Minnesota day trips to see the fall colors

Minnesota’s fall colors are moving on a familiar timetable, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says the peak typically runs from late September through mid-October. The most intense color often starts in the far northwest and north-central areas, then works south and east, with each region’s peak lasting about a week depending on weather. DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen urged residents to explore public lands across the state, highlighting examples like bronze prairie grasses in the southwest and golden tamarack needles in the north. DNR staffer Sara Berhow explained that leaf color change is driven primarily by shorter days and cooler temperatures; weather can shift the schedule by roughly two to four days. Cooler nights, usually between 32 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, support brighter colors.