Explore Minnesota during peak fall colors season at these four beautiful locations. Keep reading for tips and suggestions for planning your autumn adventure.
Fall is my favorite season. I love the crisp cool weather that is perfect for hiking or going for a walk. I’m a sucker for all the beautiful fall colors. During the months of September and October, you can usually find me outside in the evenings or on weekends searching for wooded paths full of trees changing color and dropping their leaves.
Although I’ve visited many beautiful places in Minnesota, a few experiences during peak fall color season have left a lasting impression. There are many tools available to help plan a perfect fall color day trip or overnight adventure in Minnesota. By combining my experiences at four beautiful locations with free and public resources, I hope you get out and explore Minnesota this fall.
When do fall colors peak in Minnesota?
Although the peak fall colors typically occur at the end of September and the beginning of October, colors can start to turn in early September and leaves can remain on the trees later into October. The number of leaves that have changed color can differ greatly depending on where in Minnesota you are located. Typically, leaves begin to change color in Northern Minnesota earlier with the last trees changing their colors in Southern Minnesota. There are other geographical factors that can affect this (and I am no expert). For more scientific information on when and why the leaves change color, check out the MN DNR website.
Even though I’m not an expert on predicting when the leaves will reach their peak fall performance, you can easily track their patterns and locations using a tool from the Minnesota DNR. The Fall Color Finder shows a map of Minnesota and indicates what percentage of trees have reached their peak fall colors. This tool is so useful as it is updated weekly. I refer to this during the week to plan fun day hikes or overnight trips during the coming weekend. If you’re interested in photography and capturing pictures of beautiful fall scenery, this tool could be especially useful for deciding when and where to shoot your photos.
There are many other resources available to plan fall adventures. Explore Minnesota‘s website also has a great article that lists “must view” locations throughout Minnesota. However, you don’t need to drive far or commit a good chunk of time to enjoy the spectacular fall colors. Simply take a walk down your road or at a nearby park to see the beautiful Minnesota colors.
Where to see fall colors in Minnesota.
As a huge advocate for home town tourism, I believe in exploring small towns, shopping small and purchasing local products, and enjoying what Minnesota has to offer. I have now visited 52 out of 75 of Minnesota’s State Parks as well as many other hiking trails, nature centers and, parks. These four locations are just a few of the beautiful places where I’ve enjoyed fall colors throughout Minnesota.
Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park
Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park is located an hour south of Minneapolis, just northeast of Faribault, Minnesota. It’s proximity to the cities makes it a great day trip option for anyone located near or south of the cities. Nerstrand-Big Woods‘ maple-basswood forest makes it an ideal location to enjoy the yellow, orange and red hues of the changing leaves. This park is a beautiful location to plan a picnic, go for a hike or simply photograph the beautiful tall trees and colors.
The hidden falls waterfall is a short 1/2 mile hike from the picnic area and parking lot. This waterfall is a fun scenic spot with a short hike that still allows you to immerse yourself in the forest. There are over six additional miles of hiking through the wooded trails throughout the park. The woods are filled with tall, straight Big Wood Trees with a lower covering of ferns on the forest floor. In addition to hiking and picnic areas, Nerstrand-Big Woods campground also boasts over 50 campsites both for traditional tent camping and sites with electric hookups available.
Things to do near Faribault
With it’s proximity to Faribault, I highly recommend exploring the city before or after spending time in the park. The Faribault Woolen Mill is one of my favorite shops to explore when in the area. The Wool Mill features tours and beautiful products in their store. This would be a great place to pick up a cozy fall wool blanket to start using in the colder months. In addition to the Faribault Woolen Mill, I have also enjoyed stopping at the Crack of Dawn Bakehouse & Market. Swing by for delicious baked goods, warm soup and other delicious homemade food.
McCarthy Beach State Park
McCarthy Beach State Park is located under 4 hours north of Minneapolis in Superior National Forest. Side Lake, the town where this state park is located, was filled with colorful trees and weaving roads leading to the park were picturesque. The hilly landscape is filled with hiking trails and chains of lakes.
The trails throughout the park were clearly marked with many maps throughout. The park consists of both hiking and mountain biking trails with cross country skiing and snowmobiling trails in the winter. I hiked near Pickerel lake which also happens to be a trout lake that is popular for anglers. This park was a stopping point on my home from camping even farther north. Its central location makes it an easy spot to stop to explore and break up the drive.
Lake Suprerior North Shore
The North Shore is one of the most popular Minnesota destinations during peak fall colors. Rightfully so, the fall colors are stunning on the North Shore. The North Shore begins near Duluth, a quick 2 and a half-hour drive from the cities and reaches up to the Canadian Border. Usually, the trees reach peak colors at the end of September and beginning of October. The abundant hiking trails and scenic overlooks of the North Shore are a prime destination for viewing fall colors. There are so many options and fun things to do on the North Shore so I will only highlight a few experiences that I have had.
Although very crowded, Oberg Mountain Trail is a 3 mile hike with stunning views. Throughout this hike, there are spectacular views of Lake Superior, Oberg Lake and, Moose Mountain. This a great spot to snap pictures of the fall colors with scenic views. This trail is also part of the Superior Hiking Trail. We were able to take pictures at each overlook but at some locations, we had to wait due to the line of people waiting to take their pictures. This hike is amazing for views but not ideal for people who want to avoid the crowds.
State Parks along the North Shore
Any state park along the way There are so many places to hike or just enjoy the colors. MN State Parks are a great option with designated picnic areas, hiking trails and plenty of information and maps. Use the MN State Park Map on their website to find parks along the North Shore and browse maps and highlights of each state park. Some of my favorite state parks along the North Shore include Jay Cooke State Park, which is just south of Duluth, all the way up to Grand Portage State Park, situated at the Canadian Border.
Tourist destinations and avoiding crowds
In addition to scenic overlooks and hiking, the North Shore is full of unique coffee shops, restaurants and, gift shops. A few of my favorites include Mocha Moose Coffee Café and Castle Danger Brewery. Both are located near Two Harbors. Some of the restaurants can have long wait times for lunch and dinner while coffee shops can offer quick food and drink options. If you want to avoid the crowds, I recommend choosing longer, more secluded hikes or possibly visiting during an off-peak color weekend.
Lake Rebecca Park Preserve
Lake Rebecca Park Preserve is located just 30 miles west of Minneapolis in Delano, MN. This park is one of many Three River Park District parks throughout Minnesota. Lake Rebecca boasts a big woods landscape that is perfect for strolling through trees of yellow, orange and red. Besides the lake there are also numerous wetlands along over 25 miles of trails.
Lake Rebecca Park contains picnic areas, beaches, watercraft rentals, and play areas. In addition, there are 25 miles of hiking trails, 8 miles of paved bike trails, horse riding trails, and 13.5 miles of single track mountain bike trails. This park is the perfect place to take your bike for a cool fall bike ride or enjoy a fall picnic. The Three Rivers Park District consists of additional parks all around the twin cities with over 27,000 acres of trails and park to explore. Any of these parks would be a great option to get outside and enjoy fall in Minnesota.
Festive fall activities nearby
There are also many festive fall orchard and pumpkin patches located near Lake Rebecca. Apple Jack Orchard is a popular fall destination located just 10 minutes away from Lake Rebecca Park Preserve. This orchard consists of U-Pick apples, pumpkin patches, a corn maze and family festivities for kids including a small petting zoo. Apple Jack Orchard has a delicious variety of apple and other fall-flavored food with amazing apple cinnamon mini donuts. The gift shop is filled with apple cider, desserts and, jams as well as other fun treasures. The orchard is also a great destination for pictures and group outing activities.
Plan your peak fall colors adventure
The biggest tip when planning a trip to see fall colors is to use MN DNR’s fall color finder website. This is so helpful for planning where and when you should visit each location. Another incredibly useful tool is tool is the DNR’s Geospatial PDF Map tool. You can access a variety of Minnesota maps on their website. Maps include State Park maps, state forests, trails, DNR recreation base maps and more. By downloading the Avenza Maps application on your phone, you are able to download PDF maps from the DNR’s website. After they are downloaded you can access them later on your phone. This is especially useful because you do not need to be connected to the internet or have cell service while using the map. The biggest perk is that you can display your current location on the map like Google Maps and easily navigate trails.
Tips & Tricks
- Use the tools that are available to you (Fall Color Finder, Avenza Maps, etc.)
- Expect trails and locations to be crowded and plan accordingly for parking, sleeping arrangements, and wait times.
- Travel close to home for a day trip if time is limited.
- If you plan to go on an overnight trip know that many campgrounds and hotels are completely booked. Book your travel ahead of time. If planning at the last minute, keep an eye out for cancelations or openings at an ideal campground or Airbnb. Check out my previous post about booking your dream Airbnb here.
- Bring your camera! Fall colors are beautiful to photograph. I invested in a tripod that I use on every trip and group event to capture pictures. The Joby tripod is my favorite.
- Pack layers. The weather is unpredictable so be prepared for cooler mornings and warmer afternoons. Light layers are ideal for fall.
Comment below where you like to travel to see fall colors! Save this post to Pinterest to reference it next time you’re exploring Minnesota.
