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| Bunker Hills Regional Park |
There’s no better way to experience autumn colors in Anoka County 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 Anoka County to
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Anoka County to
hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
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.
Pioneer Park (Blaine)
Maple and oak trees line the paths at Pioneer Park in Blaine. A loop and the two stems to it run about 0.8-miles round trip. About half of the 100-acre city park is an upland woods with most of the trails paved. From Minn. Hwy. 65 and 125th Avenue NE in Blaine, take the latter east. The park’s main entrance and a parking lot is on the left/north.
Kordiak Park (Columbia Heights)
A canopy of colorful autumn leaves covers a pathway that almost fully loops Highland Lake at Kordiak Park. A 1.5-mile trail heads around the lake’s south, west and north sides as well as runs to adjoining streets. From Central Avenue NE, take 49th Avenue NE east. The parking lot is on the avenue’s left/north side after passing Fairway Drive NE.
Bunker Hills Regional Park (Coon Rapids)
Majestic burr and red oak groves await hikers at Bunker Hills Regional Park. A 2.5-mile paved loop is especially stately in autumn when the burr oak turns a golden yellow-brown and the red oak various shades of crimson, burgundy, yellow and orange. A few paper birches, whose white trunks support aureate-colored leaves, can be found near the marshy sections. From the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 10 and Main Street NW in Coon Rapids, take Main Street east; turn left/north onto County Road A and park in the lot on the right/east side of the highway just before the junction with County Road B. Pick up the trail from the lot’s northwest side. The loop runs north/east of County A, east and north of County B, and south of Bunker Lake.
Innsbruck Nature Center (Fridley)
Hikers can head through an oak woodland at Innsbruck Nature Center. A roughly 2-mile round trip trail loops around a small pond and heads to the center’s far corners. Interpretive signs along the way tells about Innsbruck’s birds, wetlands, geology and more. From Minn. Hwy. 65 in Fridley, go east on Mississippi Street NE. Turn right/south onto Central Avenue NE, then left/east onto Gardena Avenue NE, and finally right/south onto Arthur St. NE. The nature center is on the left/east.
Lakeside Lions Park (Spring Lake Park)
Walkers can enjoy a paved path line by fall foliage at Lakeside Lions Park. The 0.35-mile loop partially heads alongside Spring Lake. From Mounds View Boulevard in Spring Lake Park, take Pleasant View Drive south. The park is south of Hillview Road.
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.
Pioneer Park (Blaine)
Maple and oak trees line the paths at Pioneer Park in Blaine. A loop and the two stems to it run about 0.8-miles round trip. About half of the 100-acre city park is an upland woods with most of the trails paved. From Minn. Hwy. 65 and 125th Avenue NE in Blaine, take the latter east. The park’s main entrance and a parking lot is on the left/north.
Kordiak Park (Columbia Heights)
A canopy of colorful autumn leaves covers a pathway that almost fully loops Highland Lake at Kordiak Park. A 1.5-mile trail heads around the lake’s south, west and north sides as well as runs to adjoining streets. From Central Avenue NE, take 49th Avenue NE east. The parking lot is on the avenue’s left/north side after passing Fairway Drive NE.
Bunker Hills Regional Park (Coon Rapids)
Majestic burr and red oak groves await hikers at Bunker Hills Regional Park. A 2.5-mile paved loop is especially stately in autumn when the burr oak turns a golden yellow-brown and the red oak various shades of crimson, burgundy, yellow and orange. A few paper birches, whose white trunks support aureate-colored leaves, can be found near the marshy sections. From the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 10 and Main Street NW in Coon Rapids, take Main Street east; turn left/north onto County Road A and park in the lot on the right/east side of the highway just before the junction with County Road B. Pick up the trail from the lot’s northwest side. The loop runs north/east of County A, east and north of County B, and south of Bunker Lake.
Innsbruck Nature Center (Fridley)
Hikers can head through an oak woodland at Innsbruck Nature Center. A roughly 2-mile round trip trail loops around a small pond and heads to the center’s far corners. Interpretive signs along the way tells about Innsbruck’s birds, wetlands, geology and more. From Minn. Hwy. 65 in Fridley, go east on Mississippi Street NE. Turn right/south onto Central Avenue NE, then left/east onto Gardena Avenue NE, and finally right/south onto Arthur St. NE. The nature center is on the left/east.
Lakeside Lions Park (Spring Lake Park)
Walkers can enjoy a paved path line by fall foliage at Lakeside Lions Park. The 0.35-mile loop partially heads alongside Spring Lake. From Mounds View Boulevard in Spring Lake Park, take Pleasant View Drive south. The park is south of Hillview Road.
