To celebrate Minnesota’s most colorful season, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is sharing a fall color forecast, typical timing of color change, ways for Minnesotans to find where colors are at their peak each week, and autumn trip-planning tips.
“Fall in Minnesota is truly something special,” DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen said. “Cool, crisp air, brilliant bursts of color, and picturesque landscapes make it the perfect season to get outside. Whether you’re hiking, fishing, camping or just taking in the view, autumn is an ideal time to experience the beauty and colors of Minnesota’s public lands.”
The 2025 fall color forecast
Fall color in Minnesota typically peaks from late September through mid-October, starting in the far northwest and north-central parts of the state and working toward the southeast corner. Peak fall color usually lasts about one week in a given area but can vary widely depending on location and weather.
The main driver of leaves changing color is the decrease of daily sunlight. However, several other factors also play into the timing and intensity of the fall color season in Minnesota, including temperature, precipitation and tree species. Weather both before and during the season impacts fall colors.
Photosynthesis, or the production of sugars that depend on sunlight, begins to slow down in response to shortening days. This leads to lower levels of chlorophyll, the pigment that supports photosynthesis and gives leaves their green color. When chlorophyll is reduced, other colors begin to show.
Patterns of temperature, precipitation, wind and the timing of hard freezes can impact when fall colors peak and how long they last. These weather phenomena can only be predicted a week or so in advance, making a peak color forecast difficult.
“Brilliant fall color occurs when early fall days are sunny, nights are chilly and there is adequate rainfall throughout the growing season,” said Brian Schwingle, DNR forest health program consultant. “An earlier, lighter frost will shift peak fall color earlier in the fall color window, so pay attention to the forecast if you can be flexible with your travel timing. Regardless of conditions, there should be plenty of beautiful foliage to enjoy.”
In contrast to last year’s extremely wet spring and prior years’ severe droughts, this year, much of Minnesota had a relatively dry May with decent precipitation from June through August, resulting in more leaves staying on trees than in recent years. Barring any extreme cold snaps, this bodes well for great colors this fall.
Tips for getting outdoors to celebrate autumn
The DNR’s Fall Color Finder is a tool for the public to track leaf, wildflower and grass color progression across Minnesota. State park and recreation area staff share reports from their location each Wednesday, just in time for Minnesotans to make travel plans for the coming weekend. The Fall Color Finder includes a color-coded map that shows the approximate percentage of leaves that have changed color and a slideshow of recent photos taken by staff and visitors. There’s also a date slider that allows viewers to choose dates in the future to see what typical colors are like across the state based on past years’ data.
Sign up for updates
This week the DNR launches its weekly fall color update newsletter, featuring information, inspiration and tips to encourage Minnesotans to get out and enjoy the changing leaves. To subscribe, visit the Fall Color Finder.
Know before you go
In addition to checking the Fall Color Finder, visit the DNR website to read visitor alerts and seasonal updates, and check for closures on state forest roads. Always check the local weather forecast and bring appropriate clothing and footwear.
Plan for crowds at state parks and recreation areas, visit other DNR lands for less crowded options
Fall weekends are busy at Minnesota state parks and recreation areas! Save time by buying a state park vehicle permit online before leaving home. Arrive early for the best parking options as parking lots might be full on weekends. To protect natural resources, park only in designated parking areas.
For those looking for a little more solitude, state trails, state forests, scientific and natural areas and wildlife management areas also offer beautiful views of the fall colors with smaller crowds and no vehicle permit required.
Stay overnight
Fall is a great time to camp, with cool but comfortable nights and fewer bugs. To camp at a state park or recreation area, make reservations online. In addition, first-come, first-served campsites are available in state forest campgrounds, and dispersed camping is allowed in state forests. Read about all camping options on the DNR’s camping webpage.
Bring binoculars or borrow them from state park ranger stations
Wildlife watching and birding are popular activities in the fall. Find a list of state parks and recreation areas that provide birding kits on the DNR website’s loaner equipment webpage.
Check the Parks and Trails events calendar
Many state parks offer programs where visitors can learn about the natural world, take guided hikes, build outdoor skills and more. Most programs are free. The state parks calendar offers a full listing of events and programs.
Be aware of hunting seasons and take safety precautions
State parks only allow hunting during special hunts, which are listed on the state park hunts webpage and will be noted in visitor alerts on park websites. On most land within state forests and WMAs, hunting and trapping is allowed during hunting and trapping seasons with the correct licenses. Hunting is allowed at some SNAs. Information about these locations is on the SNA rules webpage.
Hunters should read hunting regulations carefully. Even if not hunting, people should still take safety precautions, such as wearing an article of blaze orange or blaze pink clothing above the waist, if recreating on lands open to hunting during a hunting season.
Bring a camera and share photos
Photos from all DNR-managed lands can be submitted for possible use on DNR social media channels, the Fall Color Finder website and other materials. Click “share photos” on the Fall Color Finder.