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With September right around the corner we start thinking about cooler weather, fall things (like pumpkin spice), and leaves changing beautiful colors! So when can we expect to see the leaves changing across Minnesota?

The Minnesota DNR has released their Fall Color Finder. You can utilize that map to track where fall colors are the best in Minnesota and maybe take a trip to see. You could camp amongst the beautiful colors or just stop in for a day trip and take a hike.

The Minnesota DNR also has our answer to when we can see peak fall colors across Minnesota. The very top sliver of Northern Minnesota has the best colors in mid to late September. Then slightly further south, the color there peaks in about mid-September to early October. Central Minnesota peaks around late September to early October. We can expect to see the fall colors peak in our area around late September to mid-October. Then the lower southeast corner of the state will see their peak in early to mid-October.

Minnesota DNR
Minnesota DNR
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If you've ever wondered what causes the leaves to change all of these incredible colors it has to do with different chemicals in the leaves. That's why there are all different colors and all the leaves aren't all orange, for example. The chemicals that affect the leaf colors are chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and tannins. If you want to learn more about all of that stuff you can find all of that science-y stuff on the Minnesota DNR website.

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