It’s October and the fall colors are starting to appear! I researched the best hikes in the Twin Cities area to view the colors. The Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area was listed on one site and immediately became interested for two reasons, 1) it is short drive to get there and 2) we live close and didn’t know this place existed so I had to check it out.
The conservation area includes 115 acres along the Minnesota River and contains dry prairie, oak savanna/woodland and lowland hardwoods. There are a few trail options to take and a couple are paved – seemed like it used to be an old road they keep up. We followed a longer loop that lead to an overlook of the river valley. There were multiple loops off of the main loop you can take to extend the hike.
Quite a few wooden bridges to cross
Hiking up the bluff
As you can see from the pictures, we might have gone a little early. Not many trees had changed at all, but the weather was gorgeous and it was great to get outside for awhile for a quick hike. In a couple weeks if we have time, we might go back and see how different it looks since it’s so close.
Dry prairie opening to the overlook
Minnesota River Valley
The only spot we saw with color change
Taking the Long Way Around 