SEPTEMBER: Fall Drives in Minnesota

SEPTEMBER:

FALL DRIVES IN MINNESOTA

General

Personally, Fall is my favorite time of the year - the days are warm, the nights are crisp, and the trees are SPECTACULAR! Since Minnesota’s Fall foliage only lasts a few weeks, we crafted up four different scenic drives for you and the family to take before the leaves are all gone for the season.

So whether you are in the mood for a weekend getaway, a day trip, or a casual afternoon drive, here are several “Rainbow Routes” for you to enjoy this Fall.

4 fantastic fall drives

NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR

This route along America's largest Great Lake is known for its great fall color and great lake views, making it very popular with fall color fans. Yellow aspen and birch hug the shoreline, with scarlet maples inland along forest roads. Make sure you have a reservation for a place to stay, and try planning midweek trips to avoid the busiest travel periods. This has been designated as an "All American Drive," one of only 15 routes in the country so noted for their outstanding scenery. For an inland view, take Hwy. 1 through the colors of the Superior National Forest to Ely.

Route: HWY. 61, Duluth to Grand Portage

MINNESOTA RIVER VALLEY SCENIC BYWAY

Driving along the Minnesota River and the Scenic Byway is a fantastic way to experience fall foliage not far from the Twin Cities. There are scenic and historic stops along the Byway, which runs from Browns Valley to Belle Plaine, just south of Minneapolis. You'll encounter six state parks with trails, fall foliage, and history, as well as small towns with museums and historic sites. The scenic route takes about four and a half hours to drive and follows a collection of different highways, so don't rely on your GPS and stick to the official route to maximize your landscape.

While you could spend days exploring the sites and enjoying the fall color along the Scenic Byway, you can also easily explore sections of the route on a day trip from Minneapolis-St. Paul.

CANNON FALLS

A great way to see the fall foliage is to rent a bike and travel the 20-mile Cannon Valley Bike Trail, which follows the Cannon River. Or, paddle the river itself in a canoe, kayak, or raft. Consider Cannon Falls Canoe and Bike for kayak and canoe trips on the Cannon River, about 45 minutes south of Minneapolis.

The Cannon River and Cannon Valley Trail offer a great way to spend the day enjoying the Minnesota Valley and the town of Cannon Falls. While biking, or before or after your paddling adventure, you can stop by a variety of coffee houses, shops, or the popular Cannon River Winery.

TAYLOR FALLS

About an hour north of the Twin Cities, Taylors Falls is a quaint city on the St. Croix River. The downtown has shops and restaurants, plus historic houses. A favorite place to stop is The Drive-In, the iconic burger and shake joint of the 50s. Grab a burger and a root beer float and relax at a picnic table outside.

Almost in town is Interstate State Park, for short hikes and interesting geological features—high cliffs and deep "potholes" carved in the rock during the ice ages. There’s also evidence of ancient lava flows and traces of old river beds. 

A recommended short hike is the 1.25-mile River Trail, which circles around glacial potholes, holes carved into ancient rock. Some of the holes in the bedrock are huge—the park has more glacial potholes in a small area than any other location in the world.