I have been watching the fall color on this property since 2009 and I have never gotten tired of it. The birch trees start turning in the last week of September, which is the color most people think of when they think of a Minnesota fall. But the tamaracks, which are the only deciduous conifer in the region, turn gold in mid-October, and that is the thing worth planning a trip around.
The birch trees: late September ¶
The birch trees on the property and along the shoreline start turning in the last week of September, usually around the 24th or 25th, though it varies by a week or so depending on the summer. The color is yellow, not the orange-red of maples further south. Against the dark water of the lake and the silver-gray of the cedar cabins, the yellow birch is striking in a quiet way. Peak birch color usually lasts about ten days before the leaves drop.
The tamaracks: mid-October ¶
Tamarack trees, Larix laricina, are the thing. They are a conifer that drops its needles, which means they spend most of the year looking like a slightly sad spruce and then, for about two weeks in October, turn a deep gold that is unlike anything else in the northern forest. The tamaracks on the east side of the property and along the trail behind the cabins are the best ones to watch. Peak color is usually around October 12 to 18, though it has been as early as October 8 in a cold year.
Trail conditions in fall ¶
The three trail loops behind the property are at their best in September and October. The leaves on the ground muffle the sound and the light through the birch canopy is different from summer light, more horizontal and more gold. The trails are dry in September and can be muddy in October after rain. Wear closed-toe shoes. The two-and-a-half-mile loop takes about an hour at a comfortable pace and passes through a stand of old-growth cedar that is the most beautiful part of the property.
Why fall is quieter and why that is good ¶
After Labor Day, the property goes quiet. No minimum stay requirement, slightly lower midweek rates, and the lake to yourself most mornings. The fishing is excellent in fall, according to Dale Erickson, who guides through the end of October. The mornings are cold, which means the fire rings get used differently than in summer. There is something about a fire in the morning with a cup of coffee and a cold lake in front of you that is specific to this season and this place.
What to bring for a fall trip ¶
Layers. More layers than you think. A 28-degree morning in mid-October is possible, and the cabins heat up quickly with the propane stove but the walk from the cabin to the dock is cold. A wool hat, gloves, a down jacket. Rain gear, because October in northern Minnesota is unpredictable. The lake is still swimmable in early October for the determined. By mid-October, most guests are content to look at it rather than get in it.
We have openings through October every year. If you have been thinking about a fall trip, September and October are the months I would choose if I were choosing for myself.