The 6 Most Colorful Places You Can Find in Minnesota

The geography of the Land of 10,000 Lakes offers a palette of natural colors, from the blues of the lakes and sky to the deep green forests, prairie flowers, and red earth of the Iron Range. Artisans, architects, and gardeners have also expanded on the Bold North's natural palette. For example, we think these six destinations are some of the most colorful places in Minnesota.

1. Pipestone National Monument - Pipestone

Pipestone National Monument, in the southwest corner of the state, is a geological marvel. The site is anchored by layers of soft claystone that Native peoples have quarried for centuries. This stone, known as catlinite, gets its pigmentation from oxidized iron, resulting in shades ranging from mottled pink to red. The red stone rests between thick layers of durable Sioux quartzite. Native tallgrass prairie adds a backdrop of green—or tawny and white in the winter snow—with big bluestem and Indian grass that sway against the rock formations. The contrast between the red stone and the green prairie highlights the geological makeup of the region. Toss in the rushing Winnewissa Falls, a rare prairie waterfall, and the park is a veritable smorgasbord for the eyes. 

2. Marjorie McNeely Conservatory - St. Paul

In St. Paul, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory provides a concentrated display of botanical color—even on the grayest winter day. The glass-domed building houses the Sunken Garden, which features a rotating schedule of curated flower shows. In spring, the room fills with pink and yellow tulips, while in winter, it showcases red and white poinsettias. Natural light streams through the glass walls and ceilings to illuminate the greens of the tropical plants, palm trees, and ferns that line the surrounding galleries. Outside the conservatory, the surrounding Como Park grounds feature a Japanese garden that reflects seasonal changes through cherry blossoms in the spring and fiery maple leaves in the autumn.

3. Iona's Beach Scientific and Natural Area - Beaver Bay

Up North, between Two Harbors and Beaver Bay, you'll find the pink crescent of Iona's Beach Scientific and Natural Area along the deep blue edge of Lake Superior. While much of the North Shore is characterized by outcrops of gray basalt, this specific shoreline is covered in flat, pink rhyolite stones. The northern boundary of the beach is framed by a cliff of pink rhyolite and felsite bedrock, while the southern end is capped by a headland of basalt. The stones themselves have been smoothed by the constant action of the waves. Orange crustose lichens cling to bare rock faces, adding another layer of texture and tone to the shoreline. For more colorful stops along the water, check out this scenic drive along the North Shore.

4. Winona

Located along the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota, the city of Winona serves as a sprawling gallery of historic stained glass. The downtown architecture and local churches feature hundreds of glass installations that date back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Sunlight filters through panels in places like the Winona National Bank and local basilicas, casting patterns of red, blue, and gold across the interior floors. You can even take a self-guided walking tour to see the preserved works of glass artisans, which provide a contrast of transparent colors against the heavy stone and brick facades of the city's oldest buildings.

5. Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area - Crosby

In the central part of the state near Crosby, Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area showcases a landscape reshaped by industry. Throughout the 20th century, this region served as a hub for iron-ore mining. After operations ceased, the abandoned mining pits filled with groundwater. These pits are now deep lakes with visibility reaching up to 40 feet. The blue waters stand out against the red dirt of the historic mining terrain, while green vegetation reclaims the surrounding banks. Folks paddle, fish, and even scuba dive in the pristine blue water, while the red dirt trails that wind around the water are now utilized by hikers, skiers, and mountain bikers.

6. Fraconia Sculpture Park - Shafer

Near the town of Shafer in the St. Croix River Valley, Franconia Sculpture Park offers an intersection of contemporary art and prairie landscape. The outdoor park spans 50 acres and features dozens of large-scale sculptures. Artists use industrial materials, painting steel and carving wood into forms that stand out against the horizon. Multicolored structures, rusted iron installations, and mirrored surfaces contrast with green grass and trees in summer and with white snow in winter. Visitors walk along graveled paths that weave through the prairie, allowing for close inspection of the massive, colorful artworks.

The state offers a wide range of visual environments for those willing look. Not only will visiting these spots offer a feast for your eyes, but you'll also feed your mind with a greater appreciation for Minnesota's geological, botanical, and artistic diversity. Of course, I think you should go out and experience them for yourself. When you are ready to build your route to these most colorful places in Minnesota, be sure to check out Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.