PARKS Hallaway Hill, Maplewood State Park, Pelican Rapids, photo by Micah Kvidt FALL FIND MAGNIFICENT FALL COLOR AT MAPLEWOOD STATE PARK For one of the most magnifi cent views of fall color in Minnesota, hike the half-mile trail from the picnic area to the top of Hallaway Hill at Maplewood State Park in the state’s central region. You’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view overlooking South Lida Lake and the surrounding maple trees and sumac. Other great views await along the park’s fi ve-mile scenic drive. The park’s foliage typically bursts into its brightest oranges and reds around the last week of September and the fi rst week of October. On your way to or from the park, it’s worth stopping by Adams Park in Fergus Falls for photo ops that include Otto, the adorable 40-foot-long otter, and, on a tiny island in Grotto Lake, a rookery where you can see more great egrets, black-crowned night herons and double-crested cormorants than you’ve probably ever seen up close in one place in your life. Hiking at Maplewood State Park, photo by Micah Kvidt MORE GREAT PARKS FOR FALL AND WINTER » Walk, snowshoe or ski along trails lit with luminaries at one of the many candlelight events that take place every winter at Wild River , Lake Carlos , Itasca and numerous other Minnesota state parks. » See how winter has transformed waterfalls into dazzling ice sculptures at Gooseberry Falls, Tettegouche and other state parks along the North Shore of Lake Superior. » Follow scenic Highway 61 along the Mississippi River to Great River Bluff s State Park for a panoramic view of fall color along the Mississippi River, and stop for apples and pumpkins at the orchards along the way. » Climb the fi re tower, hike to the headwaters of the Mississippi River and explore Wilderness Drive by bike or car at Itasca State Park in northwestern Minnesota. @wxguido @lexi4o6 @mlisburgphoto @dmaas10 18 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2022 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 18
