Fall
Color Report
Fall Colors Projection Sep 8-Oct 17
Peak Color Projection Sep 28-Oct 12 |
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The Blown Away Report
17 October 2011
The sun is brilliantly shining, but there is a bite in the air and snow is returning to the weatherman's vocabulary. The winds have whipped the leaves off the trees and the landscape has opened up.
Hiking is still glorious! Pick any of your favorite trails and go for a good tramp in the woods. If it's windy, be sure to include stops along Lake Superior's shore for excellent wave watching.
Enjoy late Autumn!
It's time to find our warm jackets, scarves and ski gear. So this will be the last report of the year. I'll begin the snow report as it flies or by November 24th, the projected opening of Lutsen Mountains.
Nina's Suggested Tour
Wave watch
More Fall Color Tour Ideas
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images below taken from a North Shore tour on October 5th
images below taken from a walk in the woods on Monday, 26 September
State Park Fall Color report provided by the DNR
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Gooseberry Falls State Park
updated 11 October
R E P O R T
Leaves: 75-100%
Grasses: 75-100%
Wildflowers: past peak
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We are past peak on just about everything except the Tamaracks. Despite some of the leaves falling to the ground there are still some spectacular colors out there.
Picnic Flow Area is a great place to enjoy the cool fresh lake breeze. Hiking along the river from the Lake to the Falls provides great views of the of the hills and bluffs with a nice mix of colors and evergreens. |
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Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
updated 12 October
R E P O R T
Leaves: past peak
Grasses: past peak
Wildflowers: past peak |
Birch,aspens and maples have lost many of their leaves. Shrubs remain fairly colorful. Raptors are migrating through again this week.
Although many leaves are on the ground and there are some bare trees, colorful signs of the Fall season can still be found on the Split Rock River loop hike as well as along the trails that follow the shoreline of Lake Superior.
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Tettegouche State Park
updated 12 October
R E P O R T
Leaves: past peak
Grasses: past peak
Wildflowers: past peak |
Birch, Aspen, and Maples are beginning to lose their leaves. Red Oaks can be found along the parks ridges.
The crunch of leaves can be felt under your feet as you hike here in Tettegouche. Many of the trees have lost their leaves, however some Birch and Aspen are still hanging on to their yellow leaves. The walk down toward the Baptism River Mouth is a good place to see these golden leaves as well as scan the water for spawning salmon.
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Crosby Manitou State Park
updated 12 October
R E P O R T
Leaves: past peak
Grasses: past peak
Wildflowers: past peak
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Birch, aspen, and maples are beginning to lose their leaves. Golden tamaracks can be found in the lowlands.
The crunch of leaves can be felt under your feet as you hike here in Crosby. Many of the trees have lost their leaves, however some Birch and Aspen are still hanging on to their yellow leaves. The Benson Lake Trail is an easy hike that circles you around the small lake, on easy even terrain. |
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Temperance River State Park
updated 12 October
R E P O R T
Leaves: past peak
Grasses: past peak
Wildflowers: past peak |
Many of the trees have lost their leaves, however some Birch and Aspen are still hanging on to their yellow leaves. The walk down toward the Lower Gorge and mouth of the Temperance River is a good place to see these golden leaves as well as scan the water for spawning salmon.
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Cascade River State Park
updated 12 October
R E P O R T
Leaves: past peak
Grasses: 75-100%
Wildflowers: past peak
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Take a short walk to the Cascade River to view the waterfalls. A longer hike up to Lookout Mountain will give you views of Lake Superior, the Cascade River valley, and inland hills.
Leaves are just beginning to fall at Cascade River and are covering the trails in a colorful blanket. Once the leaves are on the ground,
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Judge Magney State Park
updated 12 October
R E P O R T
Leaves: past peak
Grasses: past peak
Wildflowers: past peak |
Fall winds have ripped some of the leaves from the trees, but the color is still at peak in many places on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Intense yellows of the birch and aspen along Highway 61 and in the lower stretches of the Brule River have lingered for several weeks. Catch the gold before it's gone!
The best color is on the Timberdoodle Trail and the lower stretches of the Devil's Kettle Trail. Views along Highway 61 are also spectacular, especially from the overlooks between Grand Portage and the Canadian Border where the gold and yellow of aspens and birch contrast with the deep blues of Gitchee Gumee. |
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Grand Portage State Park
updated 13 October
R E P O R T
Leaves: past peak
Grasses: past peak
Wildflowers: past peak
Bonus!! Treat yourself to some unbelievable fall color photos from the area.
Photographer Travis Novitsky's work can be seen here.
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The majority of leaves throughout the variety of tree species have now fallen to the ground. Tamarack trees (the only deciduous conifer tree to change color and lose its needles) are now turning golden orange and are usually the last bit of fall color we experience. Only about 25-30% of the trees still have leaves. So, there is still color but what remains will not last long... get out and enjoy it while it lasts! |
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More Activities to Choose From!
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Here are links to everything you need for your next North Shore visit!
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NorthShoreVisitor.com / Nina Simonowicz
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