my favorite places for viewing fall foliage in mn

Happy Fall! I’m so excited that the best time of the year is finally here! I know that when it comes to fall foliage, the East Coast gets all the credit (and it is truly gorgeous, there’s no denying it) but Minnesota doesn’t get enough credit for its beauty. You’ll find bright, vibrant, and gorgeous foliage right in your backyard. Looking for a spot to check it out? Here’s a list of my favorites (even though, if I’m being honest, I haven’t seen an ugly spot in MN during the fall):

The North Shore

Take a drive along the North Shore and you’ll find so many gorgeous places to view the fall foliage. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park and Gooseberry Falls State Park are a couple of my favorites. If you want to make a weekend out of it, there are tons of great places to stay. I typically stay in Duluth while I’m up there but you can check out Airbnb’s anywhere along the way!

Jay Cooke State Park

Featuring the famous Swinging Bridge, this is another gorgeous place around Duluth to check out in the fall! Dylan and I visited last year for our anniversary and it did not disappoint.

Maplewood State Park

My personal favorite (nothing compares to maple trees in the fall) and it’s close to home — win-win. This is where Dylan and I were married. There are hours and hours of trails in the park for you to explore. Looking for a quick trip? Take a drive down the church road, you won’t be disappointed.

My Driveway

No joke, my driveway is freaking gorgeous in the fall😂 it’s not really a place you can visit it but I had to show it off to prove that you can find some beauty anywhere.

Quarry Park and Nature Reserve

This was always one of my favorite places to go in the summer for swimming and it turns out that it’s also a gorgeous spot to check out in the fall! If you’re in the St. Cloud area, it’s a must-see.

When Should You Go?

It varies every year but typically peak times are mid-September to mid-October. The further north you go the earlier the leaves peak!