 |
| Camden State Park, Marshall, Minnesota |
There’s no better way
to experience autumn colors in the Marshall 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 Marshall to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Camden State Park (Marshall)
In a prairie covered by farm fields, a woods sporting fall colors may seem like a dream, but such places exists, especially along riverways. The 1.3-mile round trip River Trail at Camden State Park is one such spot. Yellow-, orange- and red-leaved maples as well as golden basswood fill the Redwood River Valley here. From Marshall, take Minn. Hwy. 23 south. Turn right/west on County Road 68 then right/north on County Road 83. Turn at the next left into a parking lot. The trail begins at the bridge crossing the river.
Ash Lake State Wildlife Management Area (Ivanhoe)
Each autumn, yellow and red leaves light up the white ash bordering the two lakes at Ash Lake State Wildlife Management Area. A 1.5-mile round trip jeep trail runs along North Ash Lake’s west shore and then splits and traverses South Ash Lake’s northern shore. While there, keep an eye out for white-tailed deer, pheasant, waterfowl, and doves. White ash usually is limited to southeastern Minnesota and is a rare find on the prairie. From Ivanhoe, take U.S. Hwy. 75 south. Turn right/west onto 260th Street. On North Ash Lake’s western side, look for a jeep trail heading south. Park off the side of the road and walk the trail south.
Lake Shetek State Park (Slayton)
Forests of oak, hackberry, basswood, elm and ash await at Lake Shetek State Park. The 0.8-mile round trip Picnic Trail is a great way to enjoy the forest’s autumn colors as well as take in scenic views of Lake Shetek. From Slayton, take U.S. Hwy 59 north. Turn left/southeast onto Minn. Hwy. 30 then in Currie go left/north onto County Road 38. Finally, turn left/northwest onto County Road 37 and enter the park. The road ends at a parking lot with the trail leaving from its southwest corner.
Pipestone National Monument (Pipestone)
Several impressive sights await hikers on a lone trail at Pipestone National Monument, particularly during autumn. The 0.75-mile Circle Trail heads through a woodlands of yellow-brown-leaved oak and crimson-, maroon- and bronze-colored white ash, past golden tallgrass prairie and red quartzite blocks and historic Native American quarries, and to the base of Winnewissa Falls. In Pipestone, drive north on U.S. Hwy 75. Turn left/west on County Road 67 and park in the lot where the road loops back on itself.
Swedes Forest Scientific and Natural Area (Redwood Falls)
Hikers can head through an oak savanna on their way to outcrops of 2.65 billion-year-old rock at Swedes Forest Scientific and Natural Area. A 2.1-mile round trip jeep trail runs through the natural area. Twenty-four other kinds of trees and shrubs can be seen there as well, making for great fall colors in the prairie. From Redwood Falls, take Minn. Hwy. 19 west then turn right/north onto County Road 7. Go left/west onto 440th Street, which naturally becomes 208th Avenue. Use the second driveway into the natural area, which has a gate on the trail, and park along the road.
Cedar Mountain Scientific and Natural Area (Redwood Falls)
An oak woodland awaits hikers at Cedar Mountain Scientific and Natural Area. A 0.4-mile round trip trail passes the rocks and leads to the woods, where autumn’s gold leaves stand out against the large gray rocks, many draped in green moss. The woodlands is thin enough to walk through without a footpath. From Redwood Falls, take Minn. Hwy. 19 west. Turn right/north onto County Road 17. At the natural area, park off the side of the road and walk east toward the rocks and woods.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Marshall to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Camden State Park (Marshall)
In a prairie covered by farm fields, a woods sporting fall colors may seem like a dream, but such places exists, especially along riverways. The 1.3-mile round trip River Trail at Camden State Park is one such spot. Yellow-, orange- and red-leaved maples as well as golden basswood fill the Redwood River Valley here. From Marshall, take Minn. Hwy. 23 south. Turn right/west on County Road 68 then right/north on County Road 83. Turn at the next left into a parking lot. The trail begins at the bridge crossing the river.
Ash Lake State Wildlife Management Area (Ivanhoe)
Each autumn, yellow and red leaves light up the white ash bordering the two lakes at Ash Lake State Wildlife Management Area. A 1.5-mile round trip jeep trail runs along North Ash Lake’s west shore and then splits and traverses South Ash Lake’s northern shore. While there, keep an eye out for white-tailed deer, pheasant, waterfowl, and doves. White ash usually is limited to southeastern Minnesota and is a rare find on the prairie. From Ivanhoe, take U.S. Hwy. 75 south. Turn right/west onto 260th Street. On North Ash Lake’s western side, look for a jeep trail heading south. Park off the side of the road and walk the trail south.
Lake Shetek State Park (Slayton)
Forests of oak, hackberry, basswood, elm and ash await at Lake Shetek State Park. The 0.8-mile round trip Picnic Trail is a great way to enjoy the forest’s autumn colors as well as take in scenic views of Lake Shetek. From Slayton, take U.S. Hwy 59 north. Turn left/southeast onto Minn. Hwy. 30 then in Currie go left/north onto County Road 38. Finally, turn left/northwest onto County Road 37 and enter the park. The road ends at a parking lot with the trail leaving from its southwest corner.
Pipestone National Monument (Pipestone)
Several impressive sights await hikers on a lone trail at Pipestone National Monument, particularly during autumn. The 0.75-mile Circle Trail heads through a woodlands of yellow-brown-leaved oak and crimson-, maroon- and bronze-colored white ash, past golden tallgrass prairie and red quartzite blocks and historic Native American quarries, and to the base of Winnewissa Falls. In Pipestone, drive north on U.S. Hwy 75. Turn left/west on County Road 67 and park in the lot where the road loops back on itself.
Swedes Forest Scientific and Natural Area (Redwood Falls)
Hikers can head through an oak savanna on their way to outcrops of 2.65 billion-year-old rock at Swedes Forest Scientific and Natural Area. A 2.1-mile round trip jeep trail runs through the natural area. Twenty-four other kinds of trees and shrubs can be seen there as well, making for great fall colors in the prairie. From Redwood Falls, take Minn. Hwy. 19 west then turn right/north onto County Road 7. Go left/west onto 440th Street, which naturally becomes 208th Avenue. Use the second driveway into the natural area, which has a gate on the trail, and park along the road.
Cedar Mountain Scientific and Natural Area (Redwood Falls)
An oak woodland awaits hikers at Cedar Mountain Scientific and Natural Area. A 0.4-mile round trip trail passes the rocks and leads to the woods, where autumn’s gold leaves stand out against the large gray rocks, many draped in green moss. The woodlands is thin enough to walk through without a footpath. From Redwood Falls, take Minn. Hwy. 19 west. Turn right/north onto County Road 17. At the natural area, park off the side of the road and walk east toward the rocks and woods.
