Find This Week's Best Fall Color

Here is your Minnesota Fall Color Update, brought to you by Explore Minnesota and Minnesota State Parks and Trails. You'll receive this email Thursday afternoons during the peak fall color season, making it easier than ever to make every day a colorful fall adventure.

Prior to making plans, travelers should visit Explore Minnesota's COVID-19 travel hub and Minnesota DNR's COVID-19 resource page for important travel safety updates.

Road trippers can add a little friendly competition to their adventures by downloading a free bingo card at exploreminnesota.com/bingo.

The fall color show now covers all regions of Minnesota. While some far northern portions of the state are past peak, many areas of northwest and northeast Minnesota are still at their prime. Meanwhile, parts of central Minnesota and the Twin Cities are rapidly approaching peak fall color. The forests of southern Minnesota are also colorful but need another week or so until they reach peak fall color.

The fall colors are especially stunning this year — head out soon so you don't miss this year's fall color show!

Fall color has progressed rapidly, leaves are falling and many areas of the far north are now past peak. Some areas of this region, however, are at their peak and filled with bright yellow, gold, peachy-orange and vibrant red leaves. The oaks are contributing rich shades of rust and maroon to the landscape.

• St. Croix State Park, Hinckley
• St. Croix State Forest, Hinckley/Pine County
• Gitchi-Gami State Trail, Tofte to Ski Hill Rd. (7.3 miles)

While some areas are now past peak, the trees in much of northwest Minnesota continue to put on a dazzling show. Pockets of bright red and orange-yellow are visible in the red and sugar maples, and golden tones fill the paper birch, aspen, ironwood, boxelder and cottonwood trees. The understory shrubs are at peak shades of red, peach and yellow-orange leaves.

• La Salle Lake State Recreation Area, Solway
• Lake Bemidji State Park, Bemidji
• Paul Bunyan State Trail, Walker to Lake Bemidji State Park (36.9 miles)

Most areas of central Minnesota are nearing peak fall color. The forest canopies and understory shrubs are filled with vibrant red, orange, peach, apricot and yellow leaves, blanketing most landscapes with a warm, golden glow. The native grasses are adding to the show with their rich shades of gold, bronze, maroon and purple.

• Glacial Lakes State Park, Starbuck
• Glacial Lakes State Trail, Willmar to Cold Spring (38.5 miles)
• Lake Carlos State Park, Carlos

Fall color has progressed rapidly and some of the maple and basswood-dominated forests are nearing their peak color displays. Many maples are filled with red, orange and peach colored leaves, and the sumac and vines are a vibrant crimson red. Landscapes are saturated with golden-yellow fall color found in the ash, cottonwood, elm, hackberry and other tree species.

• Gateway State Trail, St. Paul to Pine Point Regional Park (18 miles)
• Three Rivers Park District, parks throughout the Metro area
• Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska

Bright red, orange and yellow leaves are rapidly developing in the forest canopies, and much of the sumac and other understory shrubs are brilliant shades of scarlet and crimson. Prairies throughout Minnesota's southern region are overflowing with beauty as they near peak fall color.

• Camden State Park, Lynd
• John A. Latsch State Park, Altura
• Rice Lake State Park, Owatonna

Disclaimers: This year's fall color updates are a collaboration between Explore Minnesota and Minnesota State Parks and Trails. As a result, some subscribers may receive two copies of this newsletter. The images in this email are representative of typical Minnesota fall color, not real-time photographs from this year.

Have something else in mind?
OUR EXPERT TRAVEL COUNSELORS CAN HELP!