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Minnesota fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in Minnesota peaks from about September 18 around Ely (1,420 ft) to about October 4 around Minneapolis (830 ft).
2026 foliage season
Minnesota fall foliage map
- Mostly green
- Starting to turn
- Moderate color
- Near peak
- Peak color
- Past peak
- Leaves down
Dots show the 4 Minnesota destinations we track, colored by today’s estimated stage. Select one for its forecast, or open the full foliage map to check any city or ZIP code.
Peak calendar
Bars show the typical best-viewing window for each destination. The dark mark is the typical peak. The last column shows today’s estimated status.
How fall color moves through Minnesota
In a typical year, the color moves through Minnesota over about 2 weeks. Ely is usually first, around September 18, and Minneapolis is usually last, around October 4. In order, the typical peaks are: Ely around September 18, Grand Marais around September 26, Duluth around September 28, and Minneapolis around October 4.
Best places for Minnesota fall foliage
- Ely: Ely sits on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the Superior National Forest, a land of lakes, rocky shores, and forests of birch, aspen, and pine.
- Grand Marais: Grand Marais is a harbor town on Lake Superior’s North Shore.
- Duluth: Duluth climbs a steep hillside above Lake Superior.
- Minneapolis: Minneapolis’s color is in its parks and along its lakes and river.
Scenic drives
- Near Ely: The Echo Trail runs northwest from Ely through the Superior National Forest, winding past lakes, rock, and birch and aspen forest at the edge of the Boundary Waters.
- Near Grand Marais: Highway 61 follows the North Shore of Lake Superior, past rocky points and river mouths.
- Near Duluth: Highway 61 follows the North Shore of Lake Superior northeast from Duluth, past Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, and Tettegouche State Park, toward Grand Marais.
- Near Minneapolis: The Great River Road follows the Mississippi south from the Twin Cities to Red Wing and Frontenac State Park, where the bluffs rise above Lake Pepin.
Planning around elevation
Ely, at about 1,420 feet, is the highest destination we track in Minnesota, and it typically peaks about 7 days before Grand Marais, at about 700 feet. Within any one area, higher ground usually turns first, so if one place is still green, look higher; if it is past peak, look lower.
Visiting at different times
Late September. Ely (best about Sep 17–Sep 25), Grand Marais (best about Sep 24–Oct 2), and Duluth (best about Sep 27–Oct 5) are typically at their best.
Early October. Minneapolis (best about Oct 2–Oct 11) is typically at its best.
Trees behind the color
Scenic drive guide
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Minnesota?
In a typical year, fall color in Minnesota peaks from about September 18 around Ely (1,420 ft) to about October 4 around Minneapolis (830 ft). Timing can shift by about a week in either direction depending on the weather.
Where does fall color peak first in Minnesota?
Ely is usually first among the Minnesota destinations we track, with peak around September 18. Higher and more northern spots turn before lower and more southern ones.
Where is the latest fall color in Minnesota?
Minneapolis usually peaks last, around October 4. Minneapolis is well to the south of the state’s other destinations we track, which is part of why its color comes late.
What trees give Minnesota its fall color?
The biggest contributors at the destinations we track include sugar maple, paper birch, quaking aspen, red maple, tamarack and larch, and northern red oak.
Check any city or ZIP code in Minnesota.
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