The best time to observe color in the Great Lakes region is usually late September to late October, depending in large part on how far north you are. Some areas will experience the change to fall color much earlier than others so it is wise to call ahead to your cruise provider.

September 2010 appears to have less color than we normally experience at this time of year. The trees in northwestern Michigan are just beginning to show a change of color on some of their branches, but not enough yet to say that the fall color season has started. The region has experienced a hot summer with temperatures well into the 80s and low 90s that lasted until almost the end of August without letup. There’s also been a considerable amount of rain, and if you are in the group who believe that a high rainfall will result in bright, colorful autumn leaves them this year’s display should be magnificent.

Since 1 September temperatures have cooled off into the 60s and 70s which should begin to draw out the fall colors eventually. Peak color is still probably 3 to 4 weeks away, or maybe even a bit longer, so if you’re planning a Great Lakes cruise centered around a color tour the best timing may be sometime in the second week of October for the areas around northern Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

There are a large number of companies that offer small ship cruises in ports all around the Great Lakes, and almost all of these will schedule some type of color tour. These trips can be quite spectacular especially on ships small enough to move close to shore or up some of the rivers. The operators of these ships will be able to give you a better idea of peak color season for the exact cruises that they offer.

Those who are familiar with Great Lakes cruises taken in the autumn months will understand when I say that the weather can be slightly nippy. If you are scheduling a small ship cruise during September, October, or November be sure to bring along some warm clothing. Even if your ship has a heated passenger compartment you will still need to be exposed outside while boarding and moving about on the dock area, and you may wish to be up on deck, because that is part of the thrill of a cruise.

The lakes are a beautiful miracle of nature no matter what the season, but a color tour on the lakes can be something special. Just be sure to dress warm and check with your provider in advance for an estimate of peak color time so you can get the very most you can from your trip.

The cruise offered by Sleeping Bear Dunes Boat Cruise company begins in Frankfort, Michigan. Along the way, the ship passes by several lighthouses at Frankfort Harbor, Point Betsie and Empire. These small ports occupy one of the most charming and unspoiled shoreline areas that Northwestern Lower Michigan has to offer.

The ship that makes these Great Lakes cruises is called the “Miner’s Castle,” a name which appears to relate to a rock formation along another lakeshore area in Michigan’s upper peninsula. The Miner’s Castle is 68 feet long and will accommodate 149 people. This is a two deck ship. The lower deck is enclosed and the upper deck has open air seating. With this type of arrangement it may be wise to bring a wind breaker and perhaps an extra layer of clothing for underneath, depending on the weather and the time of year. The temperatures in this part of Michigan can range from 70 to the 90s during the summer and it can feel a little chillier near the lake.