Minnesota DNR Forecasts "Brilliant" Fall Colors Season Coming to the Twin Cities

Story by Patch editor Shawn Hogendorf

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is predicting a “brilliant” fall colors season.

During the next seven or eight weeks, fall color will roll across Minnesota’s forests and prairies.

To help you get out and enjoy the fall colors season, the DNR has created a statewide fall color report that is updated every Thursday by staff at Minnesota state parks and recreation areas.

The reports include percent of color change, peak color projections and three state park or trail destinations considered “hot picks” of the week.

“We’re predicting it will be a brilliant fall color season,” said Patricia Arndt, of the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division said in a news release. “Although it’s been dry lately, the trees got adequate rain earlier this season. 

"Now we just need a combination of sunny days and cool nights in the weeks ahead to bring out the fall colors. We’ve timed many of our fall hiking, biking, geocaching and paddling programs at Minnesota state parks and trails to coincide with peak color, and we hope to see lots of people getting outdoors to enjoy this beautiful time of year.”

Colors typically peak between mid-September and early October in northern third of the state, between late September and early October in central third and between late September and mid-October in the St. Croix River Valley.

In the Fridleye area, there will be plenty of areas for viewing the changing colors including the Springbrook Nature Center.  

In addition to the weekly online reports, the DNR offers fall colors “to go” on a mobile website compatible with smart phones and tablets.

These reports include percent of color change, integrated with Google maps.

To access the mobile site, scan the QR code at http://mndnr.gov/mobile or visit http://mndnr.gov/mobile/fall_colors and bookmark the site on a smart phone or other mobile device.

A vehicle permit is required to enter Minnesota state parks and recreation areas. A one-day permit costs $5, and is good at all Minnesota State Parks for that day. The one-day permit may be traded in before the end of the day for $5 off a year-round permit, which cost $25.

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