Are you a long-term Minnesota resident? If so, you’ve definitely seen the changing fall foliage that occurs annually. Sightseers travel from all over the country just to get a glimpse of the impressive bright colors. The fall foliage peak times depend on the daylight and climate conditions. Rochester is in the southeastern part of Minnesota, where the leaves begin to change halfway through September and are at their peak in mid-October. Hiking is a thrilling way to see the beautiful displays. Check out this list of hiking areas near Rochester, where you can view the fall foliage.
Root River Park
Only 10 miles from downtown Rochester is Root River Park. It sits along the banks of the Root River and is open 365 days a year. The park offers areas for roaming, sitting, relaxing, and picnicking. For more adventurous activities, you can participate in shoreline fishing and an excursion on the two-mile hiking trail.
The wide, looped hiking trail takes visitors through wooded hills, meadows, and safe distances from the river. The fall foliage is uniquely visible in this area via its reflection in the water. You can hike to the edge of the river in some places. The images of wildflowers, small woodland animals, and birds are stunning amid the vegetation.
Whitewater State Park and Elba Fire Tower
Just east of downtown Rochester is Whitewater State Park. Highway 9 becomes Highway 22 and intersects with Highway 74 North to get you there. The park consists of over 2,700 acres with various levels of trails, from easy to challenging. Meadow Trail is a perfect hiking spot to take in the fall foliage. The cherry, aspen, sumac, and maple trees are alive with changing colors.
From there, a quick trip on Highway 74 for less than three miles north to Elba provides another fall foliage opportunity. The Elba Fire Tower, managed by Whitewater State Park, is a popular location to see the changing of the leaves. However, it’s not a feat for everyone. With somewhere between 600 and 700 woodland steps to get to the top, the historic tower is 110 feet tall and sways when the weather is windy. It’s the only fire tower in southern Minnesota available for climbing.
Caron Falls Trail
Approximately 50 miles northwest of Rochester, you’ll find Caron Falls Park in the rural area of Rice County. It’s located north of 170th Street, also known as County Road Number 88. The park consists of 60 acres that include a nature study, biking trail, and picnic area. The Caron Falls Trail is a three-mile roundtrip hike on a tree-lined path that travels over rocks, logs, a steel footbridge, and a low-lying creek. You’ll revel in the experience of observing the fall foliage’s striking hues in this environmental study area.
At the end of your journey, you’ll come upon a small wonder. There’s a modest-sized waterfall that is widely favored by visitors. As one reviewer writes, “It’s not the biggest waterfall in Minnesota, but something about its quiet beauty draws visitors in again and again.” Admission to the park is free.
Great River Bluffs State Park
The less than 50-mile drive from Rochester to the Great River Bluffs State Park in the fall is breathtaking in itself. Travelers rave about the area where the park sits tall overlooking “The Mighty Mississippi”. With six-plus miles of hiking trails, you won’t miss a single peek at the expansive fall foliage. Even if you aren’t an experienced hiker, you can easily make it to the awesome spectacle at King’s Bluff. Once there, you can get a bonus view of Queen’s Bluff.
Formerly called O.L. Kipp State Park, this lush spot has goat prairies, extraordinary topography, and tall ridges. Enjoy the oak-hickory landscape, pine plantations, and superior bird watching. If you’re so inclined, you may want to make a future trip to zip through the nine miles of cross-country ski trails.
Barn Bluff
Another hiking area less than 50 miles away is Barn Bluff in Red Wing, Minnesota. In addition to the city’s beautiful views, you can check out the fall foliage around the Mississippi River from a 400-foot-high peak in the area. You may also see a barge floating down the river. Visitors are asked to respect Barn Bluff, also known as He Mni Can, as it sits on sacred ground. It houses burial mounds of the Dakota nation and its native people. It’s one of the best-known natural features along the upper Mississippi River.
You should proceed with caution on the trails at Barn Bluff due to the steep slopes and vertical drops. The South Trail is the easiest of the hiking trails. It begins at the park’s main entrance and is not even a mile trek to the top. The South Trail leads to the Prairie Trail, which showcases scenic overlooks along the summit of the entire bluff. Be sure to grab another piece of eye candy by surveying Lake Pepin.
Frontenac State Park
You can see more of Lake Pepin when you travel 12 miles southeast of Barn Bluff to Frontenac State Park. Old Frontenac was previously a resort town, with Frontenac Station acting as a railroad stop. The surrounding land became a state park in 1957. It has 13 miles of hiking trails with wooded slopes next to the large lake.
The easiest of the hiking trails is approximately one mile long. The Lower and Upper Bluffside Trails are more challenging, with over 400 feet of wooden staircases and switchbacks. We encourage visitors to bring a pair of binoculars to take in both the fall foliage and the migratory birds that soar along the Mississippi Flyway.
What do you think of this list of hiking areas to view the fall foliage? Here at Tom Kadlec Kia, we’ve got you covered. Drop us a line if you have some recommendations that we can add to our list. We love supporting the Rochester community, so we hope this guide provides some useful information.
Maple tree at Fontenac State Park in Frontenac, Minnesota by Lorie Shaull is licensed with CC BY 2.0
Connect with us
Recent Blog Entries
Categories
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.