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| Quarry Park and Nature Preserve |
than a hike.
The brilliant yellows, oranges and red
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 St. Cloud to hike. Some are right out your back door,
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around St. Cloud to hike. Some are right out your back door,
while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Munsinger and Clemens Gardens (St. Cloud)
Walkers can enjoy the reflection of autumn colors off of the Mississippi River at Munsinger and Clemens Gardens. A 1.25-mile round trip walking path runs north-south through Munsinger Gardens with a spur to Clemens Gardens. St. Cloud State University sits on the river’s opposite shore. From the junction of U.S. Hwy. 10 Third Street SE in St. Cloud, take the latter southwest. Turn left/south onto Wilson Avenue SE, then right/west onto Seventh Street SE, and lastly left/south onto Riverside Drive. Park along Riverside south of 10th Street SE; the gardens are west of the street.
Quarry Park and Nature Preserve (St. Cloud)
Scarlet and golden leaves with tinges of orange await hikers at Quarry Park and Nature Preserve. The 2.3-mile Quarry Park Outer Loop circles the preserve’s perimeter, staying in the woods almost the entire way. Fall colors typically peak late September to early October. In St. Cloud, from the southern junction of Minn. Hwys. 15 and 23, take the latter southwest. Turn left/south onto 28th Avenue then left/east onto County Road 137. The preserve’s entrance is on the right/south.
Saint John’s University’s Abbey Arboretum (St. Joseph)
A vast woods of red and white oak await hikers at Saint John’s University’s Abbey Arboretum. The 3-mile Chapel Walk heads through the colorful autumn forest with the leaves reflecting off the crystal blue surface of Lake Sagatagan. The trail starts on the beach at the lake’s northwest side and runs to Stella Maris Chapel. Legend says that if you’re a Bennie (a student at the College of Saint Benedict) walking with a Johnnie, in the future you’ll end up in the chapel exchanging marriage vows. From Interstate 94 northwest of St. Joseph, exit south onto St. John’s Road. Turn left/east onto Prep School Road then right/west onto Water Tower Road. Park in one of the spots off the street then walk west and go left/south onto Beach Fire Lane to the lake.
Lake Wobegon Trail (Albany)
For lovers of fall color, late September to early October is an excellent time to hike the Lake Wobegon Trail. For those two weeks, sugar maple, ash, aspen and staghorn sumac usually are at their peak. A stretch of the flat trail that is mostly wooded and away from busy Interstate 94 is the 6.4-mile round trip segment between downtown Albany to Peach Drive at Avon Hills Forest Scientific and Natural Area. Park along Fifth Street between Railroad and Church avenues, then take the trail east.
Birch Lake State Forest (Melrose)
A diverse array of autumn leaves await hikers at Birch Lake State Forest. A 1.7-mile round trip unnamed lollipop trail heads through a forest of oak, red maple, ironwood, birch and aspen. From Melrose, take County Road 13 north. Turn right/east onto County Road 17, left/north onto Birch Lake Road then right/east onto Birch Lakes Forest Road. Park in the first lot for the campsites 30-35. At the first trail intersection, go straight/west then at the next intersection go left/east.
Englund Ecotone Scientific and Natural Area (Foley)
A pin and burr oak woodlands can be enjoyed at Englund Ecotone Scientific and Natural Area. You’ll need to rely on game trails and degraded footpaths to get through the forest, though. Still, the hike is worth it, as this is one of the few remaining natural areas in a rapidly urbanizing county. From Foley, take Minn. Hwy. 25 north. Turn left/west onto Little Rock Road, left/south on U.S. Hwy. 10, and then left/east onto 85th Street NW. When 85th Street splits, take it right/southeast. The road ends at the natural area.
Clear Lake Scientific and Natural Area (Clear Lake)
A profuse array of autumn leaves await at Clear Lake Scientific and Natural Area. Northern red oak, northern pin oak, and white oak, with some bur oak and red maple, dominate the canopy. A southern terrace forest along the Mississippi River boasts American elm, box elder, silver maple, green ash, hackberry and basswood. You’ll have to rely on game trails and degraded footpaths to traverse the site. From Elk River, take U.S. Hwy. 10 west. In Clear Lake, turn left/southwest onto County Road 24, then right/west onto 90th Street SE, and finally 58th Avenue South. Watch for the natural area’s driveway on the road’s right/west side; park there.
Bell Prairie County Park (Little Falls)
Day hikers can walk through a black ash forest at Bell Prairie County Park near Little Falls, Minn. But go quick – though Minnesota’s fourth most common tree, the black ash faces a very real threat from an invasive species that could wipe it out. The roughly 1.25-mile Black Ash Trail (the trail actually is unnamed but is called that here for convenience sake) cuts through and circles a black ash forest at the park. Along the way, you’ll also cross an oak savanna and head alongside a red pine stand, making for a great autumn hike. The emerald ash borer reached Minnesota in the mid 2010s after ravaging the tree’s cousins – green ash and white ash – across much of the northeastern United States. From Little Falls take County Road 76/Haven Road north. Turn left/east onto County Park Road and enter Belle Prairie. At the first road junction, park off the side of the main road. Walk the paved road that splits to the right/west. A jeep trail appears on the right/north; that’s the trailhead.
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. In Lake Maria State Park, the 3.6-mile Big Woods Loop Trail 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.
Munsinger and Clemens Gardens (St. Cloud)
Walkers can enjoy the reflection of autumn colors off of the Mississippi River at Munsinger and Clemens Gardens. A 1.25-mile round trip walking path runs north-south through Munsinger Gardens with a spur to Clemens Gardens. St. Cloud State University sits on the river’s opposite shore. From the junction of U.S. Hwy. 10 Third Street SE in St. Cloud, take the latter southwest. Turn left/south onto Wilson Avenue SE, then right/west onto Seventh Street SE, and lastly left/south onto Riverside Drive. Park along Riverside south of 10th Street SE; the gardens are west of the street.
Quarry Park and Nature Preserve (St. Cloud)
Scarlet and golden leaves with tinges of orange await hikers at Quarry Park and Nature Preserve. The 2.3-mile Quarry Park Outer Loop circles the preserve’s perimeter, staying in the woods almost the entire way. Fall colors typically peak late September to early October. In St. Cloud, from the southern junction of Minn. Hwys. 15 and 23, take the latter southwest. Turn left/south onto 28th Avenue then left/east onto County Road 137. The preserve’s entrance is on the right/south.
Saint John’s University’s Abbey Arboretum (St. Joseph)
A vast woods of red and white oak await hikers at Saint John’s University’s Abbey Arboretum. The 3-mile Chapel Walk heads through the colorful autumn forest with the leaves reflecting off the crystal blue surface of Lake Sagatagan. The trail starts on the beach at the lake’s northwest side and runs to Stella Maris Chapel. Legend says that if you’re a Bennie (a student at the College of Saint Benedict) walking with a Johnnie, in the future you’ll end up in the chapel exchanging marriage vows. From Interstate 94 northwest of St. Joseph, exit south onto St. John’s Road. Turn left/east onto Prep School Road then right/west onto Water Tower Road. Park in one of the spots off the street then walk west and go left/south onto Beach Fire Lane to the lake.
Lake Wobegon Trail (Albany)
For lovers of fall color, late September to early October is an excellent time to hike the Lake Wobegon Trail. For those two weeks, sugar maple, ash, aspen and staghorn sumac usually are at their peak. A stretch of the flat trail that is mostly wooded and away from busy Interstate 94 is the 6.4-mile round trip segment between downtown Albany to Peach Drive at Avon Hills Forest Scientific and Natural Area. Park along Fifth Street between Railroad and Church avenues, then take the trail east.
Birch Lake State Forest (Melrose)
A diverse array of autumn leaves await hikers at Birch Lake State Forest. A 1.7-mile round trip unnamed lollipop trail heads through a forest of oak, red maple, ironwood, birch and aspen. From Melrose, take County Road 13 north. Turn right/east onto County Road 17, left/north onto Birch Lake Road then right/east onto Birch Lakes Forest Road. Park in the first lot for the campsites 30-35. At the first trail intersection, go straight/west then at the next intersection go left/east.
Englund Ecotone Scientific and Natural Area (Foley)
A pin and burr oak woodlands can be enjoyed at Englund Ecotone Scientific and Natural Area. You’ll need to rely on game trails and degraded footpaths to get through the forest, though. Still, the hike is worth it, as this is one of the few remaining natural areas in a rapidly urbanizing county. From Foley, take Minn. Hwy. 25 north. Turn left/west onto Little Rock Road, left/south on U.S. Hwy. 10, and then left/east onto 85th Street NW. When 85th Street splits, take it right/southeast. The road ends at the natural area.
Clear Lake Scientific and Natural Area (Clear Lake)
A profuse array of autumn leaves await at Clear Lake Scientific and Natural Area. Northern red oak, northern pin oak, and white oak, with some bur oak and red maple, dominate the canopy. A southern terrace forest along the Mississippi River boasts American elm, box elder, silver maple, green ash, hackberry and basswood. You’ll have to rely on game trails and degraded footpaths to traverse the site. From Elk River, take U.S. Hwy. 10 west. In Clear Lake, turn left/southwest onto County Road 24, then right/west onto 90th Street SE, and finally 58th Avenue South. Watch for the natural area’s driveway on the road’s right/west side; park there.
Bell Prairie County Park (Little Falls)
Day hikers can walk through a black ash forest at Bell Prairie County Park near Little Falls, Minn. But go quick – though Minnesota’s fourth most common tree, the black ash faces a very real threat from an invasive species that could wipe it out. The roughly 1.25-mile Black Ash Trail (the trail actually is unnamed but is called that here for convenience sake) cuts through and circles a black ash forest at the park. Along the way, you’ll also cross an oak savanna and head alongside a red pine stand, making for a great autumn hike. The emerald ash borer reached Minnesota in the mid 2010s after ravaging the tree’s cousins – green ash and white ash – across much of the northeastern United States. From Little Falls take County Road 76/Haven Road north. Turn left/east onto County Park Road and enter Belle Prairie. At the first road junction, park off the side of the main road. Walk the paved road that splits to the right/west. A jeep trail appears on the right/north; that’s the trailhead.
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. In Lake Maria State Park, the 3.6-mile Big Woods Loop Trail 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.
