Fall Foliage on the AuSable River
Visit one of Oscoda’s top attractions, the Au Sable River Queen, before its final scenic fall tour on October 29th. For more than fifty years, the River Queen has been showing visitors the beauty of Oscoda from the vantage point of the picturesque Au Sable River. And with the expert tours and narration by Captain Roger, who has been the Queen’s captain for eighteen years, Oscoda’s paddleboat is one of the best ways to see the vibrant colors of fall foliage throughout the region (as well as the only one in northern Michigan!) and just one of the many ways you can get to know the Oscoda area’s outstanding natural beauty in the fall.
Rated as one of the most scenic rivers in the United States, as well as one of the best trout fishing locations in the world, the Au Sable River is also one of the most historic. The 138-mile sinuous river played a huge role in the shaping of the Great Lakes region as the state’s impenetrable forests were clear-cut and logs were sent rolling down the rapids of the Au Sable to sawmills on Lake Huron in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Au Sable River, meaning “at the sand” or “River of Sand” in French, is known for its undeveloped sandy shorelines and forests of pine that act as the habitat for the endangered species of bird, Kirtland’s warbler, as well as the majestic bald eagle. Alongside the river runs River Road, a designated National Scenic Byway stretching 23 miles from the Huron National Forest to historic Oscoda. In the pre-Columbian era, the river itself was a major thoroughfare for Native Americans, providing a nearly uninterrupted route from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron.
It is the long-lived legacy of the Au Sable River that has made it a prime destination, as well as its reputation as a cultural, recreational, and natural treasure trove. Fall just makes the journey a whole lot more colorful. To find more information on the Au Sable River Queen, the paddleboat monarch of this ancient waterway, visit the website. Reservations are required and tour fares are $15 per adult. Reserve your spot today before the final Fall Color Tour on October 29th to view the vibrant autumn hues along Oscoda’s river. Each Fall Color Tour lasts about two hours.
You can also discover more about the “River of Sand” at Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources website.
Au Sable River Queen
1775 East River Road
Oscoda, MI 48750
989.739.7351
