The Train Ride Through The Minnesota Countryside That Shows Off Fall Foliage

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the beauty of autumn in the Land of 10,000 Lakes is a fall foliage train ride in Minnesota, along the Mississippi River, and through the state’s Bluff Country. You can keep your eyes on the trees and leave the driving to the engineer.

To get started, all you need to do is reserve a ticket on Amtrak’s Empire Builder from St. Paul to Winona.

You can get a seat for between $25 and $30 each way. Check Amtrak’s timetables for the most up to date schedules and fares.

From St. Paul, you’ll travel along the Mississippi, through Hastings, to Red Wing.

This is where the ride really starts to get interesting, as the train will begin rolling through the heart of Bluff Country as soon as it pulls away from Red Wing’s station.

Over the remaining few hours of the trip, you’ll ride between the river and its towering, forested bluffs.

Just outside Red Wing, you’ll cruise past Frontenac State Park and into Lake City.

From there, the tracks skirt Lake Pepin all the way into Wabasha, offering dramatic fall scenery from both sides of the train - along the Minnesota bluffs and across the river to Wisconsin’s Driftless Area.

On the Minnesota side, much of the train ride will pass through the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, as well as the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest.

So you’ll enjoy all the best bursts of color while passing through largely undeveloped stretches of hardwood forest.

Then you’ll roll into Winona, which is one of my favorite towns in the state.

Spend some time exploring the town, and grab a bite to eat at Nosh - you’ll have several hours before your return train heads back to the Cities. Better still, book a room and make it a weekend adventure!

So, what do you think - does a build-your-own fall foliage train trip sound fun to you? Let us know in the comments!