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| Lake Maria State Park |
to experience autumn colors in the Monticello, Minnesota, area than a hike.
The brilliant yellows, oranges and red of maples to the scarlet
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 Monticello to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Lake Maria State Park (Monticello)
In an area where farm fields and now urbanization dots the landscape, there remains a spot that early French explorers called the Bois Grand – or as Laura Ingalls Wilder later described it, the Big Woods – a vast continental forest of maple and basswood. The 3.6-mile Big Woods Loop Trail in Lake Maria State Park loops through a remnant of the famed woods that pioneers found when they arrived in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The fall colors usually peak in October, turning the canopy above you brilliant hues of yellow, orange and red. Bring a picnic lunch for the lake. From Monticello, take County Road 39 west. Turn right/north onto County Road 111 then enter the park by going left/west onto Park Road. After passing the park office, turn left/south onto the road leading to the Trail Center, where there is a parking lot and trailhead.
Humphrey Arends County Park (Buffalo)
Fall foliage abounds along the North Fork Crow River at Humphrey Arends County Park. A 0.45-mile round trip mowed trail runs past a picnic area into the woods. From Buffalo, take County Road 12S south. Turn right/west onto County Road 107 then right/north onto County Road 9. The park entrance is on the left/west just before crossing the river.
Woodland Trails Regional Park (Elk River)
Autumn colors brighten much of the 427-acre Woodland Trails Regional Park in Elk River. More than 6 miles of dedicated hiking trails head through the forest there. Use the Green Trail (not it’s official name but the trail’s color on city maps), a set of seven connected loops that runs through the heart of the woods. From the junction of U.S. Hwys. 169 and 10 in Elk River, take the latter west. Turn right/north onto Proctor Avenue NW, which becomes Elk Lake Road NW. Go right/east into the park at the County Road 32 intersection. From the parking lot, walk the Blue Trail east to the Green Trail.
Bailey Point Nature Preserve (Elk River)
Harvest hues abound at the confluence of the Mississippi and Elk rivers in Bailey Point Nature Preserve. Two stacked loops offer about 0.75-miles of trails at the new park. The loops head through and alongside woodlands, which border a savanna that is being restored. From the junction of U.S. Hwy. 10 and Main Street NW in Elk River, take the latter west. Turn left/south onto Morton Avenue NW, which ends in a parking lot at the preserve. The trail heads west from the lot.
Crow-Hassan Regional Park (Rogers)
Dense growths of maple and oak can be enjoyed at Crow-Hassan Regional Park near Rogers. While much of the park is savanna, a 6-mile round trip trail can be taken along the edge of the Crow River, where most of the trees grow. From the junction of Interstate 94 and Minn. Hwy. 101 in Rogers, take the latter south. Turn right/south onto Main Street/County Road 150. Go right/west onto County Road 49, which becomes Tucker Road. Next, head right/northwest onto Territorial Road/County Road 116 then left/southwest onto Hassan Parkway, and right/northwest onto Ghostley Road. At Park Drive, continue straight/west into the park. From the parking lot, walk west toward the trees.
Elm Creek Park Reserve (Dayton)
Yellow aspen and tan-orange oak leaves await hikers at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Dayton. Try the 4.5-mile Orange Loop (so-named here because of its color on reserve maps) that runs southeast of the Eastman Nature Center. The trail crosses both Elm and Rush creeks in the 4900-acre reserve. Keep an out for wildlife, including eagles, white-tailed deer, loons, and hawks. From Dayton River Road in Dayton, take Pineview Lane south. Go right/west onto County Road 121 then left/east onto Elm Creek Road into the reserve. When the reserve road splits, head right/south. Park at the nature center.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Monticello to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Lake Maria State Park (Monticello)
In an area where farm fields and now urbanization dots the landscape, there remains a spot that early French explorers called the Bois Grand – or as Laura Ingalls Wilder later described it, the Big Woods – a vast continental forest of maple and basswood. The 3.6-mile Big Woods Loop Trail in Lake Maria State Park loops through a remnant of the famed woods that pioneers found when they arrived in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The fall colors usually peak in October, turning the canopy above you brilliant hues of yellow, orange and red. Bring a picnic lunch for the lake. From Monticello, take County Road 39 west. Turn right/north onto County Road 111 then enter the park by going left/west onto Park Road. After passing the park office, turn left/south onto the road leading to the Trail Center, where there is a parking lot and trailhead.
Humphrey Arends County Park (Buffalo)
Fall foliage abounds along the North Fork Crow River at Humphrey Arends County Park. A 0.45-mile round trip mowed trail runs past a picnic area into the woods. From Buffalo, take County Road 12S south. Turn right/west onto County Road 107 then right/north onto County Road 9. The park entrance is on the left/west just before crossing the river.
Woodland Trails Regional Park (Elk River)
Autumn colors brighten much of the 427-acre Woodland Trails Regional Park in Elk River. More than 6 miles of dedicated hiking trails head through the forest there. Use the Green Trail (not it’s official name but the trail’s color on city maps), a set of seven connected loops that runs through the heart of the woods. From the junction of U.S. Hwys. 169 and 10 in Elk River, take the latter west. Turn right/north onto Proctor Avenue NW, which becomes Elk Lake Road NW. Go right/east into the park at the County Road 32 intersection. From the parking lot, walk the Blue Trail east to the Green Trail.
Bailey Point Nature Preserve (Elk River)
Harvest hues abound at the confluence of the Mississippi and Elk rivers in Bailey Point Nature Preserve. Two stacked loops offer about 0.75-miles of trails at the new park. The loops head through and alongside woodlands, which border a savanna that is being restored. From the junction of U.S. Hwy. 10 and Main Street NW in Elk River, take the latter west. Turn left/south onto Morton Avenue NW, which ends in a parking lot at the preserve. The trail heads west from the lot.
Crow-Hassan Regional Park (Rogers)
Dense growths of maple and oak can be enjoyed at Crow-Hassan Regional Park near Rogers. While much of the park is savanna, a 6-mile round trip trail can be taken along the edge of the Crow River, where most of the trees grow. From the junction of Interstate 94 and Minn. Hwy. 101 in Rogers, take the latter south. Turn right/south onto Main Street/County Road 150. Go right/west onto County Road 49, which becomes Tucker Road. Next, head right/northwest onto Territorial Road/County Road 116 then left/southwest onto Hassan Parkway, and right/northwest onto Ghostley Road. At Park Drive, continue straight/west into the park. From the parking lot, walk west toward the trees.
Elm Creek Park Reserve (Dayton)
Yellow aspen and tan-orange oak leaves await hikers at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Dayton. Try the 4.5-mile Orange Loop (so-named here because of its color on reserve maps) that runs southeast of the Eastman Nature Center. The trail crosses both Elm and Rush creeks in the 4900-acre reserve. Keep an out for wildlife, including eagles, white-tailed deer, loons, and hawks. From Dayton River Road in Dayton, take Pineview Lane south. Go right/west onto County Road 121 then left/east onto Elm Creek Road into the reserve. When the reserve road splits, head right/south. Park at the nature center.
