Minnesota Fall Foliage 2018: Peak Dates, Best Time To See Leaves

TWIN CITIES, MN — Minnesota is a beautiful place to be when the fall colors start coming. Soon, leaves will begin to turn magnificent shades of red and yellow.

But how can you know when the leaves will change? You can't know precisely, but an interactive map can help you predict when to take your fall foliage tours and see the leaves at their vibrant peaks.

The Fall Foliage Prediction Map is found on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website, but it includes all 50 states. If you're planning a trip to some other area with great fall color, such as New England, the map can remove some of the guesswork.

According to the map, the northern half of the state will start to change in mid-September. The Twin Cities metro area will start to see changing colors by Oct. 1.

If the map is accurate, you should plan your trip to northern Minnesota around Oct. 8. Leaves elsewhere in the state should be approaching their peak by then, so you'll have a nice, scenic drive.

Where to drive in Minnesota

Here are a few suggested drives below, courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:

Late September

• Finland State Forest: Head northwest along state Highway 1 from Finland.

Early October

• Hill River State Forest: This loop begins and ends in Hill City. Head east on state Highway 200. You can take a side trip to hike around Taylor Lake by turning south on Taylor Lake Road. Return to 200 and take another side trip to Washburn Lake by turning south on Washburn Lake Road. Return to 200 and head back to Hill City or head east to County Road 10 (Great River Road). Head south on 10 to state Highway 169. Head north on 169 to County Road 68 (540th St). Head west on 68 to County Road 29. Head north on 29 to 200. Head east on 200 to return to Hill City.
• Fond du Lac State Forest: This loop begins and ends in Cromwell. Take State Highway 73 north to County Road 122. Head east on 122 to County Road 120/Ditchlake Road. Head north on 120 to County Road 223. Here there are two options: drive east on 223 to the dead end, then park on the east side of the road and hike through the forest; or, turn right on 223 to County Road 421, then head east on 421 to County Road 1023. Go south on 1023 to state Highway 210, then west on 210 to return to Cromwell.
• Solona State Forest: This loop begins and ends in McGarth. Go north on State Highway 65 to County Road 2/220th Head east on County Road 2 to County Road 34/Kestrel Ave. Head north on 34, which turns into County Road 75. Continue on County Road 75 to State Highway 27, then go west on State Highway 27 to State Highway 65. Head south on State Highway 65 to return to McGarth. Before returning to McGrarth, perhaps take a detour to Porcupine Lake by heading west on West White Pine Forest Road.
• Wealthwood State Forest: This loop begins and ends in Malmo. Head west on state Highway 18, driving along the north shore of Mille Lacs Lake, to state Highway 169. Head north on 169 toward Aitkin to state Highway 47. Drive east on state Highway 47 to return to Malmo.

Mid-October

• Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest: This loop begins and ends in Red Wing. From downtown Red Wing, head south on Highway 61 for 10.5 miles. At Frontenac take a right onto County 2 Boulevard and go east for 9 miles. Take a right onto County 3 Boulevard to head east for 4 miles. Take a right onto state Highway 58 to head north for 1.5 miles. Take a left onto Hay Creek Trail to head north for about 4.5 miles. Hay Creek Trail turns into Twin Bluff Road at Pioneer Road. Continue on Twin Bluff Road until it turns into West Avenue. Follow West Avenue to West 7th Street and turn right. Go one block and turn left onto East Avenue to return to downtown Red Wing.

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