Fall Camping in the Mississippi Bluffs: Why September and October Are the Best Months

There's a particular morning in late September when you step out of your tent and the whole valley has gone amber and gold. The river is still, the air smells like woodsmoke and damp leaves, and there's not a boat buzzer or a neighbor's generator in earshot. That morning is worth planning a trip around.

The Colors Are Genuinely Spectacular

The Mississippi River bluffs in southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin are among the best fall foliage destinations in the upper Midwest — and most people outside the region don't know it. The combination of sugar maples, oaks, and aspens on steep south-facing slopes creates a layered tapestry of red, orange, and yellow that peaks roughly between the last week of September and mid-October. The overlook at Garvin Heights and the trails at Great River Bluffs State Park are particularly stunning during peak color, and the river reflections on calm mornings add an extra dimension that photographs don't fully capture.

Cooler Temps Mean Better Hiking

Hiking in August on the bluffs is beautiful but sweaty. By September, daytime highs settle into the 60s and 70s, and the absence of mosquitoes makes every trail more enjoyable. The air is drier, wildflowers have given way to seedheads and late-blooming goldenrod, and the lower sun angle means the light is golden all day long rather than just at sunrise and sunset.

Campfires Are Better in the Fall

We won't pretend campfires aren't great in summer too, but there's something about a fall fire that hits differently. The temperatures drop enough in the evenings that the fire isn't optional — it's essential. The wood burns cleaner and hotter in dryer fall air. And there's nothing quite like sitting around a crackling fire with the smell of leaves in the air while the stars come out over the bluffs.

Fewer Crowds, Same Great Site

Labor Day marks a significant drop in campground traffic across the country, but the weather in our corner of Minnesota stays genuinely excellent well into October. Our sites are the same; the amenities are the same; the views are better. You'll get site choices that would have been booked solid in July, and the quieter campground atmosphere is a real change of pace if you've only visited us in peak season.

What to Pack for Fall Camping

Fall camping requires a bit more preparation than summer. Key additions to your kit:

• A sleeping bag rated for 20–30°F lower than summer (or a liner for your existing bag)
• Layers — mornings can be in the 40s even when afternoons hit 70°F
• Rain gear; fall fronts can bring extended drizzle
• Extra firewood or a saw — dry hardwood is easy to find, but having a supply stacked at your site makes evenings much easier
• A headlamp with fresh batteries; the sun sets earlier and earlier through October

Our Season Ends in October

We close Camp Everyday at the end of October, so fall camping here has a natural end date. That also means there's a gentle urgency to it — the last weekends of the season have a bittersweet quality that summer doesn't, and guests who come back year after year often tell us their October visits are among their favorites.

If you've been thinking about a fall trip, don't wait too long to book. The best fall weekends go faster than you'd expect.