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Fall Colors Take Flight 🦅 |
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The Minnesota State Parks and Trails Fall Color Update newsletter is sent Thursday mornings in September through October of the leaf peeping season.
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 Soar into the Weekend
Look up to peep birds and leaves
 📷: Jacqueline Peterson, Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area - taken 9/11/24
The great fall migration is underway! Every year, nearly 40% of North American waterfowl and shorebirds use the Mississippi River Flyway in the spring and fall. As you gaze at the changing leaves above, be sure to keep an eye out for our feathered friends as well.
Minnesota state parks and recreation areas are perfect places to dip your beak (or wing) into birding. Each park has a bird checklist of all documented bird species to help you get started, and some parks also offer free loaner birding kits. Learn more on our website.
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This week, we're catching up with Mason Branstrator, a Duluth native who has inspired people across the world to keep moving. After suffering a life-altering injury on a ski slope at 17, Mason has become a beloved advocate for adaptive adventure on TikTok and Instagram. Mason recently put one of our all-terrain track chairs to the test. Watch his visit to McCarthy Beach State Park and learn more about all-terrain track chairs below. Enjoy!
All-Terrain Track Chairs
Whether you are a visitor with a few more seasons under your belt, regularly use a wheelchair, or recently had surgery, our all-terrain track chairs are available to help you experience the beauty of fall in Minnesota!
These incredible electric-powered chairs are free to use at over a dozen Minnesota state parks, and are adaptable for left-hand, right-hand, or attendant control. Explore beautiful prairie, rugged trails, sandy beaches and even shallow water crossings with ease on your next adventure!
Track chairs are available year-round in some locations, and seasonally in others. Make sure you reserve a chair for your visit so you can enjoy the vibrant fall colors this season. Learn more and check out a list of locations with available all-terrain track on our website.
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 The Many Marvels of Maplewood
 📷: Don Del Greco, Maplewood State Park - taken 9/29/11
Amidst the farmlands of western Minnesota, Maplewood State Park sits on a cluster of high, tree-covered hills, dotted with deep valleys and small, clear lakes. Known for its stunning colors in the fall—thanks to its hardwood trees like sugar maple, basswood and oak—Maplewood State Park is a must-visit item on your fall colors bucket list.
In addition to hiking trails like the short, 0.6 mile Hallaway Hill Trail or the 0.75 mile Woodland trail for epic fall color views, the park also offers 20 miles of horseback riding trails for all equestrian lovers to enjoy! These trails cross a wide variety of landscapes, virtually guaranteeing stunning displays of red, orange and gold anywhere you go. Just remember your Horse Pass before you head out! (Horse Passes must be on you at all times while out on the horseback trails. A picture on your cell phone of the front and back of your Horse Pass is also acceptable.) If you’re more of a mountain biker, Maplewood State Park has nine miles of biking trails along paved roads and trail tread-ways that also offer an amazing variety of views.
Of course, if you’re looking for more of a slower-paced visit, enjoy the picnic area along South Lida Lake, where you can find beautiful lakeshore views and plenty of wildlife viewing and birdwatching opportunities. Alternately, you can opt for a scenic, five-mile drive through the park, which will take you through shady hollows, wooded knolls and spectacular prairie restoration. The park’s campsites are a great place to retreat to after a full day of fall adventuring.
Maplewood State Park is a destination park in the fall, especially if you are on the western side of the state. The rich forests, rolling hills and blue waters offer a spectacular setting to enjoy the fall season, whether you’re hiking, horseback riding or camping during your visit. For a smoother arrival, we recommend you purchase your park permit ahead of time to bypass any park traffic. We hope you get a chance to enjoy the fall colors!
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