Here comes October in the Midwest. It can still feel warm from time to time, as if summer has never left. Yet the fluttering leaves always have a tell: they are a pigment different every second, signaling the shorter days ahead and the impending winter. On a sunny day, there is perhaps no better way to spend an afternoon than to stroll along the Mississippi River and to enjoy the beautiful colors that autumn has to offer.
Photos taken along the West River Parkway and Winchell Trail in Minneapolis.
Tips
- Explore Winchell Trail, a 5 mile out-and-back trail with great views of the river gorge: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/minnesota/winchell-trail. You can hike in the mostly unpaved wooded area near the river, or walk/bike along the paved West River Parkway instead. Either way, you will be welcomed with a stunning display of fall colors.
- Apply bug sprays to protect yourself against insect bites near the water.