 Schoolcraft State Park
Big fall color. Small state park.
 đź“·: Park staff, 9/21/20
Looking for a quiet corner of the north woods to soak up fall color? Schoolcraft State Park, tucked along the Mississippi River near Grand Rapids and Deer River, is one of Minnesota's smallest and most secluded state parks.
At just 225 acres, Schoolcraft isn’t vast, but it does have character. Trails send hikers through a stand of old-growth white and red pine, including a white pine estimated to be more than 300 years old. As the surrounding maples, birch and aspen turn red and gold against the green pines, the contrast makes for some of the most striking fall color photography in the area — perhaps without another park visitor in sight.
The Hiking Club trail loops 1.75 miles through the forest along the river, with interpretive signs sharing the park's history, including its ties to explorer Henry Schoolcraft and Anishinaabe guide Ozawindib, who charted the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It's an easy, mostly flat walk, perfect for a crisp fall afternoon.
Autumn is also prime time for birders as many species are migrating. Multiple species of warblers and sparrows are commonly seen in the fall, and waterfowl are abundant along the banks of the Mississippi River. Bring binoculars and a bird checklist from the park.
Anglers and paddlers can take advantage of the Mississippi's calm current for a peaceful float or a fall fishing trip, and the picnic area near the boat launch offers a front-row seat to the river. Use the provided grills to cook up a tasty fall lunch or dinner.
A few notes for planning: the campground at Schoolcraft closes for the season after Labor Day, so this is a day-use trip. Schoolcraft doesn’t have a staffed ranger station, so check the information kiosk to find park information when you arrive. Visitors who need to purchase a state park vehicle permit can do so using a QR code at the kiosk, or buy one online before arriving at the park.
If you're chasing color and quiet this fall, Schoolcraft delivers both. No crowds required.
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Gateway State Trail
Take in fall color on horseback.Â
 đź“·: DNR staff, 7/23/13
Clippety CRUNCH, clippety CRUNCH, clippety CRUNCH. These are the sounds made by a horse who loves stomping through fall leaves as much as any human. Most equestrians agree that fall is the best time for trail riding in Minnesota: the weather has turned crisp, the relentless biting bugs are gone, and those lovely crunchy leaves cover the ground.
For riders near the Twin Cities, the Gateway State Trail makes for an easy afternoon ride. Roughly nine and a half miles of well-managed horse trail runs alongside the 18-mile paved trail, from the 55th Street trailhead in Oakdale to Pine Point Regional Park/County Road 55, a few miles northwest of Stillwater.
It’s not a long ride, but for being so close to the metro, it really feels like you’re on a bigger adventure. You’ll see beautiful remnant prairies just east of Manning and Lansing avenues – small native grasslands full of monarch butterflies and diverse native wildflowers wearing their peak fall colors. You’ll ride past several ponds where you may hear or see migrating birds. Stop to listen at Capaul’s Pond just north of Highway 36; Long Lake, just east of highways 694 and 36; and along the lakes and marshes as the trail winds through Pine Point Regional Park.
You can add close to another four miles with the out-and-back horse trail spur along the Brown’s Creek State Trail, just west of the Manning Avenue bridge. This stretch includes a meandering single-track trail that takes you through some truly beautiful trees. It’s a nice change of pace from the more open riding you’ll enjoy on the Gateway, which is perfect for ambling crunchily along, next to a friend.
Two more perks: You don’t have to pack your blaze orange as there’s no hunting on or across either state trail, and from the horse’s mouth, there’s an apple orchard with hitching posts along the Gateway near the Jamaca Avenue crossing!
Riders must have a signed Minnesota Horse Pass, which directly funds our state horse trails and facilities.
Heads up to horseback riders:
A portion of the Stony Brook Horse Trail will be closed Sept. 22- Oct. 15, 2026, due to an active timber sale. The closed section of the trail goes from marker 1 to Snake Trail Forest Road. Riders can expect increased vehicle traffic, heavy equipment use, trail debris, distractions, delays, and increased noise throughout the entire area, including the Stony Brook Horse Campground.
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 American Marten
Meet the elusive north woods resident.
The American marten, also called the pine marten, is a small member of the weasel family found in Minnesota’s northern forests. Martens declined sharply when their forest habitat was heavily logged during the late 1800s and early 1900s, but populations eventually began to recover.
About two feet long from nose to tail and weighing around two pounds, martens are excellent climbers. They hunt mice, chipmunks, squirrels, and other small animals as they move through trees and across the forest floor.
Martens stay active all winter. When temperatures drop, they can take shelter beneath the snow, using spaces around tree roots, logs and other woody debris to escape the cold before heading back out to hunt. As Minnesota’s north woods settle into fall, keep an eye on the trees and forest floor; you might catch a quick flash of golden-brown fur.
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