Why We Love Fall in Walker

Why We Love Fall in Walker

September 16, 2019

The end of summer is a bittersweet time of year. There’s that feeling you get while sitting around a campfire in late August, watching the sunset on the last night of your family vacation. You feel grateful to have created so many wonderful memories together, but melancholy that the time together must come to an end. It’s easy to wish that summer could last forever, but we know that eventually, the kids have to go back to school, work will get busy again, and the days will grow shorter and colder.

But the wonderful thing about life “up north” is that we get to enjoy everything that all four seasons have to offer throughout the year. We enjoy the peace and quiet of a winter snowfall. Soon, that snow melts away, buds appear on the trees, flowers begin to bloom, and the birds begin to sing. As the days become longer, it’s time for leaping off the dock and plunging into the lake, roasting s’mores around a crackling fire, and spending hours of solitude out on the water.

Which brings us to the wonderful season of fall! It’s certainly a special time in northern Minnesota. We love and enjoy all the classic fall traditions like sipping apple cider, carving a jack-o-lantern, and of course, walking among the trees as their leaves change to all shades of red, yellow, and orange. And for all of these things, there’s no better place to be than Leech Lake.

One reason we love fall in Walker is that there are hundreds of miles of wooded trails that provide a perfect opportunity for a hike, stroll, or bike through the trees. The rugged beauty of the Heartland trail is an ideal way to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds that nature offers around this time of year, as you hear the satisfying crunch of leaves beneath your feet and birds calling over your head as they fly south.

(Helpful tip for those who may not live in the Leech Lake area but love to make a trip to enjoy the fall colors: the Minnesota DNR provides a handy tool to track when the leaves change color around the state. You can even sign up for email updates! Check out the Fall Colors Finder here.)

Of course, fall isn’t just about enjoying nature, it’s about enjoying each other’s company, as well! Festivals, celebrations, and gatherings abound, from Fall Has it All and Ethnic Days to Oktoberfest feasts. A quick peek at the Leech Lake events calendar makes it obvious that there is PLENTY of merriment to enjoy in the months of September and October!

We enjoyed a wonderful summer here in Walker, and it’s always a little disappointing when we realize that a great season has come to an end. But it’s also a reminder why we love living in Walker, living near Leech Lake, and living in Minnesota: at the end of every season, we there’s another one right around the corner.