Take A 2-Hour Drive Through Minnesota To See This Year’s Beautiful Fall Colors
One of Minnesota’s most beautiful times of year is fall. During this season, our state and local parks, lakes, and forests blaze with orange, yellow, and red. There are many places to take in Minnesota’s fall colors, but one of the easiest ways is by taking a drive. There’s a 2-hour drive along Minnesota’s North Shore that might just be the best place to see fall colors in Minnesota. Check out the Minnesota DNR fall color finder to find the best time to go, then pack up the car for a trip up north. Here’s what you’ll discover:
The journey from Duluth to Grand Marais is not a long one. But you'll see plenty of autumn beauty as you travel between these two North Shore cities. The trip is about 110 miles, so it should take 2 hours one way.
The road - Highway 61 - is lined by a mixed forest of trees on one side. The rugged hills will be ablaze with color. It's the one time of year that your eyes will be on the trees and not the water.
But definitely pause to admire the beauty of the choppy waters! Lake Superior lines the other side of the route north, and it's simply breathtaking when surrounded by autumn leaves.
There are places to stop along the way, including several beautiful beaches. If you have more than two hours to spare, stop at Iona's Beach or Black Beach to rest. Or stop along the road for a quick break.
And if you have all day, you may want to make a couple of stops along your trip north. For example, Duluth holds many incredible places to see the fall colors. Head to Hawk Ridge for a look at the leaves from above.
North of Duluth, Gooseberry Falls State Park is a must-see in the fall. The sight of the trees towering over the river as it heads to Superior is simply breathtaking. And of course, you can't forget the waterfall!
Just down the road from Gooseberry Falls is Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. Visit the park itself for lovely views of Superior. But there's also a wayside stop where you can see the lighthouse from the road.
After you've had your fill of Minnesota's state parks, you'll soon arrive in Grand Marais. Explore the town, take in the gorgeous landscape, and enjoy the leaves. They won't be back again for another year!
Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
