 Savanna Portage in Full Color
Where bright canopies, quiet waters, and timeless trails come together.
 📷: Lorie Shaull, 9/22/23
In autumn, Savanna Portage State Park comes alive with color and history. The park’s rolling hardwood forests in fall colors create a stunning backdrop for hiking, camping, and wildlife watching.
One of the best ways to take in the season is along the Continental Divide Trail, where the birch and aspen trees turn bright yellow and make the forest canopy glow overhead. This route follows the Savanna Portage, once an essential route for Indigenous people and later fur traders moving goods between the Mississippi River and Great Lakes watersheds. By the mid-1800s, steamboats, roads, and trains replaced the need for this rugged crossing. Today, the portage remains significant as a historic corridor that shaped the land's past and now invites visitors to experience its natural beauty and cultural legacy.
From the Continental Divide Overlook, visitors can see a sweeping view of the forest’s fall palette. It is also a place of unique geography—water to the west flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico, while water to the east reaches Lake Superior and Hudson Bay.
Savanna, Shumway, and Wolf lakes often host migrating swans, loons, and other waterfowl pausing to rest on their journey south. The trails around Lake Shumway and Loon Lake are well-traveled and have many beautiful vistas. For a quieter visit, Wolf Lake offers a place to sit and absorb nature.
Visitors exploring the Remote Lake Solitude Area next to the park should be aware that it lies within the Savanna State Forest, where hunting may be in progress during fall. For season dates, visit the DNR website.
Savanna Portage State Park visitors looking for a pretty fall drive should check out the road to the campground which offers lovely views, especially overlooks of the Beaver Pond Trail.
As evening falls, the park becomes a peaceful retreat with 61 drive-in campsites (18 with electricity), six backpack sites, a camper cabin, a guest house and a group camp for up to 30 people.
Whether visiting for a day hike, a scenic drive, or an overnight stay, Savanna Portage provides a rich blend of history, natural wonder, and the unforgettable colors of fall.
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Fall Along the C.J. Ramstad State Trail
Brilliant maples, quiet ridges, and endless miles to explore.
 📷: Trail staff, 10/5/16
Exploring the C.J. Ramstad State Trail is the perfect way to experience the rugged and beautiful scenery of Minnesota's maple-covered ridges without the typical crowds along the North Shore. Walk along the ridgeline overlooking a yellow and orange framed Lake Superior on the horizon. The entire trail is natural surface so be sure to pull on a pair of sturdy hiking boots.
With 146 miles of trail, C.J. Ramstad offers more than you could cover in a single day. Enjoy returning multiple times to explore new segments each time. Up for a multi-day hike? The C.J. Ramstad connects in multiple places to the Superior Hiking Trail where you can stay at a nearby campsite.
As you wander through the woods, you’ll find dark oranges and reds in the sumac and jewelweed along the trail. Asters may have passed their bloom, but you can still catch some purples ranging from dark violet to lavender. While you take in the variety of colors above and below, listen for their accompanying wildlife sounds. Most of the trail is in remote, undeveloped areas of Minnesota forest, making wildlife sightings much more common.
Ready to ride the trail? Grab your horse pass, saddle up, and trailer on over to one of the many parking areas along the trail. Let your horse carry you through the natural beauty of the north woods. Though you won’t cross many roads, be prepared for a handful of water crossings.
If ATV riding is more your style, start your offroad adventure on C.J. Ramstad. A 6.6-mile stretch is open to Class 1 and Class 2 ATVs, with connections to over 60 miles of grant-in-aid ATV trails. Looking to camp in the Finland State Forest? Ride the Moose Run ATV Trail, which connects with the Wild Country ATV Trail running parallel to the C.J. Ramstad, and roll right into the campground.
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