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| Maka-Oicu County Park, Worthington, Minnesota |
to experience autumn colors in the
Worthington, Minnesota, 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 Worthington to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Maka-Oicu County Park (Worthington)
The reflection of autumn trees in two lakes make for a beautiful fall hike at Maka-Oicu County Park. Narrow, degraded footpaths link West Graham and Jack lakes as well as run by a small stream connecting them. From Worthington, take U.S. Hwy 59 north. Turn right/east onto 140th Street, which naturally turns to Lafeyette Avenue when the road curves north; the avenue then naturally becomes Tripp Road. At the T-intersection when Tripp Road goes east, go left/west. The park entrance is on the left/west.
Keller Wildlife Area (Ocheyedan, Iowa)
Autumn leaves along the Ocheyedan River can be enjoyed at the Keller Wildlife Area. A 2.7-mile round trip jeep trail follows the river’s western shore. The trail starts in the Ocheyedan Well Wildlife Area, which is prairie, and then a quarter of the way through enters the Keller Wildlife Area, where trees can be found. From Worthington, take U.S. Hwy. 59 south. Turn left/east onto Iowa Hwy. A22. After passing Hwy. L54, park off the road just before the river. Walk south on the river’s west bank.
Gull Point State Park (Spirit Lake, Iowa)
Autumn leaves abound at Gull Point State Park, nestled on the shores of West Okoboji Lake. The 1.5-mile Barney Peterson Nature Trail loops through a hardwoods forest. From Spirit Lake, take Iowa Hwy. 9 west. Turn left/south onto County Road 86 then left/east onto Edgewood Drive, which naturally becomes Harpen Street. Watch for the trailhead parking lot on the street’s left/west side.
Kilen Woods State Park (Jackson)
Oaks grace the ravines and river slopes at Kilen Woods State Park along the Des Moines River. To enjoy the autumn colors in an area dominated by farm fields, try the 1.1-mile round trip Rock Creek Trail to south on the Sioux Trail then the looping Riverside Trail. From Jackson, take County Road 14/10 west. Turn right/north onto County Road 17 then a right/east onto County Road 24. Park in the lot and look for the picnic shelter for the trailhead.
Mayflower Park (Windom)
Woodlands full of autumn leaves usually are hard to come by on the prairie. One place to locate them, however, is along rivers where trees can flourish. In Cottonwood County, Mayflower Park along the Des Moines River in Windom fits the bill. Follow the 1-mile round trip disc golf course through the woods. From County Road 17 in Windom, take Drake Avenue south. Turn left/east onto the dirt road and follow it the park’s parking lot.
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.
Blue Mounds State Park (Luverne)
Leaves aren’t the only flora that changes color in autumn. Out on the prairie, the real show is the tallgrass. Among the best spots in Minnesota to see this is Blue Mounds State Park where a 1-mile round trip segment of the Upper Mound and Upper Cliffline trails offers a fantastic view from atop a 90-foot high quartzite outcropping. Looking west, bluestem grass turns a fiery red each autumn as buffalo graze in the distance. Perhaps the best day to visit is around 6:30 pm on the autumn equinox when a 1,250-foot long line of rocks, set in an east-west direction, lines up with the setting sun. From Luverne, take U.S. Hwy. 75 north. Turn right/east onto County Road 8 then the next left/north. Park in the lot at the road’s end and head to Eagle Rock Vista and the trail.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Worthington to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Maka-Oicu County Park (Worthington)
The reflection of autumn trees in two lakes make for a beautiful fall hike at Maka-Oicu County Park. Narrow, degraded footpaths link West Graham and Jack lakes as well as run by a small stream connecting them. From Worthington, take U.S. Hwy 59 north. Turn right/east onto 140th Street, which naturally turns to Lafeyette Avenue when the road curves north; the avenue then naturally becomes Tripp Road. At the T-intersection when Tripp Road goes east, go left/west. The park entrance is on the left/west.
Keller Wildlife Area (Ocheyedan, Iowa)
Autumn leaves along the Ocheyedan River can be enjoyed at the Keller Wildlife Area. A 2.7-mile round trip jeep trail follows the river’s western shore. The trail starts in the Ocheyedan Well Wildlife Area, which is prairie, and then a quarter of the way through enters the Keller Wildlife Area, where trees can be found. From Worthington, take U.S. Hwy. 59 south. Turn left/east onto Iowa Hwy. A22. After passing Hwy. L54, park off the road just before the river. Walk south on the river’s west bank.
Gull Point State Park (Spirit Lake, Iowa)
Autumn leaves abound at Gull Point State Park, nestled on the shores of West Okoboji Lake. The 1.5-mile Barney Peterson Nature Trail loops through a hardwoods forest. From Spirit Lake, take Iowa Hwy. 9 west. Turn left/south onto County Road 86 then left/east onto Edgewood Drive, which naturally becomes Harpen Street. Watch for the trailhead parking lot on the street’s left/west side.
Kilen Woods State Park (Jackson)
Oaks grace the ravines and river slopes at Kilen Woods State Park along the Des Moines River. To enjoy the autumn colors in an area dominated by farm fields, try the 1.1-mile round trip Rock Creek Trail to south on the Sioux Trail then the looping Riverside Trail. From Jackson, take County Road 14/10 west. Turn right/north onto County Road 17 then a right/east onto County Road 24. Park in the lot and look for the picnic shelter for the trailhead.
Mayflower Park (Windom)
Woodlands full of autumn leaves usually are hard to come by on the prairie. One place to locate them, however, is along rivers where trees can flourish. In Cottonwood County, Mayflower Park along the Des Moines River in Windom fits the bill. Follow the 1-mile round trip disc golf course through the woods. From County Road 17 in Windom, take Drake Avenue south. Turn left/east onto the dirt road and follow it the park’s parking lot.
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.
Blue Mounds State Park (Luverne)
Leaves aren’t the only flora that changes color in autumn. Out on the prairie, the real show is the tallgrass. Among the best spots in Minnesota to see this is Blue Mounds State Park where a 1-mile round trip segment of the Upper Mound and Upper Cliffline trails offers a fantastic view from atop a 90-foot high quartzite outcropping. Looking west, bluestem grass turns a fiery red each autumn as buffalo graze in the distance. Perhaps the best day to visit is around 6:30 pm on the autumn equinox when a 1,250-foot long line of rocks, set in an east-west direction, lines up with the setting sun. From Luverne, take U.S. Hwy. 75 north. Turn right/east onto County Road 8 then the next left/north. Park in the lot at the road’s end and head to Eagle Rock Vista and the trail.
