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| American basswood can be seen in Fairmont. |
in the Fairmont area than
a hike.
The brilliant yellows, oranges and red of
The brilliant yellows, oranges and red of
maples to the scarlet and russets of oaks...the crisp, fresh autumn air and the last warm rays of sunlight before winter arrives...the crunch of fallen leaves
and acorns beneath your boots...stopping to enjoy
a warm mug of apple cider or a caramel apple pulled from your backpack – it all calls for an afternoon on
the trail.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Fairmont to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Cedar Creek Park (Fairmont)
Oak, basswood and several other hardwoods brighten the prairie in autumn colors at Cedar Creek Park in Fairmont. A 1.8-mile paved trail and a little more than 3 miles of mowed nature trails run through the park, which is almost entirely wooded. From Minn. Hwy. 15 in Fairmont, go west on County Road 20/Lake Aires Road then turn right/north onto Cedar Park Road; a parking lot is at the road’s end with trails running either west or east from the lot’s north side.
Okamanpeedan State Park (Dolliver, Iowa)
Hikers can enjoy fall foliage on the shores of a lake at tiny Okamanpeedan State Park. Located on the Minnesota-Iowa border, you’ll need to rely on degraded footpaths that run through the woods. From Fairmont, take Minn. Hwy. 15 south. In Iowa, turn right/west onto Hwy. A17 then right/north onto 510th Avenue (which naturally becomes 110th Street). Turn right/north onto a gravel road into the park.
Burt Lake Campground and Wildlife Area (Armstrong, Iowa)
Autumn leaves light up a small forest on the southwest corner of a lake at Burt Lake Campground and Wildlife Area. A short mowed grass trail runs near Swag Lake, which is split by the Minnesota-Iowa border. From Fairmont, take Minn. Hwy. 15 south into Iowa. Turn left/east onto Hwy. A16 then left/north onto 40th Avenue. When the road splits, continue left-straight/north into the park.
Pihl’s Park (Blue Earth)
Finding woodlands with great autumn leaf displays in the prairie always is a challenge. Among the best places to look for such woodlands are lakes. Such a spot can be found at 20-acre Pihl’s Park. A small woods with a nature trail borders a small portion of Rice Lake with colors peaking in late September through early October. From Blue Earth, take Interstate 90 east. Exit right/south onto Minn. Hwy. 22. Go right-straight/south onto County Road 118. The park entry is on the right/west.
Kilen Woods State Park (Jackson)
Oaks grace the ravines and river slopes at Kilen Woods State Park along the Des Moines River. To enjoy the autumn colors in an area dominated by farm fields, try the 1.1-mile round trip Rock Creek Trail to south on the Sioux Trail then the looping Riverside Trail. From Jackson, take County Road 14/10 west. Turn right/north onto County Road 17 then a right/east onto County Road 24. Park in the lot and look for the picnic shelter for the trailhead.
Wood Lake Wildlife Management Area (St. James)
Hikers can enjoy autumn leaves reflected in a pretty lake at Wood Lake Wildlife Management Area. While wetlands make circling Wood Lake difficult at best, you can walk about 100 feet one-way from the parking area to the lake and then its northwest shore for as far as game trails and degraded footpaths will take you. From St. James, take Minn. Hwy. 4 north. Turn left/west onto Minn. Hwy. 30, right/north onto County Road 18, and left/west onto T-212. Look for the entrance to the wildlife area on the left/south just before the road curves northwest.
Mayflower Park (Windom)
Woodlands full of autumn leaves usually are hard to come by on the prairie. One place to locate them, however, is along rivers where trees can flourish. In Cottonwood County, Mayflower Park along the Des Moines River in Windom fits the bill. Follow the 1-mile round trip disc golf course through the woods. From County Road 17 in Windom, take Drake Avenue south. Turn left/east onto the dirt road and follow it the park’s parking lot.
Red Jacket Trail (Mankato-Rapidan)
Autumn colors abound on the Red Jacket Trail running between Mankato and Rapidan. To stay in the woods, hike the 3.75-mile round trip segment from Huffy Lane north to the bridge over the LeSueur River. The bridge runs across former railroad tresses 80 feet above the water. Leaves usually peak between late September to mid October. From Mankato, take County Road 33 south. Turn right/west onto Huffy Lane. Park on the road shoulder at the trailhead.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Fairmont to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Cedar Creek Park (Fairmont)
Oak, basswood and several other hardwoods brighten the prairie in autumn colors at Cedar Creek Park in Fairmont. A 1.8-mile paved trail and a little more than 3 miles of mowed nature trails run through the park, which is almost entirely wooded. From Minn. Hwy. 15 in Fairmont, go west on County Road 20/Lake Aires Road then turn right/north onto Cedar Park Road; a parking lot is at the road’s end with trails running either west or east from the lot’s north side.
Okamanpeedan State Park (Dolliver, Iowa)
Hikers can enjoy fall foliage on the shores of a lake at tiny Okamanpeedan State Park. Located on the Minnesota-Iowa border, you’ll need to rely on degraded footpaths that run through the woods. From Fairmont, take Minn. Hwy. 15 south. In Iowa, turn right/west onto Hwy. A17 then right/north onto 510th Avenue (which naturally becomes 110th Street). Turn right/north onto a gravel road into the park.
Burt Lake Campground and Wildlife Area (Armstrong, Iowa)
Autumn leaves light up a small forest on the southwest corner of a lake at Burt Lake Campground and Wildlife Area. A short mowed grass trail runs near Swag Lake, which is split by the Minnesota-Iowa border. From Fairmont, take Minn. Hwy. 15 south into Iowa. Turn left/east onto Hwy. A16 then left/north onto 40th Avenue. When the road splits, continue left-straight/north into the park.
Pihl’s Park (Blue Earth)
Finding woodlands with great autumn leaf displays in the prairie always is a challenge. Among the best places to look for such woodlands are lakes. Such a spot can be found at 20-acre Pihl’s Park. A small woods with a nature trail borders a small portion of Rice Lake with colors peaking in late September through early October. From Blue Earth, take Interstate 90 east. Exit right/south onto Minn. Hwy. 22. Go right-straight/south onto County Road 118. The park entry is on the right/west.
Kilen Woods State Park (Jackson)
Oaks grace the ravines and river slopes at Kilen Woods State Park along the Des Moines River. To enjoy the autumn colors in an area dominated by farm fields, try the 1.1-mile round trip Rock Creek Trail to south on the Sioux Trail then the looping Riverside Trail. From Jackson, take County Road 14/10 west. Turn right/north onto County Road 17 then a right/east onto County Road 24. Park in the lot and look for the picnic shelter for the trailhead.
Wood Lake Wildlife Management Area (St. James)
Hikers can enjoy autumn leaves reflected in a pretty lake at Wood Lake Wildlife Management Area. While wetlands make circling Wood Lake difficult at best, you can walk about 100 feet one-way from the parking area to the lake and then its northwest shore for as far as game trails and degraded footpaths will take you. From St. James, take Minn. Hwy. 4 north. Turn left/west onto Minn. Hwy. 30, right/north onto County Road 18, and left/west onto T-212. Look for the entrance to the wildlife area on the left/south just before the road curves northwest.
Mayflower Park (Windom)
Woodlands full of autumn leaves usually are hard to come by on the prairie. One place to locate them, however, is along rivers where trees can flourish. In Cottonwood County, Mayflower Park along the Des Moines River in Windom fits the bill. Follow the 1-mile round trip disc golf course through the woods. From County Road 17 in Windom, take Drake Avenue south. Turn left/east onto the dirt road and follow it the park’s parking lot.
Red Jacket Trail (Mankato-Rapidan)
Autumn colors abound on the Red Jacket Trail running between Mankato and Rapidan. To stay in the woods, hike the 3.75-mile round trip segment from Huffy Lane north to the bridge over the LeSueur River. The bridge runs across former railroad tresses 80 feet above the water. Leaves usually peak between late September to mid October. From Mankato, take County Road 33 south. Turn right/west onto Huffy Lane. Park on the road shoulder at the trailhead.
