BEFORE THE WINTER STORM arrived with predictions of feet of snow in nearby North Dakota, we embraced autumn at, for us, a previously unvisited state park. Maplewood State Park east of Pelican Rapids in northwestern Minnesota fits its name. This place blazes with hillsides of trees set among prairie and lakes.
A rutted and narrow gravel road takes motorists on a scenic drive through the park.
These horseback riders led their horses to the lake for a quick drink.
Restored prairies are found throughout Maplewood State Park, this one along a trail to a scenic overlook.
Last Wednesday, only days before that predicted winter storm (which also edged into western Minnesota), we toured this park that features scenic overlooks, miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, and a five-mile driving loop.
Driving into Maplewood State Park.
A glorious fall scene repeated throughout the park.
Trees ablaze at the picnic grounds.
We hit the park at the peak of fall color. So did many others—busloads of school children, generations of families, couples, horseback riders…
Wildflowers on the prairie.
Acres and acres of prairie grass wave in the wind.
Even dried seed heads hold beauty.
When you live in Minnesota or the Dakotas, you need to take in every single last glorious day of autumn before the snow flies, the leaves fall and winter settles in for months.
We enjoyed a sunshine-filled, albeit windy, afternoon exploring Maplewood. There’s something incredibly soothing about immersing one’s self in the outdoors, far from work and worries. Spirits soar in sunshine in a place that is spectacularly beautiful in this season of autumn.
TELL ME: What’s your favorite location to view fall colors?
© Copyright 2019 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
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