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| Big Woods Loops at Lake Maria State Park |
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,
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.
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.
