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| Barn Bluff in Red Wing, Minn. |
There’s no better way
to experience autumn colors in the Red Wing area than a hike.
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 Red Wing to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Barn Bluff (Red Wing)
Yellow, orange and red maples with tan and russet oaks await hikers on Barn Bluff, a Red Wing icon. The 1.66-mile round trip South Trail heads through the wooded portion of the sandstone bluff and via the Kiwanis Stairway takes you to the top. The East Scenic Overlook offers a view of the surrounding river valley from 30 stories up. From U.S. Hwy. 61 in downtown Red Wing, go southeast onto Plum Street. Next, head left/northeast onto Fifth Street. When the road crosses under Hwy. 61, find a parking spot along the street. The trailhead is on the road’s left/northwest side.
Frontenac State Park (Frontenac)
Hikers can traverse the top and the base of a bluff looming 430 feet above Lake Pepin at Frontenac State Park. The 2.6-mile Bluff Side Loop Trail offers impressive views as it heads up and down the steep bluff with a series of wooden stairs and switchbacks. Fall is a particularly good time to visit with the bird migration through the area at its peak and the leaves resplendent in an array of harvest colors. The trees change with the elevation; the trail at the top of the bluff is a mix of aspen, basswood, elm, maple and oak while cottonwood, maple and willow dominate the trail along the bluff’s bottom. Fall colors usually peak in late September to mid-October. From the park entrance, go left/northwest on County Road 28; follow the road to its end, where it loops back upon itself and forms a parking lot.
Lake Byllesby Regional Park (Cannon Falls)
A variety of trees and bushes light up Lake Byllesby Regional Park each autumn. Try the five stacked loop trails in the park’s undeveloped northwest corner for the greatest range of leaf colors. On the 2.2-mile round trip hike are alder, red-osier dogwood, willow, sumac, and Amur maple. From Cannon Falls, take County Road 20/Fifth Street north. Turn left/west onto County Road 17, which becomes County Road 88 along the way, then left/south onto Harry Avenue and right/west onto Gerlach Way. The parking lot is on the right/north just before the Echo Point Road intersection.
Miesville Ravine Park (Cannon Falls)
Maple, birch, willow, and box elder brighten the deep, narrow gorge at Miesville Ravine Park in harvest hues. A 1.54-mile round trip trail runs through the ravine alongside Trout Brook, a tributary of the Cannon River. The ravine is thickly wooded and almost entirely shaded. From Cannon Falls, take Minn. Hwy. 20 north. Turn right/east onto 280th Street. Once in the park after crossing the stream, go left/north onto a dirt road that leads to a parking lot.
Cairns Woods Park (Ellsworth)
Autumn colors can be enjoyed at Cairns Woods Park in Ellsworth. The 0.74-mile Orange Trail loops on an old logging trail through the 34-acre site, which was donated to the city in 1949. In Ellsworth, take Wis. Hwy. 65 north and turn left/west onto Cairns Street.
Maiden Rock State Natural Area (Stockholm)
Day hikers can explore a bluff steeped in majestic white oaks and legend high above Lake Pepin. The Maiden Rock Bluff Trail runs 1.4-miles round trip. It’s located in the Maiden Rock State Natural Area, which preserves a blufftop prairie that turns golden in autumn. Beyond the giant oaks, sunlight sparkles off the blue lake, as if diamonds had been tossed across a turquoise cloth. From Stockholm, take County Road J north. Turn left/northwest onto County Road E then go left/west into Long Lane. The road dead ends at a grassy parking lot on the blufftop. A trailhead is a few yards east of the lot and heads north from the road.
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park (Cannon Falls)
A picturesque waterfall awaits hikers at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. The 1-mile round trip walk via Hidden Falls Trail is especially beautiful in autumn with yellow, orange, red sugar maple and ironwood, bronze-colored basswood, and russet-leaved oak lining the path. Hidden Falls sits in a glade amid this northern hardwoods forest, and boasts a 12-foot drop over a 90-foot wide ledge. From Cannon Falls, take County Road 24 Boulevard south. Turn right/west onto County Road 9 Boulevard, left/south onto Minn. Hwy. 246, then right/west onto County Road 40. Nerstrand Big Woods’ entrance is on the right/north and heads straight to the parking area. From there, walk east on the White Oak Trail to the Hidden Falls Trail.
Spring Lake Park Reserve (Hastings)
Maple and ash trees along with some quite large oaks await hikers at Spring Lake Park Reserve. A 3-mile trail loops through a woods atop a bluff on the Mississippi River. Moss-covered rocks and birch accent the mostly maple forest. From Hastings, take Second Street west. When the street splits, go right/northwest onto Niniger Road, which naturally becomes 132nd Street East. Turn right/north onto Idell Avenue, which becomes 127th Street East when it curves west. Head right/north onto the park entry road and leave your vehicle in the lot for the playground. The connector trail heads east from the parking lot.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Red Wing to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Barn Bluff (Red Wing)
Yellow, orange and red maples with tan and russet oaks await hikers on Barn Bluff, a Red Wing icon. The 1.66-mile round trip South Trail heads through the wooded portion of the sandstone bluff and via the Kiwanis Stairway takes you to the top. The East Scenic Overlook offers a view of the surrounding river valley from 30 stories up. From U.S. Hwy. 61 in downtown Red Wing, go southeast onto Plum Street. Next, head left/northeast onto Fifth Street. When the road crosses under Hwy. 61, find a parking spot along the street. The trailhead is on the road’s left/northwest side.
Frontenac State Park (Frontenac)
Hikers can traverse the top and the base of a bluff looming 430 feet above Lake Pepin at Frontenac State Park. The 2.6-mile Bluff Side Loop Trail offers impressive views as it heads up and down the steep bluff with a series of wooden stairs and switchbacks. Fall is a particularly good time to visit with the bird migration through the area at its peak and the leaves resplendent in an array of harvest colors. The trees change with the elevation; the trail at the top of the bluff is a mix of aspen, basswood, elm, maple and oak while cottonwood, maple and willow dominate the trail along the bluff’s bottom. Fall colors usually peak in late September to mid-October. From the park entrance, go left/northwest on County Road 28; follow the road to its end, where it loops back upon itself and forms a parking lot.
Lake Byllesby Regional Park (Cannon Falls)
A variety of trees and bushes light up Lake Byllesby Regional Park each autumn. Try the five stacked loop trails in the park’s undeveloped northwest corner for the greatest range of leaf colors. On the 2.2-mile round trip hike are alder, red-osier dogwood, willow, sumac, and Amur maple. From Cannon Falls, take County Road 20/Fifth Street north. Turn left/west onto County Road 17, which becomes County Road 88 along the way, then left/south onto Harry Avenue and right/west onto Gerlach Way. The parking lot is on the right/north just before the Echo Point Road intersection.
Miesville Ravine Park (Cannon Falls)
Maple, birch, willow, and box elder brighten the deep, narrow gorge at Miesville Ravine Park in harvest hues. A 1.54-mile round trip trail runs through the ravine alongside Trout Brook, a tributary of the Cannon River. The ravine is thickly wooded and almost entirely shaded. From Cannon Falls, take Minn. Hwy. 20 north. Turn right/east onto 280th Street. Once in the park after crossing the stream, go left/north onto a dirt road that leads to a parking lot.
Cairns Woods Park (Ellsworth)
Autumn colors can be enjoyed at Cairns Woods Park in Ellsworth. The 0.74-mile Orange Trail loops on an old logging trail through the 34-acre site, which was donated to the city in 1949. In Ellsworth, take Wis. Hwy. 65 north and turn left/west onto Cairns Street.
Maiden Rock State Natural Area (Stockholm)
Day hikers can explore a bluff steeped in majestic white oaks and legend high above Lake Pepin. The Maiden Rock Bluff Trail runs 1.4-miles round trip. It’s located in the Maiden Rock State Natural Area, which preserves a blufftop prairie that turns golden in autumn. Beyond the giant oaks, sunlight sparkles off the blue lake, as if diamonds had been tossed across a turquoise cloth. From Stockholm, take County Road J north. Turn left/northwest onto County Road E then go left/west into Long Lane. The road dead ends at a grassy parking lot on the blufftop. A trailhead is a few yards east of the lot and heads north from the road.
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park (Cannon Falls)
A picturesque waterfall awaits hikers at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. The 1-mile round trip walk via Hidden Falls Trail is especially beautiful in autumn with yellow, orange, red sugar maple and ironwood, bronze-colored basswood, and russet-leaved oak lining the path. Hidden Falls sits in a glade amid this northern hardwoods forest, and boasts a 12-foot drop over a 90-foot wide ledge. From Cannon Falls, take County Road 24 Boulevard south. Turn right/west onto County Road 9 Boulevard, left/south onto Minn. Hwy. 246, then right/west onto County Road 40. Nerstrand Big Woods’ entrance is on the right/north and heads straight to the parking area. From there, walk east on the White Oak Trail to the Hidden Falls Trail.
Spring Lake Park Reserve (Hastings)
Maple and ash trees along with some quite large oaks await hikers at Spring Lake Park Reserve. A 3-mile trail loops through a woods atop a bluff on the Mississippi River. Moss-covered rocks and birch accent the mostly maple forest. From Hastings, take Second Street west. When the street splits, go right/northwest onto Niniger Road, which naturally becomes 132nd Street East. Turn right/north onto Idell Avenue, which becomes 127th Street East when it curves west. Head right/north onto the park entry road and leave your vehicle in the lot for the playground. The connector trail heads east from the parking lot.
