Best place for Fall Colors in Midwest?

I'm in Chicago and wondering where to take some good shots of the fall colors this year. Where's the best place within driving distance of Chicago? And what's the best time to go? Late September? Early October? Late October?

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Try Starved Rock State Park. There aren't too many placed in Illinois with hills, trees and waterfalls. The waterfalls generally only run in the spring and after it rains. Bald eagles like to hang out just below the dam. A lot of bald eagles spend their winters there.

Thanks for the info BKJ. Anyone else have ideas of places to shoot?

http://www.dnr.state.m​n.us/fall_colors/index​.html

Northeastern Minnesota (north shore) Very beautiful state parks up and down the north shore with great hiking and loads of waterfalls in most parks. This website is pretty current and as you get closer to the leaves turning, people update with pictures daily. Ill be taking a few daytrips up this fall, but i am also only coming from the twin cities. i bet there are a ton of places to go along the lake michigan coast / superior coast of wisconsin as well http://www.travelwisco​nsin.com/fallcolor_rep​ort.aspx

happy shooting,

John

The nice thing about chicago is that you can go north in the early season and south later and find various color changes. As mentioned above starved rock is good for a day trip.

Warren Dunes State Park in Michigain is a couple of hours away, and well worth the drive. Colors there will start to peak about 1-2 weeks before they do in Chicago proper.

I've heard the Upper Penninsula, but not sure of the driving distance from Chicago.