Trees are changing, birds migrating, flowers . . . blooming?! Bundle up, it’s fall in Minnesota! First snow is gonna be here tonight. Welcome it with some hot cocoa and a s’more or two by the campfire? Just an idea. Oh, and the wind, rain, snow don’t stop no hike ’round here. Put yur boots on and buck up!
Friday, October 3
Astronomy Night
7:30–9:30 Sponsored by MSUM Physics and Astro Dept. and Fargo-Moorhead Astro Club
Buffalo River State Park
Saturday, October 4
Timber Dash Run/Walk
8–noon Register 8–9:15 Support Wright County Crisis Nursery run or walk a 5k through rolling terrain. Also a Kid K Run. More info. www.timberdash.com
Lake Maria State Park
Caving Field Trip
10–noon Reservations required so stop in or email sara.grover@state.mn.us or call 507-932-3007. Must bring flashlights, transportation, and wear long pants and shirts that you don’t mind getting dirty
Whitewater State Park
Fall Color Paddle
10–noon Bring your boat to paddle 1 mile upstream then back with naturalist. Trees changing, birds migrating, flowers blooming?! Go figure, Minnesota.
Kettle River SNA
Archaeology Day
10 am–4 pm Demos for flint knapping, prehistoric cooking techniques, pottery-making, bow-making, and more. Voyageur canoe tours will highlight the history of waterfowl hunting in the area.
Mill Lacs Kathio State Park
Fall Festival
10–3 pm Explore the park, trails, and activities going on (traditional harvest games, dutch oven cooking demos, archery in the park, butter-making, arts n crafts, more!).
Lake Carlos State Park
Seed Collection
10:30–noon Help collect native prairie seeds. Learn the importance of this act then get hands-on experience
Wild River State Park, meet at Trail Center
8th Annual North Country Hiking Fest
11 am–4 pm A day packed full of family-friendly and healthy activity focusing on the National North Country Trail. Numerous guided and self-guided hikes for all ages and skill levels. A great time to visit this region (no flies!). Cookout celebration dinner follows 5:30–6:30, catered by Douglas Lodge must purchase.
Itasca State Park, Meet at Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center
Day Hill Hike *LEAF COLOR HOTSPOT!* NOW!
11–noon Hike to the top of Day Hill. Bring a light picnic lunch you can carry while hiking.
Split Rock Lighthouse
Falls Loop Hike
11:30, then again 1–2 pm Amazing hike with four waterfalls.
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Fall Hike
1–3 pm Check out fall colors of a flood plain forest along Minnesota River.
Fort Snelling State Park, Historic Sibley Site (or Park office promptly 12:30)
Fort Snelling State Park
Leaf Days
1 am–4 pm Come celebrate the fall colors with various activities.
Maplewood State Park, meet at Josh Hanson Memorial Picnic Shelter
Fall Colors Hike
1–3 pm Walk the hills and valleys along the St. Croix River with a naturalist.
Afton State Park
7th Annual Ozawindib Walk
1–3:30 pm Register 1–1:30, guided walk begins at 1:30. Pack a trail snack. Held in honor of Ojibwe guide Ozawindib, who led Henry Rowe Schoolcraft’s expedition to the Mississippi Headwaters in 1832. They used birch barck canoes. Starting from Cass Lake it took them five days round trip to get to Lake Itasca and back. Cookout celebration dinner follows 5:30–6:30, catered by Douglas Lodge must purchase.
Itasca State Park, Meet at Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center
Archery in the Park
1–3 pm If you haven’t checked one of these out yet, do it! Equipment provided. Stop in anytime.
William O’Brien State Park
Fall Colors Pioneer Open House and Wildlife of the 1850s
1–3 pm
Whitewater State Park, at Marnach House
Music Under Pines Moves Inside: Alabaster Falls
6:30–7:30 Inside Brower Visitor Center Classroom. Alabaster Falls “folkgrass” band from Minnesota Northwoods.
Itasca State Park
Eagle Migration Educational Presentation
7:30–8:30 pm Discover what eagles are doing during this time of the year.
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Sunday, Oct. 5
Archery in Park
10–1 pm (8+ and children under 15 must be with adult)
William O’Brien State Park
Leaf Days
10–4pm Celebrate the season! Lots of activities for all ages.
Maplewood State Park at Josh Hanson Memorial Picnic Shelter
Geocaching 101
10–noon Learn how to do this adventure sport. GPS unit provided.
Fort Snelling State Park, pre-register 612-725-2724
Favorite Fall Overlooks Hike
10–10:30 easy stroll with lots of stops, less than a mile with some stairs and rocky areas
Interstate State Park 651-465-5711 for more info
Falls Loop Hike
11:30, also 1–2 pm Explore natural beauty and discover four waterfalls along the way.
Gooseberry Fallst State Park, meet at art column outside visitor center
Fall Colors Bike Ride
1–3 pm Bicycle stroll to enjoy the season
Gateway State Trail, meet at parking area off Hwy 96 under Gateway Trail
Fall Colors Hike
1–2 pm Scenic hike up to Day Hill (steep uphill hike) for amazing views and to learn phenology along the way.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, meet at campground bath house
Near Full Moon Stroll
7–8 pm Guided stroll on accessible paved trails to see full moon over Lake Superior.
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Upcoming . . .
Monday, Oct. 6: Wokiksuye k’a Woyuonihan (Remembering and Honoring Dakota People)
11–noon Discover this sacred site
Fort Snelling State Park
Monday, Oct. 6: Nature Hike
2–3 pm Hike with naturalist to learn about animals, trees, and weather.
Fort Snelling State Park
October 7: Skulls (’tis the season, aye?)
2–3:30 Skulls and teeth tell us a lot about how an animal lives. Get your hands on a variety of animals skulls and learn how to interpret the stories they tell.
Tettegouche State Park
October 9: Rock Talk
2:30–4pm Intro to geo forces behind the North Shore
Tettegouche State Park, Meet at the mouth of the Baptism River
October 10: Moonlight Owl Walk
7–8:30 pm Check out the owl species of Minnesota while walking up and down hills along hardpacked trails.
Afton State Park, reservations 651-231-6968
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