 |
| Red River Trail, Fargo, N.D. |
There’s no better way
to experience autumn colors in the Fargo-Moorhead 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 Fargo-Moorhead to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Red River Trail (Fargo)
Autumn colors can be enjoyed along the Red River of the North on a trail that traverses several Fargo parks. The 4.9-mile (one-way) Red River Trail connects Lindenwood Park to Dike East Park. In Fargo from the junction of South University Drive and 17th Avenue, take the latter west. Turn right/south onto Roger Maris Drive. Park at the playground and take the walkway heading northeast to the trailhead.
Buffalo River State Park (Moorhead)
Though known more for its tallgrass prairie, Buffalo River State Park also offers great autumn colors. Try the 3-mile River View Trail, which loops through a riverine forest of cottonwood, basswood, elm and ash. From Moorhead, take U.S. Hwy. 10 east. Turn right/south onto County Road 44. From the parking lot, walk south across the picnic area to the River View Trail.
Armour Park (West Fargo)
Autumn leaves line the shores of the Sheyenne River in small Armour Park. Degraded footpaths follow the river, or you can stay on the mowed grass and follow the west side of the treeline as it curves around the river. From Interstate 94 and Sheyenne Street in West Fargo, take the latter north. Turn left/west onto U.S. Hwy. 10/Main Avenue, then right/north onto Ninth Street NW/County Road 19, and finally right/east onto Second Avenue NW, which ends at the park.
Magnolia State Game Management Area (Casselton)
A small woodland sits on the south side of a wetlands at Magnolia State Game Management Area. No formal trails run through the 97-acre site, so be prepared for some “backcountry” hiking, though in the woods degraded footpaths can be found. From Casselton, take Interstate 94 west. Exit and head north onto 145th Avenue SE. About 0.2 miles south of the railroad tracks, park off the side of the road and walk northwest into the woods.
North Country National Scenic Trail (Detroit Lakes)
Harvest-hued leaves mixed with conifers await on a segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail. A 5.2-mile one-way hike between 400th Avenue and County Road 26 runs through a transition area from the deciduous woods of the south and east to the boreal forests of the north. Sugar maple, basswood, aspen, birch and oak mingle with Norway and white pine on a ridge. From Detroit Lakes, take Minn. Hwy. 34 east. Turn left/north onto County Road 29, then right/east onto County Road 126, and finally left/north onto 400th Avenue. After passing West Island Drive, look for a parking lot on the left/west. Take the trail northeast and arrange for a pickup at the County Road 26 trailhead.
Smoky Hills State Forest (Detroit Lakes)
Golden maples with red oaks and green jack pines await hikers at Smoky Hills State Forest. Any of the trails in the southern half of the 25,000 acre forest – divided by Minn. Hwy. 34 – makes for an excellent autumn hike. Try the 5-mile round trip Navillus Forest Road, part of which is shared with ATVs. From Detroit Lakes, take Hwy. 34 east. At Pine Grove Roadside Park, turn left/north onto Old Mill Road with the parking lot on the right/east. Cross the road onto the trail, which heads south, turning back at Hanna Ore Road.
Prairie Smoke Dunes Scientific and Natural Area (Twin Valley)
While known more for its namesake flower, Prairie Smoke Dunes Scientific and Natural Area also is an excellent place to enjoy autumn leaves. The natural area’s north side sports basswood and green ash in a particularly dense forest for the prairie. Burr oak dots the surrounding savanna. About 4.7 miles (round trip) of old jeep trails wind through the natural area. From Twin Valley, take Minn. Hwy. 32 north. Turn left/west onto County Road 7. In about 0.66 miles is jeep trail entrance on the right/north; park there.
Maplewood State Park (Pelican Rapids)
Day hikers can enjoy the bright splendor of a maple forest during an autumn hike Maplewood State Park. The 4.6-mile unnamed lollipop trail – called here the Cow Lake Trail for the major waterbody it circles – is a combination of mowed grass and a wide dirt path. The maples often a variety of leaf colors while set against it is the stark white trunks of paper birch. From Pelican Rapids, take U.S. Hwy. 59 north. Turn right/east on Minn. Hwy. 108. The park entrance is in 7 miles. When the entry road, splits, go left/south. Just after the RV sanitation station, turn left/east. Follow the road toward Knoll Campground. At the turnaround for drinking water, park on the road’s side, and walk east uphill. The trailhead is in about 100 feet on the right/south.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Fargo-Moorhead to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Red River Trail (Fargo)
Autumn colors can be enjoyed along the Red River of the North on a trail that traverses several Fargo parks. The 4.9-mile (one-way) Red River Trail connects Lindenwood Park to Dike East Park. In Fargo from the junction of South University Drive and 17th Avenue, take the latter west. Turn right/south onto Roger Maris Drive. Park at the playground and take the walkway heading northeast to the trailhead.
Buffalo River State Park (Moorhead)
Though known more for its tallgrass prairie, Buffalo River State Park also offers great autumn colors. Try the 3-mile River View Trail, which loops through a riverine forest of cottonwood, basswood, elm and ash. From Moorhead, take U.S. Hwy. 10 east. Turn right/south onto County Road 44. From the parking lot, walk south across the picnic area to the River View Trail.
Armour Park (West Fargo)
Autumn leaves line the shores of the Sheyenne River in small Armour Park. Degraded footpaths follow the river, or you can stay on the mowed grass and follow the west side of the treeline as it curves around the river. From Interstate 94 and Sheyenne Street in West Fargo, take the latter north. Turn left/west onto U.S. Hwy. 10/Main Avenue, then right/north onto Ninth Street NW/County Road 19, and finally right/east onto Second Avenue NW, which ends at the park.
Magnolia State Game Management Area (Casselton)
A small woodland sits on the south side of a wetlands at Magnolia State Game Management Area. No formal trails run through the 97-acre site, so be prepared for some “backcountry” hiking, though in the woods degraded footpaths can be found. From Casselton, take Interstate 94 west. Exit and head north onto 145th Avenue SE. About 0.2 miles south of the railroad tracks, park off the side of the road and walk northwest into the woods.
North Country National Scenic Trail (Detroit Lakes)
Harvest-hued leaves mixed with conifers await on a segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail. A 5.2-mile one-way hike between 400th Avenue and County Road 26 runs through a transition area from the deciduous woods of the south and east to the boreal forests of the north. Sugar maple, basswood, aspen, birch and oak mingle with Norway and white pine on a ridge. From Detroit Lakes, take Minn. Hwy. 34 east. Turn left/north onto County Road 29, then right/east onto County Road 126, and finally left/north onto 400th Avenue. After passing West Island Drive, look for a parking lot on the left/west. Take the trail northeast and arrange for a pickup at the County Road 26 trailhead.
Smoky Hills State Forest (Detroit Lakes)
Golden maples with red oaks and green jack pines await hikers at Smoky Hills State Forest. Any of the trails in the southern half of the 25,000 acre forest – divided by Minn. Hwy. 34 – makes for an excellent autumn hike. Try the 5-mile round trip Navillus Forest Road, part of which is shared with ATVs. From Detroit Lakes, take Hwy. 34 east. At Pine Grove Roadside Park, turn left/north onto Old Mill Road with the parking lot on the right/east. Cross the road onto the trail, which heads south, turning back at Hanna Ore Road.
Prairie Smoke Dunes Scientific and Natural Area (Twin Valley)
While known more for its namesake flower, Prairie Smoke Dunes Scientific and Natural Area also is an excellent place to enjoy autumn leaves. The natural area’s north side sports basswood and green ash in a particularly dense forest for the prairie. Burr oak dots the surrounding savanna. About 4.7 miles (round trip) of old jeep trails wind through the natural area. From Twin Valley, take Minn. Hwy. 32 north. Turn left/west onto County Road 7. In about 0.66 miles is jeep trail entrance on the right/north; park there.
Maplewood State Park (Pelican Rapids)
Day hikers can enjoy the bright splendor of a maple forest during an autumn hike Maplewood State Park. The 4.6-mile unnamed lollipop trail – called here the Cow Lake Trail for the major waterbody it circles – is a combination of mowed grass and a wide dirt path. The maples often a variety of leaf colors while set against it is the stark white trunks of paper birch. From Pelican Rapids, take U.S. Hwy. 59 north. Turn right/east on Minn. Hwy. 108. The park entrance is in 7 miles. When the entry road, splits, go left/south. Just after the RV sanitation station, turn left/east. Follow the road toward Knoll Campground. At the turnaround for drinking water, park on the road’s side, and walk east uphill. The trailhead is in about 100 feet on the right/south.
