Memories Traverse City

October fall color adventures

Fall color tours & rides near Traverse City.

Make October an outdoor adventure. Ride forest trails, take a Polaris Slingshot along a scenic road, or explore by e-bike. Choose the experience, starting area, and pace that fit your group.

Choose your fall ride Call 833-3MEMORY
Autumn foliage around the covered bridge on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive Fall 2026 · Colors vary with the weather
Trail ridesGuided or self-guided ATV and UTV options
Scenic roadsTwo-seat Polaris Slingshots
E-bikesGrand Traverse Resort or Leelanau Trail

Choose your experience

Three ways to get into the color.

Start with your preferred kind of ride. The booking listing shows available dates, duration, price, and rider requirements before you pay.

Forest trails

ATV and UTV fall rides

Join a local guide or choose a self-guided rental. Our ATVs carry one rider; side-by-sides have two, four, or five seats including the driver.

  • Guided rides: choose an offered tour time
  • Self-guided: choose a machine and rental duration
  • Use the confirmed trailhead and approved route
Check guided ride dates Compare rentals & seating →

Open-air road trips

Polaris Slingshot scenic drives

Cruise M-22, visit Sleeping Bear Dunes, or plan a longer day toward Mackinaw City and the Mackinac Bridge. Our route guide includes outbound and return time estimates.

  • Two seats including the driver
  • Scenic public-road destinations
  • Allow time for stops and the return trip
Check Slingshot dates See all routes & trip times →

Two starting areas

E-bike fall color rides

Start at Grand Traverse Resort with Memories near Acme and Williamsburg, or choose the Leelanau Trail with our partner Riding Electric for a ride toward Suttons Bay.

  • Choose your starting area first
  • Each operator has a separate calendar
  • Confirm seasonal hours and return time
Choose your e-bike area Explore our Leelanau partner →

Have dates in mind but need help choosing? Call 833-3MEMORY with your group size and where you are staying.

What to know

Plan for the experience, then follow the color.

October is a favorite time for a Northern Michigan fall color trip. The timing and intensity of the leaves change with weather and location, so a specific date cannot guarantee peak color. Build in time to stop, take photos, and enjoy the ride.

For an ATV and UTV tour, tell us your group's size and experience. For a Slingshot, choose a destination with enough time to get back comfortably. For e-bikes, compare our two starting areas before selecting your date.

Fall availability depends on the activity, daylight, and weather. Check your exact date in booking; if it is not listed, call 833-3MEMORY for help.

Traverse City, Acme & Williamsburg

Staying downtown or at Grand Traverse Resort? Build a fall day around a guided trail ride, resort-area e-bikes, or a Slingshot road trip. Resort-area trail bookings include their own check-in and approved-trailhead instructions; use those directions when you arrive.

  • A guided trail experience for visitors who want a local route plan
  • E-bike departures with Memories at Grand Traverse Resort
  • Old Mission Peninsula as a scenic Slingshot destination

Leelanau: Suttons Bay, Leland & Glen Arbor

The M-22 corridor gives Slingshot guests bay views and village stops. E-bike guests can choose Riding Electric's Leelanau Trail starting area on Cherry Bend Road and plan toward Suttons Bay. Match the distance to the rental window and your comfortable riding pace.

  • M-22 and village stops: use the Slingshot drive-time guide
  • Leelanau Trail: book through the Riding Electric partner option
  • Leave room for lunch, photos, and the return journey

Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire & Benzie County

Make Sleeping Bear Dunes a scenic road trip in a Polaris Slingshot. Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is a seasonal 7.4-mile loop with stops overlooking the dunes and lakes. Check National Park Service access information before setting out, and allow time for the loop in addition to the drive from Traverse City.

  • Visit by public road; these are scenic Slingshot destinations
  • ATV and UTV rides use approved off-road routes arranged for your booking
  • Frankfort and Crystal Lake offer another road-trip direction in our route guide

Kalkaska, Fife Lake & Lake City trail country

If your fall getaway is based inland, ask about ATV and UTV rental or tour options suited to your stay. The route and start depend on the selected experience, legal trail access, duration, and conditions. These communities describe the region we help guests explore; your confirmation identifies the actual meeting point.

  • Choose a single-seat ATV for one rider
  • Choose a two-, four-, or five-seat side-by-side for your group
  • Ask about the practical drive from your cabin or lodging before booking

What to bring for an October ride

Dress for a cool start and changing conditions. Bring layers, a wind-resistant outer layer, closed-toe footwear, and the documents required in your booking. Ask about the gear included with the exact experience, especially for children or passengers.

  • Complete each participant's required waiver before arrival
  • Save the meeting point and return time from your confirmation
  • Allow extra time for photo stops and changing weather

Keep planning

Build the rest of the day.

Next up: snowmobile seasonCompare winter tours and rentals →Find your local starting planTraverse City and surrounding communities →See the adventuresFall scenery, trails, water and winter photos →

Good to know

Questions before you go.

Contact Memories
Do you offer October fall color rides near Traverse City?

Yes. Plan a guided or self-guided ATV and UTV adventure, a Polaris Slingshot scenic drive, or an e-bike ride while seasonal availability and weather allow. Use the activity's live booking calendar for offered dates.

When will fall colors be at their peak?

Peak color varies by weather, location, and year. October is a popular planning window, but no particular ride date guarantees peak leaves. Ask our team about current local conditions close to your visit.

Can everyone ride in one vehicle?

ATVs are single-seaters with one rider and no passenger. Side-by-sides offer two, four, or five seats including the driver. A Polaris Slingshot seats two including the driver. Review passenger eligibility for the exact booking.

Can I take an ATV to Sleeping Bear Dunes or the Mackinac Bridge?

Our destination guide describes public-road trips in a Polaris Slingshot. ATV and UTV guests follow the approved off-road route for their rental or guided tour. A destination in the scenic drive guide is not an approved off-road route.

Where can I rent an e-bike for a fall ride?

Choose Memories at Grand Traverse Resort near Acme and Williamsburg, or our partner Riding Electric for the Leelanau Trail. They have separate booking calendars and meeting instructions, so choose your starting area first.

What if I do not see my preferred date?

Call 833-3MEMORY with your date, group size, activity, and lodging town. The team can help check options. An empty calendar does not confirm availability.

What comes after fall riding season?

Plan ahead for snowmobile rentals and guided tours. Memories plans winter operations from December, with the actual start and daily rides dependent on sufficient snow and open trails.

Find your October adventure.

Choose your fall ride tcmemoryrental@gmail.com
Call Fall rides