October was another great weather month this year in Minnesota – perfect for hiking, camping and spending time at the lake. We enjoyed some nice fall colors with my mom at our family lake home up north.
Red Wing & Frontenac State Park
Mid October, we decided to head south for a quick camping trip to take advantage of the beautiful weather and soak in the fall colors a little more. We started by biking some trails around Red Wing before spending a couple nights at nearby Frontenac State Park located on really high bluffs along the Mississippi River. We enjoyed a nice hike that took us along the steep bluff, then through several different woods, hills and terrains. Lots of oaks, maples, birches and cottonwood trees, and even a French looking castle – a former school for girls founded in the 1890s by some Catholic nuns. We also visited the interesting Wabasha Eagle Center before heading home.
Minneopa State Park
At the end of October, we headed to Minneopa State Park near Mankato for 2 nights. We biked part of the Sakatah Singing Hills state bike trail out of Mankato on our way down. We found it prettiest just outside of Mankato as it followed the dramatic river bluffs. The park itself was a pleasant surprise with three main attractions. First, there is an impressive waterfall to view. It was just a trickle then, but in spring it looks very powerful. Second, there is a really cool old windmill there on top of a hill. The sails are no longer on it, but the stone silo-shaped tower is still standing strong. The mill was used to grind flour. Finally, there is a buffalo herd that makes Minneopa its home. This herd is part of a national attempt to preserve the original native buffalo species (as opposed to the commercial buffaloes interbred with cattle).
Even if we didn’t take an extended camping trip like in 2023, we really enjoyed our shorter escapades around our beautiful state of Minnesota. We are looking forward to continuing exploring the remainder of the state parks we haven’t visited yet. Still a long list to tackle in the next years!
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