Plan your trip now because the Fabulous Fall colors have begun to arrive in the north country of Lake of the Woods. World Class fishing is still in the mix but temperatures are dipping in the evening and leaves are starting to turn. We are seeing golden grasses in the ditches and golden leaves on the poplar trees as well as the sumac turning their gorgeous red. Harvested field are showing golden stubble and soybeans are turning from green to golden brown.

Fall invites many visitors to see the parade of the fabulous fall colors throughout the north land. The North Shore is a popular place to visit this time of year so why not plan a trip from east to west to satisfy your eyes. Check out the Fall Color Guides found on the Dept of MN – Forestry Division.

Explore Minnesota is another great website to explore for your fall adventures.

Forestry across the north land is still prevalent and you will find many logging trucks traveling to bring their product to market or storing it up to sell before freeze-up. Erickson Timber and Jake’s Saw Mill of Baudette are always busy as trucks are in and out hauling their product from the north, south, east and west.

One popular fall excursion at Lake of the Woods is to travel on Wilderness Drive south of Baudette through the virgin forest areas of Beltrami Forest. This is the sight of many past homesteads and the popular Faunce Tower Area is a great place to visit, explore or picnic. Enjoy the tall white pines that sing in the wind. The Beltrami Island State Forest is a state forest located in Lake of the Woods, Roseau, and Beltrami counties, Minnesota are the prime sites for the fabulous fall colors

Named after Italian explorer Giacomo Beltrami, it is the second-largest state forest in the Minnesota system after Pine Island State Forest. The largest wildlife management area in the state at 321,149 acres, the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area, is located within the forest. The majority of the forest is managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, although a significant portion are tribal lands belonging to the neighboring Red Lake Band of Ojibwe. This great forest area is perfect in the fall for hiking, exploring and ATV travel.

Another great spot to travel for the fabulous fall colors at Lake of the Woods is Zippel State Park. This is located northwest of Baudette and is full of birch and poplar trees as well as beautiful pines. It has many trails and its sandy beach on the shore of Lake of the Woods is especially calm and serene during the fall season. Again, golds, whites, reds, and browns along with the green pines is an exquisite sight at dawn or during the astounding sunsets.

One of this authors favorite things is the Tamarac pines that turn golden during this season. Yes, these pine trees turn the most beautiful shade of gold and then lose their needles. Highway 72 which runs north to the top of Minnesota features these beautiful trees. If you pick a day when the sun is shining, these trees literally sparkle like diamonds.

Here’s another suggestion to try to see these great trees. Why not turn into the Big Bog Drive located about 30 miles south of Baudette off of Hwy 72 also. It’s a one mile walk on an highly engineered durable trail with nice places to rest along the walk and also educational plaques describing much of the undergrowth there and naming parts of the forestry.

Plan your trip this fall all around Minnesota and end up at Lake of the Woods for a climax of your tour.

For more information and lodging contact www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging.

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