Detroit Is Awesome for Fall Color!


Okay, Detroit may not be the first thought that comes to your mind when you think about where to travel to see fall color in Michigan. However, if you are willing to look, you will find some great areas of color in the metro Detroit area.


Elmwood Cemetery Is Always a Color Destination


One of my favorite places in Detroit to see the fall color is the historic Elmwood Cemetery, the longest running non-denominational cemetery in Michigan. You just can't beat it. Wonderful color if you get there while the color has peaked, and this year, we did that! Sure, cemeteries might not be an obvious choice to see leaves turning their brilliant hues, but think about it. There is a lot of trees and wooded areas in cemeteries. This shot was captured with my Mavic 2 Pro drone. The bottom half is my favorite color area in the cemetery, with the height needed for a glimpse of the Detroit skyline.

Panorama of autumn trees displaying brilliant red and yellow colors against a cloudy sky at Elmwood Cemetery in front Detroit's skyline.

This is a 9-image panorama taken with my drone as well.

Panoramic view of colorful fall trees and cemetery headstones stretching across Elmwood Cemetery under bright blue skies in Detroit, MI.

It is a good idea to get out of your car and walk around when you come across some trees with great color, to see what sort of compositions you can see with the fall color. Here are images I captured this fall season.

Row of golden yellow maple trees with ornate stone statue the the historic Elmwood cemetery during peak autumn color in Detroit, Michigan.
Historic Elmwood cemetery mausoleum under vibrant orange fall foliage in Detroit, MI.
Historic Elmwood cemetery with weathered headstones, a statue and chapel in the background displaying golden autumn colors in Detroit, MI.

Don't Overlook Woodlawn Cemetery


Elmwood Cemetery isn't the only cemetery with great fall color. I've never photographed at the historic Woodlawn Cemetery, which is just a mile from my house! I was pleasantly surprised to see so much fall color here as well.

Patinated bronze cemetery statue with a sunflower against vivid red autumn foliage background at Woodlawn cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.
A stone mausoleum beneath maple trees showing spectacular red and yellow fall colors at Woodlawn cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.
A Historic Woodlawn cemetery mausoleum beneath trees displaying peak autumn foliage colors in Detroit, Michigan.

The mausoleums are architectural marvels, each one is unique, and has a stained glass image in the back. You can spend hours walking around and seeing all of them. This one is my favorite, where CJ Whitney is buried. Here I framed it with brightly colored Gingko tree leaves.

CJ Whitney mausoleum with a green art deco door surrounded by yellow Gingko tree leaves in historic Woodlawn cemetery in Detroit.
CJ Whitney mausoleum with a green art deco door stands among vibrant orange and red autumn foliage in historic Woodlawn cemetery in Detroit.

Metro Parks Are Also Great Places to Find Color


Parks are also great places to find fall color, this was my first visit to Wolcott Mill Metropark, on the northeast side near Stoney Creek. I heard there was a mill there, I had no idea there was one so close to me. I took my drone and captured this image, which I photoshopped with textures and warm color to give it an old painterly feel.

Aerial view of Wolcott Mills Park historic mill with water wheel nestled among fall foliage with painterly texture.

Fall Color on Abandoned Buildings


And, last but not least, fall color in downtown Detroit. This fall color is thanks to ivy on this abandoned apartment building along Harper Avenue. The good news is, it appears it's going to be renovated. For years it has been grown over, and impossible to see the details. I can see the architecture now!

Row of abandoned houses with deteriorating roofs against a bright blue sky in Detroit, Michigan.
Colorful autumn leaves scattered across red and turquoise painted brick wall on the side of a Brush St apartment building in Detroit, MI.

If you want to see more fall color, read the photo story of my up north fall color tour.

Urban skyline panorama featuring modern skyscrapers and office buildings of Detroit, Michigan.