black Barn Farm is known for its fresh pasta and pesto, with a small market featuring locally made foods. Spirit Lake Retreat offers lodging right in Cross Village.

The Village Mart has fuel, snacks, homemade baked goods and prepared food—useful provisions before heading out on the back roads.

For dinner, Legs Inn is the village landmark offering Polish fare and an experience not to be missed - as most visitors already know. But don't forget, they are closed on Tuesdays - even in the busy fall season. The Crow’s Nest is another excellent choice, especially for its Friday and Saturday Perch on the Porch, an all-you-can-eat freshly cooked buffet. House-made food and fresh, farm-to-table ingredients are what they do best. Seasonal hours can be limited, particularly later in fall, so check before making the drive.

On the north end of the village, the historic Cross on the Bluff overlooks Lake Michigan and offers a sweeping view from the bluff above Cross Village.

Farms, Orchards and Roadside Finds

You don’t have to travel far to reach working farms and seasonal farm stands.

Highland Roots Farm, operated by Joe and Becky Serrano, is located on Levering Road. As you pass, you may see Highland cattle and Clydesdales in the pasture.

Cránn Bláth Feirm—Tree Flower Farm is a separate farm along North State Road. Its orchard and farm stand offer seasonal apples and other local harvests.

Turtle Moon Farm is home to yaks and hosts a Saturday market with a changing selection of local vendors. Market hours and offerings can shift during the season, so watch for current signs or postings.

Keep an eye out for small roadside stands throughout the area. You never know what you may come across. Be brave and take a look! Many use honor boxes, so bring some cash. Some accept Venmo, but cell service is not always dependable.

That temporary loss of service can be part of the pleasure: download the map before you leave, put the phone away and enjoy being somewhere that feels genuinely removed from everyday noise.

Look for the Pumpkin Barn

The Pumpkin Barn is just north of Cross Village on West Sturgeon Bay Trail. Follow North Lake Shore Drive out of Cross Village. When the road ends at Sturgeon Bay Trail, turn right.

There is good signage, so you shouldn’t get lost—unless you want to!

The red barn surrounded by pumpkins, gourds and fall produce is one of the most photogenic seasonal stops in the area. Inside, you may also find apples, preserves and other farm goods.

Visit Pond Hill Farm

South of Cross Village along M-119, Pond Hill Farm makes an easy addition to a fall day.

Year-round favorites include its gnome-house hunt, live music, brick-oven pizza, craft beer, hard cider and wine and room to wander. During the fall season, the farm adds a full lineup of activities like a corn maze, pumpkin bowling and hayrides through the farm. 

Be sure to say hello to Strawberry and Rhubarb, the miniature donkeys and longtime Peninsulas favorites.

Stop in Good Hart

Good Hart General Store is a historic general store known for pot pies, baked goods, sandwiches, provisions and Michigan-made gifts.

A-Studio and Good Hart Living are two of the cutest little gift shops you will ever come across. Stop in for some truly unique items. 

Trillium Woods Café is a welcoming woodland café serving coffee, baked goods, breakfast and lunch, with a small shop featuring new and vintage finds.

Near the intersection of Robinson Road and State Road, keep an eye out for signs for Good Hart Glassworks. Artist Lynn Dinning opens for short periods on select weekends, generally in the late morning or early afternoon. She does not publish regular hours online; when the signs are out, she is open.

Visitors can see hand-blown functional and decorative glass, and may have an opportunity to watch Lynn shape molten glass during a live demonstration.

Make the Trip to Uncle Frank’s Apple Town

Uncle Frank’s Apple Town on US-31, is a longer drive from Cross Village, but it can be a worthwhile addition for visitors who want a classic fall orchard experience.

Apples, cider, doughnuts, pumpkins and other seasonal treats make it an especially good stop for families—or anyone who believes a fall drive should include something warm, sweet and covered in cinnamon.

Uncle Frank's Apple Town

Go Rock Hunting

Serious rock hunters can be happy at both Cross Village Beach and Sturgeon Bay. If Petoskey stones are your main objective, however, you may need to search a little farther south.

To reach Sturgeon Bay from Cross Village, travel north on North Lake Shore Drive. When the road ends at Sturgeon Bay Trail, turn left. You’ll see sand dunes on the left. You may not be able to see the lake immediately, but don’t worry—it’s there.

This shoreline is part of Wilderness State Park and is open to the public. Follow posted park rules and leave natural and archaeological objects where they belong.

Stay After Dark

Cross Village Beach faces north, making it a particularly good place to watch for the northern lights when conditions are right. With very little light pollution, the stars can be remarkable even when the aurora does not appear.

On a clear night, look for the Milky Way. If you are accustomed to city skies, seeing it stretch overhead can be one of the most memorable parts of the trip.

For an even more dedicated stargazing destination, Headlands International Dark Sky Park near Mackinaw City is open around the clock and offers unobstructed views of the night sky.

Northern lights over Lake Michigan near Cross Village

A Few Practical Notes

• Fill your gas tank. Gas stations are not found on every corner here, although the Village Mart has fuel.
• Download or screenshot the map in advance.
• Bring cash for honor-system farm stands.
• Pack layers; conditions along Lake Michigan can be much cooler and windier than they are inland.
• Use designated parking areas rather than stopping on the road.
• Drive patiently and watch for deer, farm equipment, cyclists and other visitors.
• Check seasonal business hours before making a special trip. Even during the fall season, Legs Inn is closed on Tuesdays!

Take the Long Way

Fall around Cross Village is not only about reaching a particular overlook or checking a famous road off a list.

It is about the sudden view at the top of a hill. A tunnel of yellow leaves on a road you didn’t expect. Pumpkins piled outside a red barn. A hand-painted farmstand sign. The smell of wood-fired pizza or fresh doughnuts. The first stars appearing over Lake Michigan.

Use our map as a starting point, then leave yourself enough time to take the long way.