 Glendalough State Park
Visit the park featured on this year's vehicle permit.
 📷: Gregory Gerhart, 9/23/25
Fall color has arrived at Glendalough State Park! Located near Battle Lake in west-central Minnesota, the park is glowing with colorful woods, golden prairie and quiet lakes. And if the name sounds familiar: Glendalough is the featured park on this year’s Minnesota state parks year-round vehicle permit and state park mug. Don’t forget to get your limited-edition mug before they sell out!
Named after Gleann Dá Loch in Ireland, meaning “Valley of Two Lakes,” Glendalough feels made for an October adventure. The park protects more than nine miles of undeveloped lakeshore. Its mix of lakes, prairie, wetlands and woods offers plenty to explore—and plenty of places to catch fall color.
“Early in October, the best colors will be found in the maples by the lodge and along the shores of the lakes,” said Glendalough State Park Manager Jeffery Wiersma. “In mid-October, the trees along the bike trail will turn golden, and the wooded hiking trails will be paved with colored leaves.”
Lace up your hiking shoes and follow the trail around Annie Battle Lake. Colorful trees hug the shoreline and reflect off the water. Or hop on a bike and explore the park’s paved trail loop. The newest section winds past Sunset Lake and through restored prairie. A trail connection also links the park with nearby Battle Lake.
Be sure to keep your eyes open along the way. Glendalough is an incredible place for birding and wildlife watching, especially during fall migration. Look to the lakes and wetlands for swans and other waterfowl. Watch the shoreline for otters and beavers. White-tailed deer, red foxes and plenty of other wildlife also call the park home. You never know what might be around the next bend.
There’s something new to discover this fall, too. Glendalough recently opened a new trail center with an updated event space, restrooms and seasonal bike and watercraft rentals. Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, rowboats, bikes, and four-person pedal cars are available to rent until Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026.
Not ready to head home? Make a weekend of it. Glendalough offers camping, camper cabins and yurts. Spend the night, wake up to crisp October air and head back out to see what the new day brings. Water in the campground and shower building will turn off for the season Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, after which you can get water from the park office year-round.
Fall color doesn’t wait around. Grab an extra layer, pack your binoculars and discover why Glendalough earned a place on this year’s permit!
|
 |
 |
Gitchi-Gami State Trail
A journey along Minnesota's North Shore.
 📷: DNR staff, 6/27/23
The North Shore of Lake Superior offers a stunning escape in every season. As the air turns crisp and the landscape shifts into brilliant color, it’s the perfect time to slow down, breathe deeply, and bike, walk, or skate along the sweeping lake views of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail.
The trail highlights everything people love about the North Shore: endless waters, rocky coastlines, forested hills, cascading waterfalls, and charming lakeside towns. With 36 miles of paved, non-motorized segments, the trail welcomes adventurers of all skill levels. Smooth transitions between communities and natural areas make exploring easy and accessible. When complete, the trail will stretch 86 miles from Two Harbors to Grand Marais.
Autumn brings a special magic to the trail. Maples blaze in red and orange while aspens and birches shimmer in gold, all with deep contrast from boreal evergreens. Visitors may spot deer, ground squirrels and rabbits preparing for winter, while migrating songbirds, raptors and waterfowl trace the shoreline overhead.
Whether you’re biking, hiking, photographing, bird watching, or simply savoring the season, each segment offers its own unique experience.
|
🥾 Two Harbors – 0.9 miles. A short, accessible stretch along Highway 61 with bright roadside maples and easy sunset views of Burlington Bay.
🍃 Silver Creek Cliff – 0.5 miles. A former section of Scenic Highway 61 offering 4,000 feet of uninterrupted Lake Superior views and vivid cliffside foliage.
🍂 Gooseberry Falls State Park to Silver Bay – 17.3 miles. The longest, most varied segment, passing Iona's Beach SNA, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, and Beaver Bay. Expect waterfalls, unique beaches, iconic lighthouse vistas, rest stops, and access to fishing, camping, and other trails.
🍁 Schroeder to Lutsen – 12.8 miles. Travel inland through Temperance River State Park and its tumbling gorge before returning lakeside near Tofte. A quieter, scenic final approach leads to Lutsen.
🌊 Cut Face Creek to Grand Marais – 5.1 miles. A beautiful stretch through Cascade River State Park, where golden leaves frame the river canyon.
The Gitchi-Gami State Trail offers miles of unforgettable fall experiences; with scenic overlooks, frequent rest areas, and state park connections, it’s perfect for short escapades or full-day adventures.
 Trumpeter Swan
The darling of Minnesota's fall waterfowl.
A trumpeter swan is hard to miss. The swan’s calls and bright white body can be heard and seen from far across a lake. As North America’s heaviest flying bird, they can weight 20 to 30 pounds, with a wingspan stretching more than 8 feet.
But trumpeter swans weren’t always a familiar sight in Minnesota. They disappeared from the state in the late 1800s after decades of hunting. Reintroduction efforts beginning in the 1960s helped bring them back, and today Minnesota supports one of the largest trumpeter swan populations in the country.
As fall temperatures drop and lakes begin to freeze, watch for swans gathering on open water. Some move only as far as they need to find ice-free lakes and rivers where they can continue feeding through the colder months.
|
|
