<div>Oct. 18—ITASCA STATE PARK, Minn. — For those with an appreciation for the golds and reds the season brings, now is the time to get out and enjoy the sights of autumn. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the northern part of the state is at or just past peak for fall leaf colors.One destination for fall sightseers is Itasca State Park, which is around 75% peak fall colors as of Oct. 9, according to the DNR's Fall Color Finder. Phil Aarhus, who brought his camera with him to Itasca, said the colors are still gorgeous."Colors are beautiful, and I come here every year," said Aarhus, who spent time in the park on Tuesday. "It was foggy at first and now she's clearing off. It's supposed to be a beautiful day."The DNR's website allows visitors to compare three years of fall colors across the state at once. As of Oct. 16, 2024's fall colors were at 75-100% peak, compared to the same day in 2023 and 2022, when the majority of Minnesota was pushing past peak. The southern part of the state is still at about 50-75%.The progression of fall colors this season at Itasca has been up to a week behind data from 2023, said Heather Funk, visitor services coordinator. This year, the park hit peak color the weekend of Oct. 11-13, which brought in about double the number of regular visitors on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center, she said. There has been a steady increase of visitors since Sept. 21."Some species of trees are still displaying lots of color in the forest, but a few windy days have pushed us just a bit past what would be considered true peak going into the upcoming weekend," she said.Oaks, aspens and tamaracs are some of the trees holding onto their peak colors, Funk said. Fall colors can be impacted by weather, according to a fall color forecast on the DNR's website. Severe drought or leaf disease can create dull or earthy colors, while a mild summer drought can enhance them. A growing season with average precipitation usually brings the best colors, the website said, and though 2024's wet spring gave way to some leaf diseases on trees like aspen and oaks, there hasn't been much leaf loss."After Minnesota's 2023 drought, this year's rainy growing season means trees have the potential to maximize their color production in the fall," the DNR's fall color forecast said. "Leaves are more likely to display brilliant colors when the days are sunny and the nights are cool, without big swings in temperature."The best time to travel and see fall colors for northern and middle Minnesota, the DNR's website said, is mid-September to early October. The DNR'sFall Color Media Roomis updated every Thursday in September and October by noon.</div>

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Fall oranges, golds and reds are flourishing across Minnesota, peaking in places like Itasca State Park

Oct. 18—ITASCA STATE PARK, Minn. — For those with an appreciation for the golds and reds the season brings, now is the time to get out and enjoy the sights of autumn. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the northern part of the state is at or just past peak for fall leaf colors.