DNR helps find best fall colors

ST. PAUL -- Minnesota's wet early summer should produce a colorful fall leaf display, but experts warn that it could come and go quicker than usual. “We’re anticipating a beautiful fall color display,” said Patricia Arndt of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Parks and Trails Division. “It will move across the state quickly, though, so we encourage everyone to get out and enjoy it while it lasts." The DNR has an online site that can help people find the best shows. The site also allows people to upload their favorite fall color photographs and to find where there are programs ranging from fall color walks to searching for bigfoot. The site is updated each Thursday with the latest fall color information. On Monday, it showed almost all of Minnesota with less than 10 percent of peak fall colors, although an area west of Bemidji already has up to a quarter of its trees at peak.
Colors typically peak mid-September to early October in the northern third of Minnesota, late September to early October in the central third and late September to mid-October in the southern third. Peak fall color typically lasts about two weeks, but that can vary widely, depending on location, elevation and weather. Minnesota should have good weather for color lovers next weekend, although rain could fall on much of the state before Friday. For the most part around the state, the weekend is forecast to be in the 60s with dry weather. To get into state parks and recreation areas, a $5 day permit is needed, or an annual $25 permit is accepted. One popular fall destination is Stillwater, Minn., which Travel and Leisure Magazine ranked as the third best town to see fall colors in the country. The magazine's editors said a good way to see those colors is on a paddleboat cruise on the St. Croix River. *** More information on Minnesota's fall colors is at http://tinyurl.com/mnfall or call 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Mobile device users can go to http://mndnr.gov/mobile. Websites showing other nearby areas' colors include: North Dakota, http://tinyurl.com/ndcolors South Dakota, http://tinyurl.com/SDfallcolor Iowa, http://tinyurl.com/IAcolors Wisconsin, http://tinyurl.com/WIfall Ontario, www.ontarioparks.com/fallcolour ST. PAUL -- Minnesota's wet early summer should produce a colorful fall leaf display, but experts warn that it could come and go quicker than usual.“We’re anticipating a beautiful fall color display,” said Patricia Arndt of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Parks and Trails Division. “It will move across the state quickly, though, so we encourage everyone to get out and enjoy it while it lasts."The DNR has an online site that can help people find the best shows. The site also allows people to upload their favorite fall color photographs and to find where there are programs ranging from fall color walks to searching for bigfoot.The site is updated each Thursday with the latest fall color information. On Monday, it showed almost all of Minnesota with less than 10 percent of peak fall colors, although an area west of Bemidji already has up to a quarter of its trees at peak.
Colors typically peak mid-September to early October in the northern third of Minnesota, late September to early October in the central third and late September to mid-October in the southern third. Peak fall color typically lasts about two weeks, but that can vary widely, depending on location, elevation and weather.Minnesota should have good weather for color lovers next weekend, although rain could fall on much of the state before Friday. For the most part around the state, the weekend is forecast to be in the 60s with dry weather.To get into state parks and recreation areas, a $5 day permit is needed, or an annual $25 permit is accepted.One popular fall destination is Stillwater, Minn., which Travel and Leisure Magazine ranked as the third best town to see fall colors in the country. The magazine's editors said a good way to see those colors is on a paddleboat cruise on the St. Croix River.***More information on Minnesota's fall colors is at http://tinyurl.com/mnfall or call 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Mobile device users can go to http://mndnr.gov/mobile.Websites showing other nearby areas' colors include:North Dakota, http://tinyurl.com/ndcolorsSouth Dakota, http://tinyurl.com/SDfallcolorIowa, http://tinyurl.com/IAcolorsWisconsin, http://tinyurl.com/WIfallOntario, www.ontarioparks.com/fallcolour