​Fall Foliage Guide
Autumn foliage in Minnesota provide a colorful display, artfully painting the diversity of species that thrive in the northern climate. However, in Koochiching County, it’s not just the variety of tree species, but also the diverse ways to enjoy the colors of this transitional season. Plan to park your car and explore via ATV, bicycle, motorcycle, boat, canoe, kayak, paddle board, horseback or trail.

Here are some great places to begin your journey into the season’s abundant color:

Voyageurs National Park Rainy Lake Visitor Center offers miles of hiking trails into diverse woodlands, with occasional vistas from which you can view Rainy Lake. A well-maintained paved bicycle trail creates another unique opportunity to take in the colors of the park. Reserve a place on the Voyageur, VNP’s tour boat, providing colorful tours through the end of September.

Drive 40 miles from International Falls along the shores of the Rainy River to Franz-Jevne State park. Well-maintained, the park offers lovely, rustic camp sites and hiking trails, as well as boat access to Rainy River. Launch your canoe or kayak here for a quiet and colorful afternoon of paddling the international water of Rainy River.

Minnesota’s largest state forest, Pine Island is an off-the-beaten-path destination busting with fall color.  With multiple public access points within 30-40 miles of International Falls, the area offers nearly 880,000 square miles of opportunity to view enough fall foliage to keep you coming back for generations.

With color change taking place from North to South, Minnesota is a great state for chasing the transition. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provides an annual Fall Color Finder map as well as specific location updates. Motorcyclists can download this map to enjoy the sights. 

Where is your favorite place to view the colorful autumn leaves? Tell us in the comments below. 

Walleye anglers on Rainy Lake are having success using right colored jigs and spinners with live bait. The most productive times have been late afternoon into evening and the walleye are schooling around the structure 25 to 30 feet deep. Rainy River walleye are also fairly active, use a spinner rig with a emerald shiner and troll around the structure and faster current from International Falls downstream.

 Large northern pike can be pulled from the weedy bay edges all along the south shore of Rainy lake, but Cranberry and Black Bay have been seeing the most traffic.

Some overachievers in the forest are showing off their bright red colors. Maples are often the first trees to turn in the fall and you can spot a few here and there as our backdrop of green is starting to change.

​Small game seasons open this weekend. Ruffed and spruce grouse are common throughout the extensive habitat in Koochiching County. Contact us if you'd like a map showing the forestry roads and hunter walking trails. [email protected]