 |
| Burr oaks are common in Minnesota's oak savannas. |
There’s no better way to experience autumn colors in the Hutchinson
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 Hutchison to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
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.
Revanche Wildlife Management Area (Glencoe)
A small upland woods brightens with autumn colors at Revanche Wildlife Management Area. You’ll need to rely on game trails and degraded footpaths in the woods, but a jeep trail leads to the treeline. In addition to autumn leaves, watch for deer, turkey, pheasants and doves in the woods. From Glencoe, take U.S. Hwy. 212 east. Turn right/south on Minn. Hwy. 25; in Green Isle, the road turns left/east. A driveway for the wildlife area is on the right/south about 0.75 miles from the turn. Walk the jeep trail south to the woods.
Harvey Waterfowl Production Area (Willmar)
A small woodlands brightens the prairie in autumn colors at the Harvey Waterfowl Production Area. A 0.15-mile one-way path passes trees and leads to the woods near a large pond frequented each fall by migrating birds. Extend the trail into the woods via game trails and degraded footpaths. From Willmar, take U.S. Hwy. 12 east. Turn left/north onto 560th Avenue then right/east onto 290th Street. The entry to the waterfowl area is in 0.66 miles on the right/south; park along the country road.
Lake Maria State Park (Monticello)
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 Monticello, take County Road 39 west. Turn right/north onto County Road 111 then enter the park by going left/west onto Park Road. After passing the park office, turn left/south onto the road leading to the Trail Center, where there is a parking lot and trailhead.
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.
River Warren Outcrops Scientific and Natural Area (Redwood Falls)
One stretch of the Minnesota River in the prairie that brims with harvest colors is River Warren Outcrops Scientific and Natural Area. A 1.6-mile trail loops through the woodlands. Bur oak covers the rock outcrops area above the river while silver maple, American elm, rock elm, and the rare (for Minnesota) Kentucky coffee tree rule the floodplain forest. From Redwood Falls, take County Road 101 north; upon crossing the Minnesota River, it becomes County Road 1. Turn left/northwest onto County Road 15. After passing County Road 21, watch for the natural area driveway and parking lot on the left/south.
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.
Revanche Wildlife Management Area (Glencoe)
A small upland woods brightens with autumn colors at Revanche Wildlife Management Area. You’ll need to rely on game trails and degraded footpaths in the woods, but a jeep trail leads to the treeline. In addition to autumn leaves, watch for deer, turkey, pheasants and doves in the woods. From Glencoe, take U.S. Hwy. 212 east. Turn right/south on Minn. Hwy. 25; in Green Isle, the road turns left/east. A driveway for the wildlife area is on the right/south about 0.75 miles from the turn. Walk the jeep trail south to the woods.
Harvey Waterfowl Production Area (Willmar)
A small woodlands brightens the prairie in autumn colors at the Harvey Waterfowl Production Area. A 0.15-mile one-way path passes trees and leads to the woods near a large pond frequented each fall by migrating birds. Extend the trail into the woods via game trails and degraded footpaths. From Willmar, take U.S. Hwy. 12 east. Turn left/north onto 560th Avenue then right/east onto 290th Street. The entry to the waterfowl area is in 0.66 miles on the right/south; park along the country road.
Lake Maria State Park (Monticello)
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 Monticello, take County Road 39 west. Turn right/north onto County Road 111 then enter the park by going left/west onto Park Road. After passing the park office, turn left/south onto the road leading to the Trail Center, where there is a parking lot and trailhead.
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.
River Warren Outcrops Scientific and Natural Area (Redwood Falls)
One stretch of the Minnesota River in the prairie that brims with harvest colors is River Warren Outcrops Scientific and Natural Area. A 1.6-mile trail loops through the woodlands. Bur oak covers the rock outcrops area above the river while silver maple, American elm, rock elm, and the rare (for Minnesota) Kentucky coffee tree rule the floodplain forest. From Redwood Falls, take County Road 101 north; upon crossing the Minnesota River, it becomes County Road 1. Turn left/northwest onto County Road 15. After passing County Road 21, watch for the natural area driveway and parking lot on the left/south.
