Minnesotafall foliage
No reports yet this season. Next up: Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota, typically Sep 17–30.
When is peak fall foliage in Minnesota's north woods?
Usually in the second half of September. The Forest Service says the peak color season in the Chippewa National Forest is usually the last two weeks of September, and at Voyageurs National Park color starts to show in mid-September, though fall there can be a short season because cold weather arrives quickly.
Checked Sep 27. Sources: US Forest Service, Chippewa National Forest FAQs ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Fall in Voyageurs ↗ (opens in a new tab)
This week in Minnesota · Updated Sep 28
We haven't logged an official report for Minnesota yet this fall; the first places here usually turn around Sep 11. The forecast looks best on Wed–Sun, and no frost in sight: the coldest night is 33°F at Voyageurs. In the Upper Midwest's volunteer tree counts for Sep 15–21, river birch is ahead of a typical year; American elm is behind.
When each place peaks, and the week ahead
Best days to go: Wed–Sun
No strong wind in the forecast. No frost yet: the coldest night is 33°F at Voyageurs.
- VoyageursNational Park Service says color starts to show in mid-September, varying year to yearTodayrain likelyTuerain likelyWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Chippewa National ForestUsually Sep 17–30Todayrain likelyTuerain likelyWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Mississippi River, Minneapolis–St. PaulUsually Sep 24–Oct 7Todaydry and calmTuerain likelyWedrain likelyThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
- Superior National ForestStatewide: well under way by ~Oct 11Todaydry and calmTuerain likelyWeddry and calmThudry and calmFridry and calmSatdry and calmSundry and calm
All the numbers
| Place | Usual peak | This week | Rain likely | Coldest night | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voyageurs | National Park Service says color starts to show in mid-September, varying year to year | No report | Today, Tue | 33°F | 1,191 ft |
| Chippewa National Forest | Sep 17–30 | No report | Today, Tue | 33°F | 1,383 ft |
| Mississippi River, Minneapolis–St. Paul | Sep 24–Oct 7 | No report | Tue, Wed | 46°F | 810 ft |
| Superior National Forest | Statewide: well under way by ~Oct 11 | No report | Tue | 41°F | 629 ft |
Solid bars: each place's usual window from its official sources; dashed: a regional or statewide timing, not the place's own. Stages from the latest official report. Weather: National Weather Service forecast for each place, issued Sep 28. A best day is dry and calm at most of these places.
Upper Midwest, site by site
Color moving across the Upper Midwest
55 volunteer sites this week (seen in at least 2 of the falls 2020–2025)
- Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Red
- Brown, leaves down
Typical year, not a prediction. Each dot is a real USA-NPN volunteer site: the middle stage its trees had that week across the falls 2020–2025. Green: under 5% of leaves colored · yellow 5–24% · orange 25–49% · red half or more · brown: leaves mostly down. Sites within a few hundred yards of each other (a research forest, a park) share one dot, with their number on it. Data: USA National Phenology Network (CC BY 4.0).
Upper Midwest, Sep 15–21
Swamp white oak
0% this week (26 observations) · typical 2%
4% this week (24 observations) · typical 2%
American elm
4% this week (23 observations) · typical 15%
5% this week (22 observations) · typical 0%
River birch is ahead of a typical year; American elm is behind. Only species with at least 15 observations that week; the line marks the typical share for the same week (2020–2025). Updated Sep 27. Data: USA-NPN. Which trees turn when in the Upper Midwest →
Planning a Minnesota fall foliage trip
On the North Shore, the Superior National Forest runs its Sawtooth Mountains fall color routes through sugar maples, moose maples, tamaracks and birches, usually with color over several weeks; look for the brown keystone-shaped signs, which only go up in the fall. The Gunflint Trail runs about 57 miles from Grand Marais to Trail's End, where birch, aspen and tamarack turn golden among the dark conifers; watch for moose crossing the road.
Farther inland, the Superior National Forest Scenic Byway follows 54 miles of road with long stretches of unbroken forest. At Voyageurs, the Blind Ash Bay Trail is a 2.9-mile loop from closed-in forest to wide views of Kabetogama Lake; the Chippewa has paved trails like the 18-mile Migizi Trail near Cass Lake.
Minnesota colors early, so a week can make the difference: the week-ahead chart above shows which days look dry and calm at each place, and our Upper Midwest tree calendar shows which species usually turn first.
Sources (6)
- US Forest Service, Chippewa National Forest FAQs ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Sawtooth Mountains Fall Color Tour ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Fall Colors ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- US Forest Service, Superior National Forest Scenic Byway ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- National Park Service, Blind Ash Bay Trail ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Official reports
- Sep 27Park ServicePeak color usually the last two weeks of September; Marcell and Walker areasSource (opens US Forest Service, Chippewa National Forest FAQs in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServicePaved and backcountry fall drives across the forestSource (opens US Forest Service, Chippewa National Forest scenic drives in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServicePeak color usually end of September to the first weekend in October; Winchell Trail, Battle Creek, Coldwater Spring, MinnehahaSource (opens National Park Service, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in fall in a new tab)
Show all 11
- Sep 27Park ServiceOpen year-round, 24 hours; Coldwater Spring 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.Source (opens National Park Service, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area hours in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServiceHeron nesting at Marshall Terrace Park late March to mid-summer; fall deer watching at Fort Snelling State ParkSource (opens National Park Service, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area birds and wildlife in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServicePrairie wildflowers in full bloom in JulySource (opens National Park Service, What is in bloom at Coldwater Spring in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceColor starts to show mid-September; a short seasonSource (opens National Park Service, Fall in Voyageurs in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceNo entrance feesSource (opens National Park Service, Voyageurs hours in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park Service2.9-mile loop to views of Kabetogama Lake; no pets on trailsSource (opens National Park Service, Blind Ash Bay Trail in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceLoop through the change from deciduous to boreal forestSource (opens National Park Service, Echo Bay Trail in a new tab)
- Sep 26Park ServiceFirst snow late October, last late April or early May; ice-out about May 3Source (opens National Park Service, Voyageurs seasonal weather in a new tab)
Questions people ask
When is peak fall foliage in Minnesota in 2026?
It depends on the place. In a typical year: Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota, Sep 17–30 and Mississippi River, Minneapolis–St. Paul, Sep 24–Oct 7. Each place page has its own dates.
Where can I see fall foliage in Minnesota?
We track 4 places: Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota (usually Sep 17–30), Mississippi River, Minneapolis–St. Paul (usually Sep 24–Oct 7), Superior National Forest, Minnesota and Voyageurs.
How long does the fall foliage season last in Minnesota?
Across the places we track, from about Sep 17 (Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota) to Oct 7 (Mississippi River, Minneapolis–St. Paul). Each place's own window is shorter.
Why does color come earlier in some places?
Higher ground turns first. In the Great Smoky Mountains, color can start as early as mid-September at the highest elevations, develops above 4,000 feet from early to mid-October, and reaches the lower and middle slopes between mid-October and early November.Source: National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains fall color ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How do you track fall foliage?
Each place moves through 6 stages: Still green, First color, Moderate, High color, Peak and Past peak. Every stage we show comes from a dated report with its source, and every forecast lists its sources.