Odds are you'll take any excuse to take a short reprieve when October arrives. The newness of the school year wore off, and by then, the hustle and bustle of work and activities mount knowing an even busier holiday season looms around the bend.
An autumn break to Rainy Lake offers a unique splendor you deserve to experience. Two particular weekends come to mind: October 5-6 and October 19-20. Changing Leaves: October 5-6 Nothing symbolizes fall more than leaves changing color, and the backdrop of Voyageur National Park provides a particularly gorgeous setting. While partial change begins in late September, the park reaches its peak during the weekend. Grab a light jacket, get on the water, and watch the ablaze foliage shimmer its spectrum of crimson and amber. It's the time of year where the air crispens and wildlife begin their Minnesota goodbyes. See them before they leave for winter. Orionid Meteor Shower: October 19-20 Late in the month, the remnants of Hailey's Comet explode through the sky off of the belt of the Orion constellation. Bundle up a bit, as temperatures will hover around freezing, or better yet, cozy up next to a loved one under a blanket and fix your eyes on the midnight sky. There's no need to pack a telescope or binoculars. Your naked eye is more than enough to see these interstellar ice shards vaulting their way through the darkness. Experts predict the peak of the shower to happen on Monday or Tuesday if you can extend your visit, and you should. The light of the moon often masks the full meteor display, but in 2019, the lunar calendar predicts a three-quarter moon going into a dark, new moon. Less light. More magic. Forget Friday Night Lights for one week and see natural wonders up close. You may even witness a more spectacular set of lights, the Northern Lights. Use our predictor tool to see what Aurora Borealis is up to during your visit. September will come and go quicker than you think. Plan your mini vacation before it’s too late. We can help. Lots of people come "up north" to go fishing, but biking enthusiasts are finding some awesome routes in the International Falls area. Distance-wise, there are several options for Beginners to Advanced Cyclists.
For the experienced biker there's the Arrowhead Trail, much of which is available to cyclists. It runs between the Taconite State Trail at Pike River Flowage near Peyla and to 3 miles south of International Falls (east of I-71 near Chapple). Bikers should be aware that it is possible that some of the trail could be under water, but that's part of the adventure! For a shorter ride, but still challenging is the 95 mile Blue Ox Trail. This is perfect for the mountain biker. These bikers will share the trail with deer and other wildlife. At it's southern end in Lake Bemidji State Park, the Blue Ox Trail–Voyageur Trail connects to the Paul Bunyan State Trail at County Road 20. The latter, carries on for another 119 miles and is paved. Finally, there is a much shorter, yet beautiful trip that starts in International Falls and continues for about 13 miles ending at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. This trip combines biking, stopping in Ranier for refreshments and taking advantage of the various historic sites in Voyageurs National Park. What are you waiting for? Start pedaling! For more information on trails, visit the DNR site. The volunteers of the Polar Polers Ski Club from International Falls have invested many hours to complete the new Tilson Creek Bog Walk located near the Rainy Lake public fishing pier on Hwy 11 East of Ranier. The new bog walk is situated on the first .75 miles of the Tilson Ski Trail. There is a resting spot at about the half-way point. The walk is like a floating sidewalk made from boards and is about 6 feet wide making it perfect for runners, walkers or even pushing a stroller. The bog is an important eco-system supporting a variety of plants including the Tamarack tree (also called the Larch) At first glance, these trees look like other conifers, but they are actually deciduous as they lose their pine-like needles every fall. What makes a bog different from a swamp is bogs are made up of a floating mass of rotting moss resulting in a soil known as peat. The decaying process causes the peat moss to "burp" in the spring time as the moss releases gas into the atmosphere. It is recommended to wear mosquito repellent as the bog is a perfect breeding area for those pesky bugs. Surprisingly, some of the plants in the bog actually capture mosquitoes and other insects with their sticky leaves and are able to break down their capture as a source of nutrient. The walk does not allow motorized vehicles. More energetic visitors can continue beyond the end of the bog walk into the ski trail system which is clearly marked on the map at the entrance and also along the way. Check out this newly completed feature of the Voyageurs Park area soon! |
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