To all those BWCA veterans out there..... I'm planning a trip in mid-late September to see the Fall Colors. I've been in the BWCA numerous times in the Spring and Summer, but never the Fall. Does anyone have any opinions/recommendations as to where the best Fall foliage happens?

try this

I'd be looking at areas that contain a lot of hardwood trees and less of the pines, fir and spruce. I'd check with the forest service as they should have some sort of data on what type of trees are where and in large numbers.

Generally speaking.....

The West (Ely) side offers a much wider variety of colors.


While the East (Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail) side offers more in the way of topography (hills & overlooks) but is mostly birch & aspen.

I took these photos on Sandpit and Range Lakes starting at Mudro. A great area for fall colors.

Fall colors are just one of the advantages of the later season trip. The timing can be critical so if you are flexible watch the weather and then color forecasts and take your best shot. The last couple years late September and even early October have been better.

Along the eastern Border

I'd agree with other posters that you probably won't see peak color until late Sept and that you'll see more variety of color west than east, but there's good color in both. No one has mentioned the "golden tamaracks" yet, which are very nice. Another thing is that the color can be somewhat fleeting if a storm comers through and blows most of the leaves down. If you have an extra day (or two), plan on driving some of the FS backroads for a fall color tour. It's also worth hiking some of the trails along the North Shore.

Arrowhead Trail

Tomahawk Road

golden tamaracks on Horseshoe

Lots of color beyond the leaves.
A couple years ago the drive into Ely from the west (169) was spectacular. We actually enjoyed the stops for road repair to really enjoy the heavy stands of maple. Return was south on Hwy 1 to 61 and we were again rewarded with some great views.
Shorter days so less travel time, but great evenings with fewer bugs to sit around the fire and enjoy the night skies. Best time of the year to go in my opinion.

quote egknuti: "




I took these photos on Sandpit and Range Lakes starting at Mudro. A great area for fall colors.

"

Awesome pictures

best week is first week of october, i've always thought that the woods near devils cascade are some of the best for fall colors, there are some big hardwoods in this area that you won't see in the rest of the bwca.

Several years back wifey and me put in at Isabella Lake, went down Isabella River to Quadga, Bald Eagle and out thru Gabbro. Colors were spectacular along the river(lot's of wildlife), especially around Gabbro. Fishing was "ho-hum" until we hit the lower end of Gabbro, then it was really good for Walleyes and Crappie(!!).

LIS, up the Echo Trail, is beautiful, lot's of Birch. Actually, the Echo Trail drive is worth a morning of driving, picnicing, and takin' pics.

First week of Oct. best colors....also, Moose in rut, bulls aggressive.

drive in daylight and look out the window from forest lake to Virginia at that time of the year. the maples taper off after Virginia. then its evergreens, birch, and aspen it seems with a few sporadic bushes thrown in there. we go the last week in sept to the first weekend in October. the drive is tough to beat as far as fall colors go. haven't seen much for colorful maples inside the BWCA.

If it seems odd that the colors are so late in the BW it is because the lakes keep the air a little warmer that time of year. Hence, the comment about enjoying the colors on the drive up and back. We were there in early Oct. last year and the colors were far better than on any of our Sept. trips.

The last few years we have had very warm Septembers,thus pushing back the colors a little bit.

quote TuscaroraBorealis: "

While the East (Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail) side offers more in the way of topography (hills & overlooks) but is mostly birch & aspen.

"

Whereabouts was this photo taken? This is definitely a part of the wilderness that I want to see! I love the trees, the water, the falls...but to be able to climb high enough to see the landscape like this...

Fall mornings and a cup of hot coffee along the lake shore.

Drglock, photo was taken about 1 1/2 miles west of Stairway Portage - along the BRT.

Rose Lake overlooks

quote TuscaroraBorealis: "Drglock, photo was taken about 1 1/2 miles west of Stairway Portage - along the BRT."

Thank you! Beautiful photo.

I will hopefully get to visit this area of the wilderness on a future trip. I am quickly realizing that there are too many places to see. I wish I had started when I was younger.

Thanks for all the great info and especially the beautiful pictures. It looks like I'm going to have to push the trip a week or two later (last week Sept) to see the best colors.

Fall foliage map and forecast

We had a little rain and today the ash leaves are really turning color,it is beginning.

quote PINETREE: "We had a little rain and today the ash leaves are really turning color,it is beginning."

Excellent! I'll be there in less than 30 hours...can't wait!

I am a little farther south like Mille lacs,but the Ely-Gunflint should be getting a tint of color.
We need Mocha to give us a photo update from end of the trail.

quote TuscaroraBorealis: "Drglock, photo was taken about 1 1/2 miles west of Stairway Portage - along the BRT.

Rose Lake overlooks "

The border route is hard to beat in the fall.

quote PINETREE: "I am a little farther south like Mille lacs,but the Ely-Gunflint should be getting a tint of color.
We need Mocha to give us a photo update from end of the trail."

I second this motion...!

I wouldn't call myself a veteran, but last year I went in the Brule Lake area October 1-5. We had very pleasant weather, saw no people the whole trip, but most of the leaves had dropped. I'm going this year September 24th for 5 days. I'll probably be early this year. I don't have the luxury of a flexible schedule, so I just have to guess.

quote tuscarorasurvivor: "I wouldn't call myself a veteran, but last year I went in the Brule Lake area October 1-5. We had very pleasant weather, saw no people the whole trip, but most of the leaves had dropped. I'm going this year September 24th for 5 days. I'll probably be early this year. I don't have the luxury of a flexible schedule, so I just have to guess."

Actually we are getting a cold snap like right now,I think it will speed things up a little. I think you will hit it perfect.

I can see just around home farther south they are turning daily.

Just came in off of the end of the Gunflint. A few colors so far, but not very many. There is a smell of fall in the air though. Some birch leaves have fallen. Very low fire danger.

Tomster

quote egknuti: "




I took these photos on Sandpit and Range Lakes starting at Mudro. A great area for fall colors.

"

Nothing beats a calm fall day with the color of leaves reflecting off the water.

I've always heard that the color is extraordinary in Lutsen going up the Caribou Trail but never took that drive. If you catch it right, Grand Marais and the surrounding area can have great color.

quote tobiedog: "I've always heard that the color is extraordinary in Lutsen going up the Caribou Trail but never took that drive. If you catch it right, Grand Marais and the surrounding area can have great color.


"

Awesome color,just get over the hill along the north shore.

Just went from Sawbill to Phoebe. Beth Lake looked the best, the other lakes just started turning. Some of the portages had colored leaves falling on the trail, very pretty.

As of today 9/23 at Crescent Lake which is just south of the BWCA off the sawbill, colors are changing rapidly and leaves are falling quickly. The progression in the last 4 days is marked. Maples have changed and birch/poplar are a brilliant yellow. Frankly I will be surprised if the colors last much into October. If you are going, go soon.

In the Crescent Lake campground a couple days ago












The Temperance River off the Sawbill today

Late fall solo trip. Can't wait to go back!

If you want to see great colors look up one of the Hayward fall color tour routes. You drive (mostly through the Chequamegon National Forest).

I realize you want to go canoeing though. As others have said a lot of birch, not the "pop" you see with hardwoods.

My one piece of advice is you have less daylight in fall. We tend to not do as portage heavy trips in fall bc of this. More camp time in fall.

TuscaroraBorealis: "Generally speaking.....

The West (Ely) side offers a much wider variety of colors.


While the East (Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail) side offers more in the way of topography (hills & overlooks) but is mostly birch & aspen.

"

Do you mind sharing the time of year and location of the second photo?

Hungry Jack outfitters just posted a current version of that picture. Rose, Rat, and South lakes I believe on the far east side? If you want to email the user, click the envelope below their name in the posts.