Itasca State Park: The Autumn Harvest Festival Sept. 24 includes lantern-lit hikes at this oldest state park. Leaf-peep during the day; the 30-minute hikes on trails lined with kerosene lamps are scheduled between 6:30 and 8:10 p.m. Itasca is near Park Rapids (1-218-699-7251).
Maplewood State Park: Named after the trees that paint its hillsides each autumn, this park gives a flamboyant show. Leaf Days, Sept. 24-25 and Oct. 1-2, offers geocaching classes and wagon rides. Maplewood is east of Pelican Rapids (1-218-863-8383).
Tettagouche State Park: Motor along the Moose Walk/Moose Run ATV trail and stop occasionally while a naturalist explains the changes cold weather brings to Tettagouche, on the North Shore near Silver Bay. Come with an ATV and a bag lunch for the Autumn ATV Ride on Oct. 1. Reservation required (1-218-226-6365).
Whitewater State Park: Walk or ride a wagon down a 1.6-mile trail lined with trees ablaze in color to a restored 1850s stone house during the Pioneer Home Open House on Oct. 8. Whitewater is in southeastern Minnesota, near Elba (1-507-932-3007).
Lake Carlos State Park: Fall Founders Day on Oct. 8 will explore 9,000 years of human history, including ancient hunters and Works Progress laborers, at this park near Alexandria (1-320-852-7200).
State Park vehicle permits are required for entry at each park and cost $5 a day or $25 for an annual pass.
