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| Terrace Oaks West Park, Burnsville, Minn. |
There’s no better way to experience autumn colors
in the southern Twin Cities
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 the southern Twin Cities to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Terrace Oaks West Park (Burnsville)
Various shades of tan, orange and red leaves brighten the canopy at Terrace Oaks West Park. The 3.2-mile Terrace Oaks Trail loops through the 230-acre woodland. The trail is mostly shaded; on sunny days as fall colors peak, you’ll feel like you’re walking through an orange tunnel. From County Road 42 in Burnsville, take Interstate 35E north. Exit left/north onto County Road 11 then turn right/east into the Terrace Oaks’ parking lot. The trail heads east from the lot’s center and northeast corner.
Alimagnet Park (Apple Valley)
Autumn colors light up heavily wooded Alimagnet Park in Apple Valley. A 2.25-mile round-trip trail runs through the park; it includes a spur to pretty Alimagnet Lake, where the tree colors reflect off the water on sunny days. From County Road 42 in Apple Valley, take Garden View Drive north. Turn left/west onto Walnut Lane then right/north onto Ridgeview Drive. The road ends at small parking lot with the trail heading north into the woods.
Ritter Farm Park (Lakeville)
Maple and birch stands await hikers at Ritter Farm Park in Lakeville. The 3.2-mile Mader Loop combined with the Matterhorn Trail either heads through or skirts the park’s woodlands. From the junction of Interstate 35 and 185th Street/County Road 60 in Lakeville, take the latter east. Turn right/south onto Kendrick Avenue, right/west onto 195th Street West, then right/north onto Ritter Trail. At the second split in the park road, go left/northwest. The road ends in a parking lot with the trail leaving from the north side.
Caponi Art Park (Eagan)
Day hikers can enjoy modern sculptures in a forest setting at the Caponi Art Park in Eagan. A variety of pathways walk through the 60-acre site that in autumn is made all that magical by the changing leaves of birch, maple and basswood. Most of the sculptures were created by Italian-born Anthony Caponi, who as an adult adopted Minnesota as his home. From Interstate 35 in Eagan, take Diffley Road east. Turn right/southeast and park in the lot. The art park is on both sides of the highway with an underpass connecting them.
Vermillion Highlands Wildlife Management Area (Rosemount)
Gold aspen and russet oak leaves await hikers at Vermillion Highlands Wildlife Management Area. The 4.6-mile Wetland and Pine Loop largely stays in the woods while circling a wetlands that drains into the Vermillion River. The wildlife area covers more than 2800 acres. From County Road 42 and Minn. Hwy. 3 in Rosemount, take the latter south. Turn left/east onto County Road 46 then right/south onto Clayton Avenue. A parking lot for the trailhead is on the right/west.
Jim Bell Park and Preserve (Farmington)
Autumn colors light up Jim Bell Park and Preserve on the city’s northeast side. About 1.3 miles of trails run between a woods and two ponds at the preserve. From County Road 64 and Pilot Knob Road in Farmington, take the latter north. Turn right/east onto 194rd Street West. When the street becomes Dunbury Avenue, park on the side of the street at the wooded area. The trail heads right/southeast from the street into the preserve.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around the southern Twin Cities to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Terrace Oaks West Park (Burnsville)
Various shades of tan, orange and red leaves brighten the canopy at Terrace Oaks West Park. The 3.2-mile Terrace Oaks Trail loops through the 230-acre woodland. The trail is mostly shaded; on sunny days as fall colors peak, you’ll feel like you’re walking through an orange tunnel. From County Road 42 in Burnsville, take Interstate 35E north. Exit left/north onto County Road 11 then turn right/east into the Terrace Oaks’ parking lot. The trail heads east from the lot’s center and northeast corner.
Alimagnet Park (Apple Valley)
Autumn colors light up heavily wooded Alimagnet Park in Apple Valley. A 2.25-mile round-trip trail runs through the park; it includes a spur to pretty Alimagnet Lake, where the tree colors reflect off the water on sunny days. From County Road 42 in Apple Valley, take Garden View Drive north. Turn left/west onto Walnut Lane then right/north onto Ridgeview Drive. The road ends at small parking lot with the trail heading north into the woods.
Ritter Farm Park (Lakeville)
Maple and birch stands await hikers at Ritter Farm Park in Lakeville. The 3.2-mile Mader Loop combined with the Matterhorn Trail either heads through or skirts the park’s woodlands. From the junction of Interstate 35 and 185th Street/County Road 60 in Lakeville, take the latter east. Turn right/south onto Kendrick Avenue, right/west onto 195th Street West, then right/north onto Ritter Trail. At the second split in the park road, go left/northwest. The road ends in a parking lot with the trail leaving from the north side.
Caponi Art Park (Eagan)
Day hikers can enjoy modern sculptures in a forest setting at the Caponi Art Park in Eagan. A variety of pathways walk through the 60-acre site that in autumn is made all that magical by the changing leaves of birch, maple and basswood. Most of the sculptures were created by Italian-born Anthony Caponi, who as an adult adopted Minnesota as his home. From Interstate 35 in Eagan, take Diffley Road east. Turn right/southeast and park in the lot. The art park is on both sides of the highway with an underpass connecting them.
Vermillion Highlands Wildlife Management Area (Rosemount)
Gold aspen and russet oak leaves await hikers at Vermillion Highlands Wildlife Management Area. The 4.6-mile Wetland and Pine Loop largely stays in the woods while circling a wetlands that drains into the Vermillion River. The wildlife area covers more than 2800 acres. From County Road 42 and Minn. Hwy. 3 in Rosemount, take the latter south. Turn left/east onto County Road 46 then right/south onto Clayton Avenue. A parking lot for the trailhead is on the right/west.
Jim Bell Park and Preserve (Farmington)
Autumn colors light up Jim Bell Park and Preserve on the city’s northeast side. About 1.3 miles of trails run between a woods and two ponds at the preserve. From County Road 64 and Pilot Knob Road in Farmington, take the latter north. Turn right/east onto 194rd Street West. When the street becomes Dunbury Avenue, park on the side of the street at the wooded area. The trail heads right/southeast from the street into the preserve.
