I will be at a conference in St. Paul September 8-13 and am thinking of staying after another week or so to photograph fall color. This is early for fall color in my home state of California, but am wondering what the date ranges are for fall color in Minnesota. I will be renting a car and can drive north as needed. Also, suggestions for areas to visit would be appreciated. Thanks!!
Posted by Darren Huski on June 18, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Tony-
You might be a little early, but there is likely at least some color somewhere.
I do a bit of business travel to Minnesota and have been there from September through Thanksgiving. For the area south of the Twin Cities along the Mississippi River (Red Wing south to LaCrosse) the colors are best the first two weeks of October.
You best bet will probably be someplace north. Maybe up in the arrowhead (north of Duluth) or around Voyagers NP.
Another area would be to go to the Michigan Upper Pennisula and goto the Porcupine Mountains. About a 5 hour drive from MSP. Great, scenic drive BTW. Right on the shores of Lake Superior. Great views and they get amazing fall color. I once caught peak color there and it was right at the end of September.
I hope more of the locals can chime in with suggestions for you.
The UP has some variation. Color is a little later along the shores of Superior due to temp. differences. Just a few miles from the coast can be completely different.
I always gauge the interior of the UP and northern Wisconsin to the first full weekend of October. Colors are spotty sometimes with it being peak in one area and 50 miles away it's a week away.
So far we have had a good spring for growth and precipitation. If it continues we could be in for a great autumn.
I've never been in MN during autumn, but your best bet like Darren said is Voyaguers or the Boundary Waters area such as Ely.
The north shore of superior and the UP side is spectacular any time of year with lighthouses, vistas and waterfalls.
You are going to be too early for fall colors in Minnesota and the UP of Michigan. Typically the peak is about the first of October although last year it was about a week later. You can go to my website and click on Minnesota and Michigan and see the dates the fall colors photos were taken.
However, if you are in the area a trip from Duluth to Grand Marais along the North Shore of Lake Superior is well worth the trip anytime. Almost all of my Minnesota photos were taken along the North Shore.
That's about 2-3 weeks early unfortunately (I'm speaking for areas north of Duluth along Lake Superior) I've found the best time for the North Shore is the last weekend in September and first week in October.
Discussion
5 repliesYou might be a little early, but there is likely at least some color somewhere.
I do a bit of business travel to Minnesota and have been there from September through Thanksgiving. For the area south of the Twin Cities along the Mississippi River (Red Wing south to LaCrosse) the colors are best the first two weeks of October.
You best bet will probably be someplace north. Maybe up in the arrowhead (north of Duluth) or around Voyagers NP.
Another area would be to go to the Michigan Upper Pennisula and goto the Porcupine Mountains. About a 5 hour drive from MSP. Great, scenic drive BTW. Right on the shores of Lake Superior. Great views and they get amazing fall color. I once caught peak color there and it was right at the end of September.
I hope more of the locals can chime in with suggestions for you.
Have a great trip!
I always gauge the interior of the UP and northern Wisconsin to the first full weekend of October. Colors are spotty sometimes with it being peak in one area and 50 miles away it's a week away.
So far we have had a good spring for growth and precipitation. If it continues we could be in for a great autumn.
I've never been in MN during autumn, but your best bet like Darren said is Voyaguers or the Boundary Waters area such as Ely.
The north shore of superior and the UP side is spectacular any time of year with lighthouses, vistas and waterfalls.
However, if you are in the area a trip from Duluth to Grand Marais along the North Shore of Lake Superior is well worth the trip anytime. Almost all of my Minnesota photos were taken along the North Shore.
Phil Schwarz
E2311 530th Ave
Menomonie, WI 54751
e-mail: schwarzp@uwstout.edu
web: http://philipschwarz.zenfolio.com/