Weekly Fall Color Report launched to help track leaves

Published 8:25 am Friday, September 14, 2018

To celebrate the season, Explore Minnesota, the state’s tourism promotion office and Minnesota State Parks and Trails have teamed up to provide a weekly fall color report.

From scenic drives to hiking, biking, fall festivals and more, Explore Minnesota and Minnesota State Parks and Trails offer trip-planning tips via email, mobile phone and social media to encourage travelers to get out and enjoy the state’s most colorful time of year.

“Scenic road trips, harvest season, festivals and outdoor recreation make fall the second-biggest travel season. Minnesota is a top destination to experience the fall colors at parks and trails across the state,” said Explore Minnesota director John Edman in a press release. “With weekly statewide fall color reports, we’re able to help travelers make the most of this special season.” 

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State park staff throughout Minnesota assess the status of the trees, wildflowers and grasses in their area and update the online Fall Color Finder at mndnr.gov/fallcolor every Wednesday through the end of October. This popular tool (viewed nearly a half million times in 2017) includes a color-coded map showing the approximate percentage of leaves that have changed color as well as a slideshow of recent photos taken by park staff and visitors. 

“Don’t waste time indoors,” said Erika Rivers, director of the Parks and Trails Division at the Minnesota DNR. “Grab your camera and get out hiking, biking or paddling before the short but spectacular fall color show is over at Minnesota state parks and trails.”

Minnesota State Parks and communities statewide have planned activities to coincide with peak fall color, such as the Harvest Festival and Lantern-Lit Hike at Itasca State Park (Sept. 22), Leaf Days celebration at Maplewood State Park (Sept. 29-30 and Oct. 6-7), and hundreds of festivals, fairs, food and heritage events all season long.

More fall events can be found on the Minnesota State Parks and Trails calendar and at exploreminnesota.com/events.

2018 fall color forecast, science behind color progression 

“For most of Minnesota, this fall’s color display should be rich and beautiful,” said Val Cervenka, the forest health program consultant in the DNR’s Forestry Division.

Cervenka, who provides the annual fall color forecast for the DNR, says decreasing day length and the onset of long, cool nights trigger the color change in leaves. Brilliant crimson and purple leaf colors are produced by warm, sunny days and chilly, but not frosty, nights. Yellow color, found in ash, aspen, basswood, birch, cottonwood and elm, can be early or short-lived due to drought conditions. The full 2018 forecast and color progression details can be found at www.dnr.state.mn.us/fall_colors/typical_peak.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Peak Color Timeline 

The fall color show in Minnesota typically begins along the northern border in early to mid-September and then spreads southward through October. Colors can peak between mid-September and early October in northern Minnesota, between late September and early October in the central region, and between late September and mid-October in the southern third of the state (including the metro region).

Peak fall color typically lasts about two weeks, but can vary widely depending on location, elevation and weather. Trees at higher elevations are the earliest to show color change.