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| Scenic State Park, Grand Rapids, Minn. |
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 Grand Rapids to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Scenic State Park (Grand Rapids)
Day hikers can explore a pine-covered ridge separating two lakes and a woods lit each autumn with colorful leaves at Scenic State Park. The 2.9-mile route combines two trails – Tell Lake and Chase Point – that are popular at the state park. The trail is grassy and wide as heading through a woods of quaking aspen, large-toothed aspen, and balsam poplar. From Grand Rapids take U.S. Hwy 169 east. Just past Taconite, turn left/north onto County Road 7, also known as Scenic Highway. In about 30 miles, go right/north into Scenic State Park on County Road 75. A parking lot is on the road’s right side in 0.4 miles. Park there.
Wabu Woods Scientific and Natural Area (Grand Rapids)
A forest of red oak, sugar maple, and basswood await at Wabu Woods Scientific and Natural Area. You’ll need to rely on deer trails and degraded footpaths to work your way through the woods, but the effort is worth it. Large white pines and occasionally yellow birch dot the forest while low-lying areas offer swamp alder and swamp ash amid white cedar. From Grand Rapids, take Minn. Hwy. 38 north. Turn left/west onto County Road 19. After Cedar Springs Road are signs for the natural area on the road’s right/north side. Park off the road between the signs and head north into the woods.
Maple Hill Park (Hibbing)
A forest of gold, red and orange maples and yellow birch await hikers at Maple Hill Park in Hibbing. A 1.2-mile round trip trail heads around the hill’s northeast base then makes a steep 80-foot climb up its side to a vista. The hike can be extended by taking other trails around the hilltop and its bottom. From U.S. 169 and Minn. Hwy. 73 in Hibbing, take the latter south. Turn left/east onto Lindquist Road then right/south onto Erickson Road. Park in the lot at the road’s end.
Superior National Forest (Chisholm)
An aspen and birch forest awaits along the Sturgeon River in Superior National Forest. The 2.5-mile round trip segment of the Sturgeon River Trail heads through the second-growth forest as well as a stand of stately pines. From Chisholm, head north on Minn. Hwy. 73. Turn left/west onto County Road 65. Look for a large parking on the road’s right/north side in about 1.2 miles. Take the trail northwest to a shelter.
Savanna Portage State Park (McGregor)
Among the best spots in Minnesota to see fall colors is Savanna Portage State Park. Its fairly flat 4.25-mile Continental Divide loop heads through a forest of tall maple, oak, poplar, and birch sprinkled heavily with white and red pine. From McGregor, take Minn. Hwy. 65 north. Turn right/east onto County Road 14; it comes Lake Place upon entering the park. Leave your vehicle in the parking lot on the left/west just before Loon Lake Road. Cross Lake Place and take the Old Schoolhouse Trail north. Make it a loop by going right/south onto the Continental Divide Trail then right/west onto the Anderson Road Trail, which leads back to your trailhead.
Pillsbury State Forest (Brainerd)
Hikers can enjoy great fall colors at Pillsbury State Forest. The 8.2-mile round trip Pillsbury State Forest Trail heads through a mixed forest of gold aspen and basswood, crimson maples and oaks, and green jack and white pine. Half-way through the hike, large, old red pines rise at an old logging road, marking a good turnback spot. From Brainerd, take Minn. Hwy. 210 west. Go right/north onto County Road 18 SW then left/west onto County Road 77 SW. Next, turn left/west onto Pillsbury Forest Road SW and park in the Pillsbury Forest Horse Camp South. The trail heads east from it.
Lake Bemidji State Park (Bemidji)
The vibrant oranges and reds of sugar maples and the golden yellows of basswood await at Lake Bemidji State Park. The 2-mile round trip Rocky Point Trails heads through the hardwood forest alongside the beautiful blue lake; usually about half to three-quarters of all the trees have changed color at the park by the first day of fall. From Bemidji, take County Road 19/Lake Avenue NE north. Pretty Lake Bemidji sits to the left/west, and along the way you’ll cross the Mississippi River, which this close to its headwaters is just a small, shallow river. At Bass Lake Road NE, turn right/east; this eventually becomes New Bass Road North. At County Road 20/Birchmont Beach Road NE, go left/west. Next, turn left/south onto County Road 414/State Park Road NE and enter the park. After crossing Bass Creek, park in the lot on the right/south. Pick up the trail on the lot’s south side; some of it goes southeast but most of it heads northwest to Rocky Point, the highest spot on the lake.
Pine Island State Forest (International Falls)
Say “boreal forest,” and most people think of vast expanses of pine and spruce. In Minnesota, though, paper birch is a major element of the boreal forest, making for spectacular displays of gold leaves atop white trunks against the green conifers. A great place to see birch and conifers during autumn is Pine Island State Forest, the largest of Minnesota’s 59 state forests. Try the Pine Island 3 Trails, which total 7.5 miles one-way. Autumn leaves usually peaks mid to late September on the trail. From International Falls, take U.S. Hwy. 71 south. In Big Falls, turn right/west onto County Road 30. At Gates Corner, go right/north onto Pine Island Road. After passing Fiero Truck Road, watch for the trailhead on the left/east in about 3 miles. Park off the side of the road.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Grand Rapids to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Scenic State Park (Grand Rapids)
Day hikers can explore a pine-covered ridge separating two lakes and a woods lit each autumn with colorful leaves at Scenic State Park. The 2.9-mile route combines two trails – Tell Lake and Chase Point – that are popular at the state park. The trail is grassy and wide as heading through a woods of quaking aspen, large-toothed aspen, and balsam poplar. From Grand Rapids take U.S. Hwy 169 east. Just past Taconite, turn left/north onto County Road 7, also known as Scenic Highway. In about 30 miles, go right/north into Scenic State Park on County Road 75. A parking lot is on the road’s right side in 0.4 miles. Park there.
Wabu Woods Scientific and Natural Area (Grand Rapids)
A forest of red oak, sugar maple, and basswood await at Wabu Woods Scientific and Natural Area. You’ll need to rely on deer trails and degraded footpaths to work your way through the woods, but the effort is worth it. Large white pines and occasionally yellow birch dot the forest while low-lying areas offer swamp alder and swamp ash amid white cedar. From Grand Rapids, take Minn. Hwy. 38 north. Turn left/west onto County Road 19. After Cedar Springs Road are signs for the natural area on the road’s right/north side. Park off the road between the signs and head north into the woods.
Maple Hill Park (Hibbing)
A forest of gold, red and orange maples and yellow birch await hikers at Maple Hill Park in Hibbing. A 1.2-mile round trip trail heads around the hill’s northeast base then makes a steep 80-foot climb up its side to a vista. The hike can be extended by taking other trails around the hilltop and its bottom. From U.S. 169 and Minn. Hwy. 73 in Hibbing, take the latter south. Turn left/east onto Lindquist Road then right/south onto Erickson Road. Park in the lot at the road’s end.
Superior National Forest (Chisholm)
An aspen and birch forest awaits along the Sturgeon River in Superior National Forest. The 2.5-mile round trip segment of the Sturgeon River Trail heads through the second-growth forest as well as a stand of stately pines. From Chisholm, head north on Minn. Hwy. 73. Turn left/west onto County Road 65. Look for a large parking on the road’s right/north side in about 1.2 miles. Take the trail northwest to a shelter.
Savanna Portage State Park (McGregor)
Among the best spots in Minnesota to see fall colors is Savanna Portage State Park. Its fairly flat 4.25-mile Continental Divide loop heads through a forest of tall maple, oak, poplar, and birch sprinkled heavily with white and red pine. From McGregor, take Minn. Hwy. 65 north. Turn right/east onto County Road 14; it comes Lake Place upon entering the park. Leave your vehicle in the parking lot on the left/west just before Loon Lake Road. Cross Lake Place and take the Old Schoolhouse Trail north. Make it a loop by going right/south onto the Continental Divide Trail then right/west onto the Anderson Road Trail, which leads back to your trailhead.
Pillsbury State Forest (Brainerd)
Hikers can enjoy great fall colors at Pillsbury State Forest. The 8.2-mile round trip Pillsbury State Forest Trail heads through a mixed forest of gold aspen and basswood, crimson maples and oaks, and green jack and white pine. Half-way through the hike, large, old red pines rise at an old logging road, marking a good turnback spot. From Brainerd, take Minn. Hwy. 210 west. Go right/north onto County Road 18 SW then left/west onto County Road 77 SW. Next, turn left/west onto Pillsbury Forest Road SW and park in the Pillsbury Forest Horse Camp South. The trail heads east from it.
Lake Bemidji State Park (Bemidji)
The vibrant oranges and reds of sugar maples and the golden yellows of basswood await at Lake Bemidji State Park. The 2-mile round trip Rocky Point Trails heads through the hardwood forest alongside the beautiful blue lake; usually about half to three-quarters of all the trees have changed color at the park by the first day of fall. From Bemidji, take County Road 19/Lake Avenue NE north. Pretty Lake Bemidji sits to the left/west, and along the way you’ll cross the Mississippi River, which this close to its headwaters is just a small, shallow river. At Bass Lake Road NE, turn right/east; this eventually becomes New Bass Road North. At County Road 20/Birchmont Beach Road NE, go left/west. Next, turn left/south onto County Road 414/State Park Road NE and enter the park. After crossing Bass Creek, park in the lot on the right/south. Pick up the trail on the lot’s south side; some of it goes southeast but most of it heads northwest to Rocky Point, the highest spot on the lake.
Pine Island State Forest (International Falls)
Say “boreal forest,” and most people think of vast expanses of pine and spruce. In Minnesota, though, paper birch is a major element of the boreal forest, making for spectacular displays of gold leaves atop white trunks against the green conifers. A great place to see birch and conifers during autumn is Pine Island State Forest, the largest of Minnesota’s 59 state forests. Try the Pine Island 3 Trails, which total 7.5 miles one-way. Autumn leaves usually peaks mid to late September on the trail. From International Falls, take U.S. Hwy. 71 south. In Big Falls, turn right/west onto County Road 30. At Gates Corner, go right/north onto Pine Island Road. After passing Fiero Truck Road, watch for the trailhead on the left/east in about 3 miles. Park off the side of the road.
