 |
| Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in early autumn |
to experience autumn colors in the Austin,
Minn., 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 Austin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Jay C. Hormel Nature Center (Austin)
Autumn leaves abound in the 518-acre hardwood forest at Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. The 1.8-mile combo of the Yellow and White trails with the connectors between them take you into the heart of the forest. In east Austin, take County Road 61 north. Turn right/east into the nature center. From the parking lot, take the connector southeast past the Rock to the looping Yellow Trail; a connector links the Yellow to the looping White Trail. The loops cross North Branch Dobbins Creek several times.
Myre-Big Island State Park (Albert Lea)
Gold, red and orange maples and chartreuse-colored basswood leaves light up Myre-Big Island State Park in Albert Lea. The leaves usually reach their peak about mid-October on the looping 1.5-mile Big Island Trail. This trail circles the 120-acre wooded island in the middle of Albert Lea Lake. In Albert Lea, take County Road 46 east. Turn right/south onto County Road 38. Park in the lot when the road ends on Big Island.
Rice Lake State Park (Owatonna)
The glorious autumn colors of maple, oak and aspen can be enjoyed at Rice Lake State Park. The 2.4-mile Hiking Club Trail loops through several such woods and cross meadows featuring bur oak. About half of the trail runs alongside scenic Rice Lake. From Owatonna, take County Road 19/Rose Street east. Turn right/south onto County Road 40 into the park. When the park road splits, go left/southeast and follow it the parking lot at the walk-in and group campsites; follow the turf trail to the trail shelter.
Iron Horse Prairie Scientific and Natural Area (Hayfield)
Finding autumn colors on the prairie can be difficult, but there are a number of small spots, such as Iron Horse Prairie Scientific and Natural Area. The 2.9-mile round trip Iron Horse Trail follows the railroad grades of where two former spurs diverged. Various shrubs and trees have taken root along the former grades; meanwhile, the prairie grasses preserved there turn a beautiful gold color that stands out at sunset. From Hayfield, take Minn. Hwy. 56 south. Turn left/east onto County Road N. The natural area’s entrance is on the right/south in a half-mile. Park on the road shoulder.
Chester Woods Park (Rochester)
Hikers can head through a large oak woods at Chester Woods Park. The 5.3-mile North Trail, Prairie Ridge, and Dam Overlook Loop overlooks tree-shrouded Bear Creek, runs alongside pretty Chester Lake, and passes a prairie areas whose grasses turn gold in fall. From Rochester, take U.S. Hwy. 14 east. Turn right/south onto the park entry road; when the road splits, go right/west and park in the roundabout. The trail first crosses the prairie then enters the woods.
Root River State Trail (Lanesboro)
A riverside resplendent with fall colors, a quaint small town, and 300-foot limestone bluffs await hikers on the Root River State Trail in Lanesboro. Fall colors usually peak early to mid-October on a 3.4-mile round trip segment of the trail. In Lanesboro, park near the Root River Trail Center on Milwaukee Road between Parkway and Kenilworth avenues. Take the trail southwest, turning back at the Grit Road crossing.
Lake Hendricks Park (LeRoy, Iowa)
Fall foliage surrounds a beautiful lake at Lake Hendricks Park. The 2.3-mile Loop 2 circles the lake, staying in the woods the entire way. A portion of the trail runs alongside lovely Watson Creek. From Austin, take Interstate 90 east then exit south onto Minn. Hwy. 56. In LeRoy, turn right/south onto 775th Avenue, which at the Iowa border becomes Dale Avenue. Go right/west on Iowa Hwy. 9 and in Riceville turn right/north onto Hwy. T68/Addison Avenue then right/east into the park. Leave your vehicle in the lot north of the Lower Campground.
Otranto Park (Mitchell County, Iowa)
Fall colors await along a bend in the Cedar River at Otranto Park. A short footpath runs beneath an orange and yellow canopy at the 5-acre park. From Austin, take U.S. Hwy. 218 south. Turn right/west onto Hwy. A19. The park’s entry is on the right/north just before the Cedar River.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Austin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Jay C. Hormel Nature Center (Austin)
Autumn leaves abound in the 518-acre hardwood forest at Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. The 1.8-mile combo of the Yellow and White trails with the connectors between them take you into the heart of the forest. In east Austin, take County Road 61 north. Turn right/east into the nature center. From the parking lot, take the connector southeast past the Rock to the looping Yellow Trail; a connector links the Yellow to the looping White Trail. The loops cross North Branch Dobbins Creek several times.
Myre-Big Island State Park (Albert Lea)
Gold, red and orange maples and chartreuse-colored basswood leaves light up Myre-Big Island State Park in Albert Lea. The leaves usually reach their peak about mid-October on the looping 1.5-mile Big Island Trail. This trail circles the 120-acre wooded island in the middle of Albert Lea Lake. In Albert Lea, take County Road 46 east. Turn right/south onto County Road 38. Park in the lot when the road ends on Big Island.
Rice Lake State Park (Owatonna)
The glorious autumn colors of maple, oak and aspen can be enjoyed at Rice Lake State Park. The 2.4-mile Hiking Club Trail loops through several such woods and cross meadows featuring bur oak. About half of the trail runs alongside scenic Rice Lake. From Owatonna, take County Road 19/Rose Street east. Turn right/south onto County Road 40 into the park. When the park road splits, go left/southeast and follow it the parking lot at the walk-in and group campsites; follow the turf trail to the trail shelter.
Iron Horse Prairie Scientific and Natural Area (Hayfield)
Finding autumn colors on the prairie can be difficult, but there are a number of small spots, such as Iron Horse Prairie Scientific and Natural Area. The 2.9-mile round trip Iron Horse Trail follows the railroad grades of where two former spurs diverged. Various shrubs and trees have taken root along the former grades; meanwhile, the prairie grasses preserved there turn a beautiful gold color that stands out at sunset. From Hayfield, take Minn. Hwy. 56 south. Turn left/east onto County Road N. The natural area’s entrance is on the right/south in a half-mile. Park on the road shoulder.
Chester Woods Park (Rochester)
Hikers can head through a large oak woods at Chester Woods Park. The 5.3-mile North Trail, Prairie Ridge, and Dam Overlook Loop overlooks tree-shrouded Bear Creek, runs alongside pretty Chester Lake, and passes a prairie areas whose grasses turn gold in fall. From Rochester, take U.S. Hwy. 14 east. Turn right/south onto the park entry road; when the road splits, go right/west and park in the roundabout. The trail first crosses the prairie then enters the woods.
Root River State Trail (Lanesboro)
A riverside resplendent with fall colors, a quaint small town, and 300-foot limestone bluffs await hikers on the Root River State Trail in Lanesboro. Fall colors usually peak early to mid-October on a 3.4-mile round trip segment of the trail. In Lanesboro, park near the Root River Trail Center on Milwaukee Road between Parkway and Kenilworth avenues. Take the trail southwest, turning back at the Grit Road crossing.
Lake Hendricks Park (LeRoy, Iowa)
Fall foliage surrounds a beautiful lake at Lake Hendricks Park. The 2.3-mile Loop 2 circles the lake, staying in the woods the entire way. A portion of the trail runs alongside lovely Watson Creek. From Austin, take Interstate 90 east then exit south onto Minn. Hwy. 56. In LeRoy, turn right/south onto 775th Avenue, which at the Iowa border becomes Dale Avenue. Go right/west on Iowa Hwy. 9 and in Riceville turn right/north onto Hwy. T68/Addison Avenue then right/east into the park. Leave your vehicle in the lot north of the Lower Campground.
Otranto Park (Mitchell County, Iowa)
Fall colors await along a bend in the Cedar River at Otranto Park. A short footpath runs beneath an orange and yellow canopy at the 5-acre park. From Austin, take U.S. Hwy. 218 south. Turn right/west onto Hwy. A19. The park’s entry is on the right/north just before the Cedar River.
