September 27, 2003

If you are looking for fall color this weekend in the upper Midwest, then Minnesota is the place to be. In particular, the northern half of Minnesota is displaying the most color, with moderate (31 to 60 percent) to high (61 to 80 percent) change. Some of the parks in Minnesota showing great color include Scenic State Park - Bigfork, Bear Head Lake State Park - Ely, Cascade River State Park - Grand Marais, Temperance River State Park - Schroeder and Maplewood State Park - Pelican Rapids. The foliage progression is a bit ahead of last year in many areas of Minnesota, most likely attributed to the dry spring and summer.

Elsewhere in the region, much of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are experiencing 11 to 30 percent color change. Many of those areas are on the cusp of moderate color. The foliage change in much of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and the State of Ohio remains at or below 10 percent.

Most of the leaf drop in the region (which is low to very low) is mostly a result of the dry summer.

If you have not yet made your leaf-peeping travel plans, now is the time! Check out our Places to Stay and Foliage Spotters sections to find great accommodations!

This information provided by Marek D. Rzonca, The Foliage Network. The next report will be released on Wednesday, October 1, 2003.