Here Are the Best Times and Places to View Minnesota’s Fall Foliage in 2025

It’s about the time of year when we begin to wonder, “When do leaves change color in Minnesota?” One useful tool that helps me make decisions about where and when to go to see fall colors in Minnesota is the Fall Foliage Prediction Map from SmokyMountains.com.

The map offers county-level predictions for the progression of fall colors across the United States, including ours right here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. To see when and where colors will approach and reach their peak in Minnesota, simply use the slider at the bottom of the Fall Foliage Prediction Map. As you move the date later, you’ll see the Minnesota fall foliage map’s 2025 forecast for the state’s counties.

Fall in Minnesota is getting started early this year in the northern part of the state, as areas along the North Shore already reported color changes during the first week of September. For example, Oberg Mountain, between Lutsen and Tofte, which is one of the most popular leaf peeping spots along the North Shore, is already seeing some color changes. Look for the Arrowhead and areas near the Boundary Waters to peak by the end of the month.

So, if you’re seeking fall colors in Minnesota in September, I recommend heading for the North Shore of Lake Superior and the inland highlands of the Superior National Forest. Take a hike in Cascade River State Park or from one of the Superior Hiking Trail trailheads northeast of Minnesota Hwy. 1. Another great way to experience fall colors along the North Shore is a ride on the Summit Express Gondola at Lutsen Mountains resort.

By late September and early October, start looking for fall colors in Minnesota a little farther south. The portion of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway north of Taylors Falls is always beautiful when it wears its autumn colors. Other good options for the middle part of the season include Maplewood State Park, near Pelican Rapids, and Schoolcraft State Park. Personally, Lake Maria State Park is one of my favorite places to go for mid-autumn tree bathing. The park’s Big Woods remnant forest simply blazes when it peaks in early to mid-October!

Now, if you don’t start looking for foliage until mid-October, your best bet is going to be southern Minnesota. The Mississippi River valley tends to hold onto its fall colors for a little longer than other parts of the state—it’s those stubborn oak trees—but Forestville/Mystery Cave and Camden State Parks are also solid late-fall contenders.

You could even use the Foliage Prediction Map to make your plans for packing up the car and heading out on a fall colors road trip. Do you have plans for leaf peeping this fall? We'd love to hear about your favorite places for fall color viewing.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own fall foliage trip in Minnesota using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner and the fall foliage prediction map.

Feature Image: Daniel Thornberg - stock.adobe.com