County Road 550, located just north of Marquette off Wright Street, is an impressive drive through cut rock harboring a beautiful array of fall color. This 35 minute ride to Big Bay takes you winding past Sugarloaf Mountain, Hogsback Mountain, past the Yellow Dog River and Lake Independence into Big Bay. While there, you can see a historic hotel where the filming of the movie "Anatomy of a Murder" took place and where Henry Ford spent much of his time while supervising his lumber mill which manufactured the sideboards for the early Ford station wagons. Just take in the view of the Big Bay Harbor from Squaw Beach! On your way, you may  want to stop and climb Sugarloaf (20 minute hike) or venture off the route to Wetmore's Landing and Little Presque Isle or take a 2.5 mile uncharted hike on the Little Garlic River to see the falls. The return trip from Big Bay along County Road 510 will take you through the majestic Huron Mountains and past tress which arch over the roadway to form a tunnel of color. Approximate tour distance: 75 miles.

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Another scenic fall tour is to drive south from Marquette on US-41 and turn in at the entrance of the Tricolor Hof Motel. Stay to your left on the Cliff Tower Road and follow the signs up Mount Marquette for a panoramic look of Marquette. The road comes out on County Road 553, where you turn left and travel past Marquette Mountain Ski Resort to the intersection of County Roads 553 and 480. Turn right on County Road 480 and drive west to Business M-28 in Negaunee. Turn left on Business M-28 and continue west through the historic iron mining regions of Negaunee and Ishpeming to US-41. Turn left onto US-41 and travel west approximately three miles  to Wawonowin Road (County Road 478) and continue past the golf club and the Greenwood Reservoir. County Road 478 takes you west 10 miles into Republic. Turn right on M-95 and travel north to US-41. Turn left on US-41 and drive  west through Champion and Michigamme. In Michigamme, see craft shops and a historic log restaurant where the movie "Anatomy of a Murder" was filmed. If you would like to stretch your legs, hike on the Lookout Trail  located approximately one mile north on the Peshekee Road. On the return trip to Marquette along US-41, side trips include the Moose Lift Kiosk at Van Riper State Park, the National Ski Hall of Fame in Ishpeming, and the  Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee. Approximate tour distance: 100 miles.

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This tour begins as you travel south from Marquette along US-41 approximately 17 miles to the junction of M-94. Seven miles east of this junction is the turnoff for Laughing Whitefish Falls. (To reach  these falls, drive north along the Sundell Road approximately three miles.) Return to M-94 and continue east until you reach H-03 located between Chatham and Forest Lake. Drive north on H-03 along the AuTrain River and past  scenic AuTrain Lake until you reach the junction of M-28. Travel east along the Lake Superior shoreline on M-28. On a clear day you can see Marquette in the distance. Approximate tour distance: 85 miles.

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