The golden hours are upon us—get out and explore!

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October 2024

A glowing red sunset over Lake Superior is framed by leaves.

📷: Jen Forsberg, Tettegouche State Park - taken 9/21/24

Great Minnesota Glow Up 🌟🍂

As fall sweeps across the state, nature has a special way of lighting up Minnesota’s state parks and trails. From the vibrant hues of autumn leaves to the mesmerizing Northern Lights dancing overhead, this season is all about awe-inspiring moments. In this edition, we’re diving into nature’s natural glow—from bioluminescent fungi tucked away in our forests, to the upcoming supermoon illuminating the skies on October 17. Get ready to explore the magic of fall in a whole new light!

📷: Park staff, Wild River State Park - taken 9/13/22

Forest Lights: Discover the Glow of Bioluminescent Fungi

Omphalotus illudens, commonly known as the jack-o’-lantern mushroom, gets its name from both its orange color and its ability to glow in the dark! On moonless nights, a faint green glow can be observed coming mainly from the gills. Chemicals called luciferase and luciferin make this mushroom glow—the same chemicals that allow fireflies to light up!

No making pumpkin pie out of these mushrooms! Also known as, ‘Evil Jack,’ Omphalotus illudens is poisonous not only to humans, but is also a powerful pathogen of trees, eventually killing its host tree. Jack-o’-lantern mushrooms look similar to the more widely known Chanterelle—foragers beware!

📷: right photo courtesy @neurocentric, iNaturalist

The underside of a mushroom faintly glows lime green in the dark.

Pink and green northern lights in the sky at Maplewood State Park.

📷: Margene Newton, Maplewood State Park - taken 9/16/24

Aurora Magic: Nature's Ultimate Glow Show

Have you noticed more Northern Lights displays this year? Our recent colorful skies are thanks to Solar Cycle 25 nearing its peak. Solar cycles are roughly 11 years long with a crest of solar activity in the middle. With more solar activity, like solar flares and sunspots, comes more geomagnetic storms here on Earth—resulting in an increased likelihood for Northern Lights!

Don't want to miss the next solar surge? NOAA/NWS’ free forecast tool shows if there is a chance of dancing lights.

A paved path lined with candles leads into a dark forest.

Enchanted Adventures: Lake Bemidji Fall Fest Candlelight Hike

Join us at Lake Bemidji State Park on October 12, 2024 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a magical night at our Fall Fest Candlelight Hike! Bring your costumes and experience the woods in a whole new light as the trail glows with the warm light of candles. You’ll wander through the shadowy trees, feel the cool autumn breeze, and hear the rustle of leaves. This year’s theme is sssnakes – perfect for a night of fun and mystery.

The family friendly event features a candlelit hike along the paved Paul Bunyan State Trail, along with crafts, games, and treats at the Visitor Center. You can also explore a nature table all about our slithery snake friends. And, if you are feeling adventurous, you will even get a chance to see what a real snake feels like!

A large bright moon rises over a still lake and pine trees.

📷: Lance Hagman, Bear Had Lake State Park - taken 9/18/24

Supermoon Spectacle: Light Up Your Night

Mark your calendar for October 17 to gaze at the closest supermoon of 2024! What's a supermoon? When a full moon happens at the same time the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth, you get a supermoon. To us earthlings, a supermoon appears slightly larger and brighter than a normal full moon.

Love looking up at the stars? 🤩 Join us for an adventure after dark! Check out our nighttime programs and events.

Elevated Wildfire Danger 🚩

High winds and low humidity are causing elevated wildfire danger across Minnesota. If you have an upcoming visit to a Minnesota state park or recreation area planned, check the fire danger website to review current alerts. Thank you for your vigilance and care in protecting our state’s natural resources. Please continue to use extra caution while having campfires and always practice fire safety!

A forest ranger puts up a sign that says fire danger is very high.

Lake Effect on Leaves 🌊🍁

Venture inland to find the glow of flashy colors

Overlooking a forest that is bright red and gold in the foreground and green near the horizon by Lake Superior.

📷: Kaja Jost, George H. Crosby Manitou State Park - taken 9/19/10

The North Shore of Lake Superior is renowned for its stunning fall foliage. A well-timed drive along Highway 61 can be the highlight of the season for locals and first-time visitors alike. But calculating the perfect window of time can be difficult for this stretch of landscape. To help us understand the complexities, we asked Tettegouche State Park interpretive naturalist, Kurt Mead for answers!

Looking up a hill, the trees are only red and gold at the peak of the hill.

Known as the North Shore Highlands, Superior Highlands, or sometimes the Sawtooth Mountains, this stretch of land from Duluth to Canada includes the shoreline to about 20 miles inland. Kurt explains, “The temperate waters of Lake Superior keeps the nearshore environment cooler and damper in the summer and warmer in the winter. This influences what species of trees live near the lake. This climate is more welcoming to the vibrant sugar and red maples that so many people associate with fall on the North Shore.”

Every year, swarms of people flock to the very edge of the lake looking for fiery reds, only to be greeted by green. The culprit? A ring of birch, aspen, and pine trees that remain green deep into fall despite the Fall Color Finder Map showing red.

Bright red mushrooms on the forest floor.

“If the Fall Colors percentage is high and the birches and aspens along the North Shore are still green, go inland to see the reds and golds of the maple forests in the Superior Highlands,” Kurt advises leaf peepers. He continued, “The biggest, noticeable difference is often due to the presence or absence of maple trees. If you can hike or drive a little further inland in most of the North Shore parks, you may see brighter colors.”

Kurt reminds fall visitors to not just look up, but also down this season! “There are lots of other colors to see in the fall besides tree leaves. Fall is our prime mushroom season and some of these fungi are dramatically large and brightly colored. Additionally, just like in the springtime, there are seasonal wildflowers that bloom only in the fall season.”

In Case You Missed It...

We've been featuring some amazing 'outfluencers' in our Fall Color newsletter, sharing tips and stories about fall adventures like hammock camping and adaptive exploration. If you haven’t signed up yet, be sure to subscribe to the Fall Color Updates to get the latest highlights sent straight to your inbox! Meanwhile, here’s a sneak peek at a few articles that ran this season—don’t miss out on the full stories and more fall fun by joining the newsletter!

Empowered Exploration with Mason Branstrator

We recently caught up up with Mason Branstrator, a Duluth native who has inspired people across the world to keep moving. After suffering a life-altering injury on a ski slope at 17, Mason has become a beloved advocate for adaptive adventure on TikTok and Instagram. Mason recently put one of our all-terrain track chairs to the test. Watch his visit to McCarthy Beach State Park and learn more about all-terrain track chairs below. Enjoy!

Rolling GIF of Mason exploring McCarthy Beach State Park in an all-terrain track chair.

All-Terrain Track Chairs

Whether you are a visitor with a few more seasons under your belt, regularly use a wheelchair, or recently had surgery, our all-terrain track chairs are available to help you experience the beauty of fall in Minnesota!

These incredible electric-powered chairs are free to use at over a dozen Minnesota state parks, and are adaptable for left-hand, right-hand, or attendant control. Explore beautiful prairie, rugged trails, sandy beaches and even shallow water crossings with ease on your next adventure!

Track chairs are available year-round in some locations, and seasonally in others. Make sure you reserve a chair for your visit so you can enjoy the vibrant fall colors this season. Learn more and check out a list of locations with available all-terrain track on our website.

'That Midwestern Mom' Serves Up a Sweet Recipe

Next, enjoy a guest blog from the delightfully quirky Amber Estenson, known to her social media followers as 'That Midwestern Mom' on TikTok and Instagram. Based in Frazee, Minnesota, the opera singer turned elementary school music teacher enjoys sharing our state's unique culinary identity with the world—think hotdish and marshmallow fluff! Amber has cooked up a delicious dessert for you to try while visiting a park this fall. Read the blog below or watch her visit to Itasca State Park. Enjoy!

Amber smiles while holding up a plate of apple crisp.

Camp Fire Apple Crisp 🔥🍏🥧

Fall is the perfect time of year to visit beautiful Itasca State Park! The humidity is finally bearable, the mosquitoes are a bit more under control, and before we know it, the beautiful fall colors will be here. Whenever my friends or family visit me, we always try to take a trip to Itasca, as it’s the headwaters of the Mississippi river. Here the river starts its 2552-mile journey down to the Gulf of Mexico. Since this past weekend, there was a chill in the air and the humidity was bearable, we decided to make one of my favorite recipes on the campfire. Nothing says fall to me more than a good apple crisp!

Dry ingredients:

2/3 cup quick cook rolled oats

2 T flour

Pinch of allspice (or nutmeg)

1/4-1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

2T brown sugar

Read the full blog and watch her visit to Itasca State Park.

Know before you go. Check park websites for deer hunting closures this fall.

Fall Fun for Everyone!

Can't miss events across the state

This October, the parks are bursting with activities that celebrate the beauty of fall! Whether you're exploring the vibrant autumn leaves on a hike, crafting with nature, or enjoying the glow of a candlelight trail, there’s something for everyone. With so many events happening, we can’t list them all here! Head over to our website for the full calendar of events and find the perfect fall adventure near you!

Share your fall photos 📸

Hit us with your best shot!

Two people look out at a forest of bright colors stretching to Lake Superior.

📷: Kim, George H. Crosby Manitou State Park - taken 9/29/24

We love seeing your adventures! Upload your state park and trail photos to our website for a chance to be featured in this newsletter or on our social media!