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| Hiking | 6.00 Miles |
400 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.00 Miles | 4 Hrs | | 1.50 mph |
| 400 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This was expected to be a terrific autumn day with temps reaching the upper 70's and a bright sun, just what I was hoping for to take a batch of fall color photos.
My travels took me first to Osceola, WI. where, in the past, I have found great views and a good assortment of trees for colors. The high bluffs along the St. Croix River separating Minnesota and Wisconsin offer some spectacular views of the river and forested bluffs.
There is a well established trail leading up the bluff close to downtown Osceola. The trail offers several spots where you can stop and take in the scenery and take photos. The trees cooperated by presenting their best colors as I visited several of the stopping places, looking for the best one.
I wandered around the top of the bluff giving the sun a little more time to burn off the morning chill. Once satisfied with the bluff, I made my way back down to the main street and then down the long stairway to the falls. Since this was an exceptionally dry summer, I was surprised and duly impressed at the amount of water spilling over the falls.
The foot bridge below the falls includes viewing areas complete with seats and worked out nicely for setting up my tripod. There were a few others at the base of the falls with their cameras enjoying the color and an unusually warm October day. Once they had left, I took my camera and tripod and went behind the falls to shoot through the falling water at the foot bridge. I got my feet a bit wet, but there's enough of an overhang that I had ample room to move around without getting into the spray.
Back on Main Street, I found Chief Osceola, observing the traffic passing through the town that bears his name. Across the street is the century old Mill Pond that controlled the water flow to the old turbine that generated power for a saw mill. The City Park alongside the Mill Pond was overflowing with color.
I left Osceola and traveled South to Marine-on-Saint Croix, another historic river town that once grew popular because of the untapped logging opportunities along the wild St. Croix. A large lumber mill once sat along the river, but all that remains today is a footpath through the areas where buildings once stood and signs showing historic photographs of what once was a busy and thriving operation.
Another flowing stream was controlled to turn large water wheels that, in turn, made the large saws oscillate up and down as they sawed the large White Pine trees into planks for ships. I followed the stream up the hillside to another mill pond and waterfall. Still visible below the falls is the water raceway that channeled the water to the water wheels a mile downstream.
It was an enjoyable morning through a couple of historic St. Croix River Towns. Lots of nostalgia still exists although little remains of the once mighty forests that provided a seemingly endless supply of logs for the mills.
It was very fortunate that I was able to get out on Tuesday as Thursday, the weather crapped out. The high temp for the day was only in the high 40's, a wind blowing from 15 to 30 mph and snow on the ground in Fargo. Needless to say, the colorful leaves that only a day before, decorated the trees are now scattered along the ground. So ends another autumn in Minnesota. Soon the car will be packed, our Minnesota home shuttered against the oncoming winter cold and snow and we will be on our way to Arizona once again.  |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Substantial
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| On every trip into the Superstitions, I find another Gold Mine. Today the mine was filled with Memories. I can not wait for the next trip. |
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Route Editor
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