Minnesota is a beautiful state any time of year, but in the fall, the bright colors of the foliage make it even more impressive. The peak times for fall foliage depend on things such as the weather and what part of the state you’re in. Rochester sits in the southeastern part of Minnesota, south of Minneapolis so you can expect the leaves to start changing color in mid-September with peak foliage around the middle of October. Here is where you can check out the fall foliage in the Rochester area.
Bear Creek Bike Trail
The Bear Creek Bike Trail is part of Rochester’s bike trail system. You can park at Pinewood Elementary School and get the trail right from there. As you bike down the trail, you can see the beautiful colors of fall along with some wildlife and the river. This trail is suitable for all levels of bikers, and walkers and runners also use it so if you want to take a walk instead of biking to see the colors, this trail is still a good choice.
Northwoods Apple Orchard
Northwoods Apple Orchard sits just outside of Rochester and is an excellent place for exploring and checking out the colors of fall. There are tractor rides where you can sit back an look at the scenery, and for the kids, there is a petting zoo, a corn maze, and lots of apple picking. This is also a popular stop for apple cider doughnuts, and with the leaves bursting with color around you, it is a perfect spot to spend a fall day.
Highway 61
Highway 61 offers one of the most scenic and beautiful drives in southeast Minnesota. The route takes you along the shores of the Mississippi River and along the way you find stunning views in the fall along with lots of places to pull over for a bite to eat, stretch your legs, and take in the scenery.
Great River Bluffs State Park
Take a drive to Great River State Park in the fall, and you get to see beautiful views along the way, and then more when you get to the park. This park sits high on the bluffs and overlooks the Mississippi River. There are miles of hiking trails so you can get up high enough for expansive views of the changing leaves. You can easily reach several scenic overlooks no matter what your hiking abilities are, and if you want to make a weekend of it, there is also camping at the park.
Root River State Trail
The Root River State Trail offers an easy-to-use paved path that runs along the Root River. In the fall you can see the gold and red leaves on the trees and their reflections in the water. The state trail runs for miles, and you can walk, bike, or run along it to get your fall foliage views.
Check out these areas near Rochester, Minnesota to see the colors of fall this year.
Image by Kimberly Vardeman is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0
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