Michigan’s Destroyed ‘Tunnel of Trees’ Gets Update

Two days into fall, the leaves already have a tinge of orange. Here in Michigan, it is one of the prettiest times of year, and many people head up north for stunning views as the trees turn orange, red, and yellow. But one of the state's most acclaimed fall views has had multiple issues and won't be available for quite some time.

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The Tunnel of Trees is acclaimed for its beautiful drive surrounded by leaves, but after a winter storm and a landslide, its outlook has been grim. But finally, an update on the state of the trees has been given, and it's best described as bittersweet.

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What Happened To The Tunnel of Trees?

Several parts of M-119 have been in dire straits since a series of spring storms wrecked multiple sections of the road. Roads were damaged in April after heavy snowmelt, and as crews worked to repair them, another set of storms in June caused further damage, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has been working ever since to get the road back in one piece.

READ MORE: Is This Devastating Northern Michigan 'Ice Storm' Being Overlooked?

One of the most well-known portions, the Devil's Elbow, is far from opening. As it turns out, that's apparently a trend for some other section of the iconic drive.

The Tunnel of Trees Latest Update

In a Facebook post, the Tunnel of Trees, M-119 page shared an update from State Senator John Damoose, who expressed optimism that the roads can be repaired. The downside is that it may not be repaired until 2028. He also voiced support for studies to understand how the damage to the degree happened and how to prevent it from happening again.

The good news is that repairs are possible. If you're still looking to take a drive on the route this fall, petoskeyarea.com has mapped out which portions of the road are open and where the detours are.