Seems quite early, but I've already noticed several trees almost completely yellow and orange south of Ely near the airport, just off Highway 1.

We just got back from a loop through the Man Chain and back down through Ottertrack. I was noticing that a lot color changes. Some completely turned fall color. It seemed early to me too.

Probably due to drought stress. There are already trees changing color here in NE Iowa, which is a month ahead of schedule. Our drought has been worse than up in your neck of the woods.

NEIowapaddler: "Probably due to drought stress. There are already trees changing color here in NE Iowa, which is a month ahead of schedule. Our drought has been worse than up in your neck of the woods. "

Dry weather especially like ash trees ash and maples are more susceptible.

Most of Hwy 169, 53, and 33 were under color siege on my way home from Ely earlier this week.

I saw the frost warning and decided to bump this thread.

I was surprised to come home with leaves turning so early. I remember my forty day trip it was almost end of September when it changed this much…
Then the hail we got a couple evenings ago brought down a lot of what was changing. Could be a real early quick transition… BUT… there’s hardly a mosquito out there! Haha!

Maine has been wet all summer, but our leaves are changing. I saw a fully red maple yesterday. However, they'll keep changing through the end of November because our color lasts three months.

Camped at Birch Lake two weeks ago and noticed lots of changing leaf color along highway 1. Especially the bright red maple leaves. Heading in tomorrow, excited to see how much more it’s changed. After three summer trips I’m ready for the cool fall weather.

Yep, mostly the maples for now. The aspens on the high ridges were turning too and a few of the ashes. We're a good couple weeks from the "happy" aspens from turning and the maples in the shade. Tamaracks three or four weeks out yet? Last night SURE felt like fall! I'm pretty sure we dropped into the 20s in Ely.

Of course the year I plan an October trip to finally see peak colors, they come way early. My mid-late September trips rarely even have peak yellow. Sigh... so it goes.

technically_rugged: "Of course the year I plan an October trip to finally see peak colors, they come way early. My mid-late September trips rarely even have peak yellow. Sigh... so it goes."

It seems to be changing slow enough. Maybe you’ll be fine…

Beautiful colors in the maple hillsides on most drives up the hill from 61 on Wednesday, but only splashes of color right by the lake. Gunflint was showing some occasional drama, too, especially around Pincushion.

The Gunflint trail was starting to be real golden this weekend. It was a pretty drive out!

Was on Disappointment the 18th - 21st and noticed only minimal change and mostly a blush and occasional maple. Maple coming into Ely were early turn and leaving I did notice more change as I got closer to Superior where the hillsides were ablaze. Birch still mostly green. Second year I have enjoyed the turn and it is awesome.

Weird year.... it's been a mixed bag. Some trees have already dropped most of their leaves, while others are still completely green. That said, the next couple of weeks should be prime time.

Looks like the leaves are still hanging on pretty good around Ely.

Any recent reports of actual BWCA & Gunflint/Arrowhead region? Hopeful of heading that way in a few days.

TuscaroraBorealis: "Looks like the leaves are still hanging on pretty good around Ely.

Any recent reports of actual BWCA & Gunflint/Arrowhead region? Hopeful of heading that way in a few days."

Not quite the same region, but I was up on Eagle Mountain on Friday and drove down the shore from Grand Marais afterwards. Yellows are still very much there and pictures really don't do it justice. I thought we'd missed the colors, but we were pleasantly surprised.

I returned from a Wed-Sat trip around the Ely area and was a little surprised at the amount of green still in the trees. Looked like peak yellow could be any day now.

TuscaroraBorealis: "Looks like the leaves are still hanging on pretty good around Ely.

Any recent reports of actual BWCA & Gunflint/Arrowhead region? Hopeful of heading that way in a few days."

I went in thru Cross Bay on the Gunflint for a week (home last Friday) and lots of vibrant yellow still holding strong. Beautiful and hardly a soul around. It didn't quite snow but it did "spit" with some frozen rain a few times that almost turned into snow. Latest I've been in the bwca and it has me contemplating one more trip next week. :)

ForestDuff: "I returned from a Wed-Sat trip around the Ely area and was a little surprised at the amount of green still in the trees. Looked like peak yellow could be any day now."

Great to hear! Taking a last car camping trip of the year up there this weekend! Hoping to get into some trout.

Colors in Hayward area this weekend were/are spectacular. Morning fog muted the brilliance a bit in the pictures. We were pleasantly surprised by the late season beauty.

The color was spectacular on the tip of the Arrowhead over MEA weekend.

TuscaroraBorealis: "The color was spectacular on the tip of the Arrowhead over MEA weekend."

I drove down to Marshall to a family thing Saturday. It was a beautiful drive. Seems like we got blessed with a longer color season this year. But the leaves are falling fast and old man you know who is knocking at the door…