If we lived in a world of Octobers, how magical would life be? Unfortunately, fall time is usually short & sweet, with peak colors in one area lasting about 2 weeks. In Minnesota, the most magical time of the year can be considered fall. We love when all the Minnesota forests are painted shades of gold, orange and red. There are countless magical places to visit in Minnesota to experience the magic of fall. Here are my family’s can’t miss Minnesota fall colors destinations!
Looking for more fall adventures? Check out our list of Ultimate Scenic Drives in Minnesota to enjoy the fall colors! If you are looking for a road trip to get a good scare, read our list of 12 Most Haunted Places to Visit in Minnesota. Last, if you are planning a trip to the North Shore this fall, read some of our North Shore Adventures:
- Bluefin Bay Adventures Along Lake Superior
- The Ultimate Itinerary for Minnesota’s North Shore
- 4 Day Road Trip Itinerary for North Shore of MN
- 20 Ways to Experience Grand Marais, MN
- Most Charming Small Towns in MN
1. Taylors Falls
If you love small towns with a New England fall charm, Taylors Falls is for you! Located 1 hour north of the Twin Cities, this getaway is famous for several activities- and leaf peeping is one of them!
You can take a MN Train Ride or St. Croix River Scenic Boat Tour along the St. Croix River. Interstate State Park is a huge draw for rock climbing and hiking-especially fall time! We love driving the St. Croix River Scenic Byway, which also takes you through Hastings, Stillwater, Marine on St. Croix and Taylors Falls. If you are looking for an easier walk, Taylors Falls River Park Trail is about 1.25 miles, and has all the fall colors decorating the riverside. Another neat walk is through the Fraconia Sculpture Park, a contemporary local art park home to the farmer’s market, as well as the fall time Puppets in the Park Halloween Hayride.
If you want to pair beautiful views with great taste, Wild Mountain Winery is a must see stop along your tour of the colors. We love getting coffee at the renovated Victorian coffee shop, Coffee Talk. For some of the best pastries in town, Juneberry Cafe is absolutely darling. My kids love the 1950s diner spot called the Drive In Restaurant.
2. Hastings
If you love fall festival fun, you will love what Hastings has to offer! Hastings’ apple orchards team up for the October Apple Fest that includes picking apples, cider making demonstrations, hayrides, kid’s activities and apple brats. You can also visit the Afton Apple Orchard and Whistling Well Farm.
Hastings has a lot of neat places to take in the fall colors. Our personal favorite if we are short on time is the walk along the Vermillion Falls (don’t forget to check out the locks on the bridge!). When we do have more time, Afton State Park is a prime place to enjoy the fall colors and have access to the St. Croix River. We also like taking strolls through the Carpenter Nature Center.
Hastings has some delicious food stops! My personal favorite is Froth & Cork. It’s a coffee shop in a renovated Victorian home, with the most darling seating areas. I highly recommend trying their coffee flights! We also love the Schoolhouse Scoop for ice cream, and Lock & Dam Eatery for great food, cocktails and options for vegetarian dishes.
3. Voyaguers National Park
Voyageurs National Park is famous for it’s waterways, Northern Lights views and being one of the best parks in Minnesota for fall color displays. Spanning 218,000 acres of streams, rivers, lakes and islands, this park is ideal for a houseboat stay, camping, hiking and traveling the waterways by kayak & canoe.
Some of the highlights to think about seeing when planning a visit are the Ellsworth Rock Garden (we absolutely loved walking through this one), Grassy Bay (the highest point of the park with sheer granite cliffs), and the Anderson Bay (the best spot for an overlook of Rainy Lake & the bay area). If you love history, make sure to see the historic Kettle Falls Hotel (accessible only by water), and Harry Oveson Fish Camp (a preserved camp displaying the life in commercial fishing). We personally enjoyed the hiking trails by Ash River Visitor Center. Of course, be sure to practice the 7 Leave No Trace principles, and be well prepared whether hiking or traveling via waterway.
If you are looking for a fun place to stay not far from Voyageurs National Park, I suggest the boutique hotel Cantilever Distillery. Cantilver Distillery is located off Rainy Lake near the gateway of Voyageurs National Park. It’s well known for it’s cocktail room, being a great spot to view the Northern Lights, rooftop hot tub, free yoga classes and distillery tours.
4. Anoka
This list wouldn’t make sense without including the Halloween Capital of the World-Anoka! When planning your visit, I suggest you check out their long list of Halloween events on their Event Page. A notable event is the Light up the Night Halloween Parade which takes place in downtown Anoka. There is also a children’s parade called Big Parade for Little People, a house decorating contest, Grande Day Parade & the pumpkin weighing competition!
Anoka has a charming downtown, with countless unique retailers-we suggest you sip & shop! Our personal favorite stop each year is the Buffalo Books & Coffee and Avant Garden Bookstore, which serves as a coffee shop and book shop! Can you name a better combination? Some neat stores downtown are Random Hippie, MN Girl and Anoka Halloween Shop. You can also walk the Riverfront Memorial Park along Rum River for beautiful fall views downtown. The Halloween Capital mural is also worth a stop, located at 500 West Main Street.
If you want to end your time in Anoka with a unique experience, I suggest the Mad Hatter House, located on the Rum River. I encourage you to book ahead of time as this place fills up quick! We booked the high tea service, with several courses & the best tea! The entire house is also an experience on it’s own.
5. Park Rapids
Located about 3.5 hours northwest of Minneapolis, Park Rapids is famous for being home to Two Inlets Forest, the start of the Heartland Trail and Itasca State Park (also know for being the Headwaters of the Mississippi River). The colors in Park Rapids during fall time are simply magical.
We visited Itasca State Park during our visit, and the fall colors near the dozens of lakes in the park were unreal. If you want the ultimate fall colors experience, I suggest driving Wilderness Drive, which goes past the 2,000 acres of Wilderness Sanctuary, and 7 of Minnesota’s National Natural Landmarks. Other highlights are hiking Preacher’s Grove, the Itasca Indian Cemetery, the historic Wegmann’s Cabin and the Mississippi River Headwaters.
Park Rapids has a darling downtown filled with shops that will bring you back to the “good old days”. The Rustic Cabin Decor Shop has everything you need to bring in the cozy fall/winter cabin vibes. If you like a classic candy shop, Aunt Belle’s Confectionary has candy by the barrels. If you are looking for a cute coffee shop, we loved the Bella Cafe for sit down, and the Espresso 34 for drive thru (the BEST drive thru coffee I have had!). Our all time favorite place to eat in Park Rapids is Good Life Cafe located downtown, filled with clever cocktails and a unique twist on classic, American dishes.
6. Lanesboro
If you want a wide array miles & miles of fall colors and love to bike, Lanesboro is the perfect fall destination for you! Bring your bike or rent one at Little River General Store to take a cruise along the Root River Trail, which is a great way to view the fall colors in the bluffs! If you prefer to view the colors from the water, there is public water access in Lanesboro near the dam, as well as a rental option with Root River Outfitters. During fall, make sure to check out the Big Springs Farm Pumpkin Patch, which features corn maze, hay rides, pick your own pumpkin patch, the famous big slide, cider slushies, kids activities and more!
Lanesboro’s downtown has the fall charm you see in Hallmark movies. There is a pedestrian bridge you can stroll down along the Root River, and shops featuring art shops, drinks at Sylvan’s Brewery and Amish goods and local products. Walking further down that same road in Lanesboro takes you to the dam- which is gorgeous fall time surrounded by the trees. Some of our favorite spots to eat are Pedal Pushers Cafe (they have great truffle fries), Juniper’s Restaurant (they have outdoor seating) and Paddle on Coffee. If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to check out Clara’s Eatery and Another Time Ice Cream.
7. Lutsen
For over 75 years, Lutsen has been famous for it’s ski resorts and famous Lutsen Mountain fall colors. Located 18 miles southwest of Grand Marais along the North Shore of Lake Superior, Lutsen is a small town with a big personality. If you are looking for an exciting way to view the fall colors, catch a ride on the Summit Express Gondola. Once at the summit, you can hike trails to stunning overlooks of Lake Superior and the Lutsen Mountains. They also have the thrilling Alpine Slides at the Resort.
Lutsen is one of my favorite areas along the North Shore to hike because of the stunning variety of trails. Cascade River State Park is located nearby, with a picnic site by the lake, trails leading to the waterfalls, and along the Cascade River. We love the area where the Cascade River meets Lake Superior- we always see some neat fish here! You can find some stunning trails in Lutsen along the Superior Hiking Trail, such as Oberg Mountain Loop, Poplar River Falls, Gondola Loop, Carlton Peak and Britton Peak.
Lutsen is tiny but mighty, especially when it comes to great places to eat! A few minutes south of Lutsen is the Coho Cafe. We stop here every year because they have the BEST pastries and breakfast. Fika Coffee is also in Lutsen, and we love to get a cup to go as well as some Fika Coffee to take home. The Cascade Restaurant & Pub is a perfect place to get a bite to eat after exploring Cascade River State Park. The North Shore Winery is also located here- fall is a great time for those wine flights! And of course, I encourage you to stop at Wild Country Maple Syrup (located at 191 Barker Lake Road in Lutsen)-the entire place is an experience all it’s own. They also are great Christmas gifts!
8. Grand Marais
Grand Marais is a quaint harbor village that offers a vibrant art scene, wonderful local places to eat and stunning natural beauty. Of course, you can only image the fall colors Grand Marais has to offer! We go to Grand Marais twice a year at least, and we absolutely love fall time along Lake Superior.
I have enjoyed staying in Grand Marais, and being able to walk to all the downtown shops (our favorites are Gunflint Mercantile for truffles, the Big Lake & Upstate MN for art and clothing, the Lake Superior Trading Post). We usually start our day off with a Maple Latte from Java Moose and donut kabob from World’s Best Donuts, then head out to stroll Artist’s Point, just beyond the Coast Guard in the harbor. You get 360 degree views and can view the boats in the harbor. We also access the trail along the Municipal Campground, which gives a great view of the Lighthouse.
For lunch we love the Native American inspired tacos at Hungry Hippie Tacos, and getting some smoked fish at The Fisherman’s Daughters. We enjoy getting drinks at The Raven, Voyageurs Brewery and the Gunflint Tavern. My Sister’s Place and the Angry Trout (our favorite place to go for fresh whitefish) are delicious supper spots, depending on what you are craving.
There are plenty of beautiful spots in Grand Marais to take in the autumn colors. Gunflint Trail is filled with hiking trails, with one of the first stops being the Superior Forest Overlook which also is the trail head to Pincushion Mountain (5 mile loop). The Northern Lights Lake Trail is 13 miles from Grand Marais, and is well marked with a small parking lot nearby (1 mile loop). The Honeymoon Bluff Trail is a favorite for a sunset hike, about 1.5 mile loop trail (the start of the hike is steep- wear proper footwear). If you drive farther north of Grand Marais, you will find the stunning Colvill Beach and Kadunce Wayside Canyon Trail- both stunning areas to enjoy the fall colors!
9. Bemidji
Bemidji is a special place, famous for being the first established city in Minnesota on the Mississippi River. Bemidji is known as the “golden city,” famous for it’s gold fall colors that decorate the banks of the Mississippi River. Our favorite thing to do is walk the trail near the river that eventually leads to the famous Paul Bunyan & Babe and the Blue Ox statues. Farther down the trail you can also view Chief Bemidji’s statue. This also leads to a sculpture walk going into downtown Bemidji. Some of my favorite fall stores are actually in downtown Bemidji, such as the Yellow Umbrella, Bemidji Woolen Mills, 218 Clothing & Gift, Compass Rose, Lumberjack Shack, Gliks, Trove & Tea and Four Pines Bookstore.
For places to eat, we love the Minnesota Nice Cafe, with creative twists on diner style classics. The Red Stu Breakfast Bar is a must-try, with a bubbly, classy interior mixed with unique food dishes for breakfast. The North Shore Grille is a great casual spot for lunch, and the Sparkling Waters is perfect for a fancy night out, with steak, seafood dishes and lake views. One of my favorite coffee shops in Bemidji is the Wild Hare Bistro and Coffee House. They have a small menu featuring soup and sandwiches- but the highlight here is the specialty coffee!
One of my favorite things about Bemidji is Lake Bemidji State Park, which is by far my favorite spot in this area to go leaf peeping. There is a beach, boat launch and picnic area here. Not to mention, countless trails, which lead along Lake Bemidji. I highly suggest you check out the 1.25 mile rare spruce and tamarack bog walk, which features unique plants and flowers- including the Minnesota state floor, the Lady Slipper. You can also bike or walk the Paul Bunyan State Trail (a stunning 115 miles long) which starts in the state park.
10. Crosby
This list would not be complete without including the magical Cuyuna & Crosby area. We had the pleasure of staying here with Cuyuna Shores along Serpent Lake & it was an unforgettable way to kick off the fall season. Serpent Lake alone provides so much to do, from swimming, boating, fishing to kayak/canoe adventures, jet skis and so much more! The Cuyuna County State Recreation Area is also the perfect park to go to if you want to get a good bike ride in.
If you visit Crosby during the weekend, be sure to enjoy the downtown Farmer’s Market. Local businesses from the area, Brainerd and Nisswa sell fresh baked goods, wildflower bouquets, kombucha, farm produce and more! We loved the interactive activities for kids, such as scavenger hunts, face painting and building blocks.
Downtown Crosby offers wonderful shops and places to eat, with several patio or rooftop restaurants in the area. We suggest starting out with Red Raven Coffee- my favorite is the sea salt Sand Hog specialty drink! Afterwards, we went to MacDaddy’s Donut Garage, which we took to Memorial Park. Memorial Park is home to campsites, a huge playground, the famous Crosby serpent statue and Serpent Lake. For lunch, we experienced the Iron Range Eatery, which has great sandwiches or Rafferty’s Wood-fired Pizza. Both have darling seating areas. For supper, we tried locally owned Station 13, home to the famous smash burger. For drinks, the Hardwater Lounge is delicious!
BONUS: ELY
We have never had the opportunity to visit Ely, MN in the fall time, but I have to mention it here because I know it would be completely magical- and this list would be incomplete without it! Ely is home to 20 entry points into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, making it the place to go if you are planning the view the fall colors in the area. Ely and the Boundary Waters are also perfect places to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights! There are also countless hiking trails where you can take in the fall colors. I have included the Ely Trails List, but want to say we really loved the Kawishiwi Falls Trail. I can only imagine how beautiful the waterfall would look in the fall!
Famous attractions are the North American Bear Center and International Wolf Center (great place to take kids!). Downtown Ely also has neat shops, such as the Blue Loon Gallery, Pengal’s Trading Company and Piragis Northwoods Co. The famous Dorothy’s Rootbeer Museum is also always a fun stop near the Boundary Waters. Our favorite food spots in Ely are the Insula Restaurant, Evergreen Restaurant and the Northern Grounds Coffee.
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