Great autumn hikes in Monticello MN area

Lake Maria State Park

There’s no better way

to experience autumn colors in the Monticello, Minnesota, 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 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.

Fall color hikes abound in Elk River MN area

Woodland Trails Regional Park

There’s no better way to experience autumn colors in the Elk River 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 Elk River to hike. Some are right out your back door,

while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

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.

Clear Lake Scientific and Natural Area (Elk River)
A profuse array of autumn leaves await at Clear Lake Scientific and Natural Area. Northern red oak, northern pin oak, and white oak, with some bur oak and red maple, dominate the canopy. A southern terrace forest along the Mississippi River boasts American elm, box elder, silver maple, green ash, hackberry and basswood. You’ll have to rely on game trails and degraded footpaths to traverse the site. From Elk River, take U.S. Hwy. 10 west. In Clear Lake, turn left/southwest onto County Road 24, then right/west onto 90th Street SE, and finally 58th Avenue South. Watch for the natural area’s driveway on the road’s right/west side; park there.

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.

Crow-Hassen 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.

Rum River Central Regional Park (Anoka)
Cottonwood, basswood and maples make for a beautiful autumn walk in Rum River Central Regional Park. The 3.25-mile Rum River Trail loops through the park’s riverine forest; about half of the trail runs along the Rum River. From U.S. Hwy. 10 in Anoka, take Seventh Avenue north. After crossing the Rum River, turn right/east onto Park Road. When the road splits in the park, go right/south. Leave your vehicle in either of the next two parking lots; the trail runs alongside them.

Fall color hikes abound in Buffalo MN area

Big Woods Loops at Lake Maria State Park

There’s no better way to experience autumn colors in the Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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 (Buffalo)
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 Buffalo, take Minn. Hwy. 55 northwest. Turn right/north onto County Road 8 in Maple Lake then left/east onto County Road 39 and right/north onto County Road 111. Go left/east onto Park Road then take the second left/south to the equestrian parking area at the trailhead.

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.

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.

Gale Woods Farm (Minnetrista)
Autumn colors and a harvest vibe abound at Gale Woods Farm near Minnetrista. A 2.1-mile limestone trail rambles through the park’s rolling hills and past two lakes and a working farm featuring sheep, pigs, cows and more. From Victoria, take Minn. Hwy. 7 west. Turn right/north onto County Road 44 then left/west onto County Road 110. Go left/northeast onto County Road 11 Extended into the Three Rivers park.

Swan Lake County Park (Hutchinson)
Autumn colors await at a small woods in Swan Lake County Park. A 0.55-mile round trip trail runs alongside the woods and past an oak savanna. From Hutchinson, take Minn. Hwy. 7 east. Turn left/north onto County Road 4, right/east onto County Road 79, left/north onto Kildeer Avenue, then right/northeast into Swan Lake Road. The park entry is on the left/north. The trail leaves from the parking area’s northwest corner.

Quarry Park Outer Loop (St. Cloud)
Scarlet and golden leaves with tinges of orange await hikers at Quarry Park and Nature Preserve. The 2.3-mile Quarry Park Outer Loop circles the preserve’s perimeter, staying in the woods almost the entire way. Fall colors typically peak late September to early October. In St. Cloud, from the southern junction of Minn. Hwys. 15 and 23, take the latter southwest. Turn left/south onto 28th Avenue then left/east onto County Road 137. The park entrance is on the right/south.