Scenic Drives
Chippewa Fall Color Update:
September 30, 2025
Color change: Leaves: 50-70%
Fall officially arrived on September 22, but its presence has been visible for weeks on the Chippewa National Forest. Deep reds are mixed throughout the Forest as red maples change. Sugar maples are quickly turning shades of yellow and vibrant orange. Ashes are peaking with bright yellow. Bur oaks are now adding a soft camel tan-brown color. The khaki-yellow color in the balsam poplar leaves can still be seen. American basswoods are turning a soft butter-yellow color. Paper birch is also turning gold. Red oaks are turning deep red to bright red-orange. Two- and 3-year-old needles are turning gold and shedding from white pine, while the fourth-year needles of red pine turn reddish-brown before dropping.
Fall color report: September 23, 2025
Color change: Leaves: 25-50%
Ashes are turning yellow. Look for the deep red in red maples and the khaki-yellow color in the balsam poplar leaves. American basswoods are turning a soft butter-yellow color, especially in areas with more direct sunlight. Paper birch is also turning gold.
Fall Color Report: September 16, 2025
Color change: Leaves: 25-50%
Ashes are turning yellow. Look for the deep red in red maples and the khaki-yellow color in the balsam poplar leaves. American basswoods are turning a soft butter-yellow color, especially in areas with more direct sunlight. Paper birch is also turning gold.
Fall Color Report: September 9, 2025
Color change: Leaves: 10-25% Grasses: 0-10% Flowers: 10-25%
During the day, around sunrise and sunset, you can start to see a golden hue over the landscape. Look for larger clusters of trees here and there as they start to turn. The basswood turning with small clusters of yellow leaves. The maples are just starting to turn deep red, aspen shades of yellow, and paper birch turning gold. Sumac is a beautiful red and the ferns are now dying back and turning a beautiful burnt orange.
Fall Color Report: September 2, 2025
Color change: Leaves: 0-10% Grasses: 0-10% Flowers: 0-10%
On the Chippewa National Forest, ashes are turning soft shades of green to brighter yellow. Other trees starting to show subtle changes in color include deep red in random red maples and the khaki-yellow color in the balsam poplar leaves. A few basswoods have small clusters of yellow leaves appearing.
Take a trip on a tankful and enjoy one of the Scenic Byways on the Chippewa National Forest!
The Chippewa National Forest puts on a dramatic show of fall color when the weather begins to cool. The fall season is a favorite for visitors who want to take in the gold tamaracks, red maples, campfires, and cool breezes of the season. The Chippewa National Forest offers miles of scenic byways to travel, as well as colorful trails. After a busy summer, many visitors seek out a quiet drive through the colorful autumn forest.
Fall on the Forest
The Chippewa National Forest puts on a dramatic show of fall color when the weather begins to cool. The fall season is a favorite for visitors who want to take in the gold tamaracks, red maples, campfires, and cool breezes of the season. The Chippewa National Forest offers miles of scenic byways to travel, as well as colorful trails. After a busy summer, many visitors seek out a quiet drive through the colorful autumn forest.
Favorite Scenic Drives
Paved Scenic Drives:
Edge of the Wilderness National Scenic Byway: 47 miles | Grand Rapids to Bigfork, Minn.
Self-guided interpretive tour along the way, watch for green Discovery Site markers.
Ladyslipper Scenic Byway: 26 miles | Hwy 2 to Blackduck, Minn.
- Very popular in early summer when the Showy Ladyslippers bloom, and this is also a beautiful autumn drive. The byway takes you past Knutson Dam, Webster Lake and Camp Rabideau. There are two interpretive stops along the byway: Lady Slipper Interpretive Site (3801 Scenic Highway NE Blackduck) and the Mississippi River Interpretive Site (28201 Brook Lake Rd SE Pennington).
Lake Country Scenic Byway: 67 miles | Walker to Detroit Lakes, Minn.
- A short section within the National Forest, stop and enjoy the view at Shingobee Hills.
Avenue of the Pines State Scenic Byway: 17 miles | Lake Winnie to S. Lake, Minn.
- From the junction of County Road 9 (the Winnie Dam road) and County Road 46, travel north on 46 along the Avenue of the Pines past Cut Foot Sioux Recreation Area and north to S. Lake.
Backcountry and Unpaved Scenic Drives:
Woodtick Trail : 13 miles | Longville to Hackensack, Minn.
- The Trail is actually a maintained gravel road that runs along the southern border of the Forest. Great wildlife viewing. Bring a Motor Vehicle Use map to track the smaller roads off the Woodtick.
County 8 and Tamarack Point: 12 miles | Bena to Winnie Dam, Minn.
- Take County Road 8 off either Highway 46 or Highway 2 near Bena, MN. Travel Co 9 (also known as the Winnie Dam Road) to Tamarack Point off State 46.
County Road 50: 8 miles | Walker to Hackensack, Minn.
- A short winding drive through mixed hardwood forest and along the Shingobee River. Starts just south of Walker and ends north of Hackensack near the Woodtick Trail.
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