There are few places better to enjoy fall foliage in Minnesota than the Bluff Country of the state’s southeastern corner. Rippling westward from the Mississippi River valley, the folded valleys and ravines of the Driftless Area are home to the largest remaining stands of hardwood forest in the Land of 10,000 Lakes: the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest. And one of the best spots in this part of the state to get out and tree bathe in the autumn splendor is the forest’s Zumbro Bottoms Management Area.

The Zumbro Bottoms Management Area spans the Zumbro River valley where it widens near its confluence with the Mississippi, just outside the town of Kellogg.
Charli Lopez/Flickr
Cell service isn't always reliable here, so its a good idea to download the trail maps for offline use with an app like AllTrails Plus - which is my go-to for offline navigation on my smart phone.
The area is home to hardwood forests of oak, maple, ash, and basswood, as well as stands of towering pines.
Steve Binner/AllTrails
You'll also find bluff top prairies with blazing grasses and and shrubs.
ROOB KUB TWM PRODUCTIONS/Google Reviews

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Views of the uninterrupted foliage across the broad valley make this an awesome place for your fall adventures, whether you're hiking, biking, offroading, or on horseback.
Scott Ackland/Google Reviews
A fall paddle on the Zumbro is also an excellent way to enjoy the area's autumnal splendor.
Brad Crc/Google Reviews
Another nearby location for enjoying fall colors in this area is the Kellogg Weaver Dunes Scientific and Natural Area.
Jake Krueger/AllTrails
Located near the mouth of the Zumbro River along the Mississippi, Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA is gorgeous in the fall, when the grasses of the sand prairie turn tawny and the oak savannas crackle with fiery foliage.
You can also enjoy sweeping views of the fall colors up and down the Mississippi River valley - and across to Wisconsin - from the vantage point of these rare Minnesota sand dunes.
C.D.S 73/Google Reviews

This is among my personal favorite places for fall hiking in Minnesota – in fact, the Zumbro Bottoms Loop is also a fantastic snowshoeing destination once the snow falls. When you’ve had your fill of foliage, head into nearby Wabasha for a pint and some food at the Olde Triangle Pub, right on Main Street across from the Mississippi River.

Have you visited Zumbro Bottoms in the fall? What are some of your favorite spots for fall foliage in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments!

 

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Zumbro Bottoms Management Unit - Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest, T-70, Kellogg, MN 55945, USA