SILVER BAY, Minn. - Fall is coming. That means winter is coming. That means snow and extreme cold are coming. No thanks! I wasn't particularly excited about this year's change of season. I enjoy Minnesota summers and the warm weather. But over the weekend, I had a change of heart.
I drove up to the North Shore. I had never seen the fall colors that far north before and I was instantly wowed by what I saw.
I did two hikes.The first was up Oberg Mountain, which is just south of Lutsen. It's about two miles total, so not difficult, although the path gets rocky at times, so be careful. And the trail was muddy after recent snow and rain. Yes, I said snow. I saw snow! But let's not dwell on that just yet, I'm not ready for it.
Don't rush your hike up the mountain because there's plenty to look at, including several overlooks where you can see Lake Superior and Oberg Lake.
Never have I ever been in the middle of such brilliant fall colors. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was as if I was hiking in a painting. Along the shore, you can see the trees are still more green, but quickly inland, they turn to their vibrant oranges, yellows and reds. Just spectacular.
Ellery's Photo Stop
After I finished the hike, I drove about 40 minutes south to Tettegouche State Park. There's so much to explore there, but I didn't have a lot of time, so I hiked to see High Falls and Two Step Falls. Right now, the trees are green and a vibrant yellow. It's a great backdrop along the rushing Baptism River.
If you want to check out the North Shore's fall colors, go as soon as possible. Much of the leaves are at peak right now, according to the DNR's fall color map.
In the meantime, send me your fall color photos. I love seeing where you're finding beauty in nature. Here's how to reach me:
Email: emccardle@kare11.com
Facebook: facebook.com/ElleryTV
Instagram: @ellerymctv
Twitter: @ElleryTV