Cascade River State Park
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Given the COVID restrictions, I wanted to find a temperate location with adequate social distancing that would not be heavily over crowded. As I was anxious to see the Aurora Borealis in my lifetime, I thought I would attempt to see it in Minnesota. March and September are the best months, but I would find timing it right is the challenge.
We drove from Chicago on Wednesday morning. Once you pass Madison, the beauty of the northwoods is apparent. This is especially so in fall, as the trees were already changing colors. After passing through Duluth, the remaining drive along Shoreline Drive next to Lake Superior was a joy. We had a beautiful sunny day, and were captivated by the opal color of the lake. We reached the state park at 5 p.m. Fortunately, we had our reservation printed, but had to get a parking pass online. Given the late arrival, we setup camp in the dark, and had a nice "traditional" meal of walleye and lentils. However, the evening temperatures were lower than we anticipated, dropping into the lower 30's.
The next day, we hiked to the falls on the Cascade River and then ascended to Lookout Mountain. The view across the valley was stunning. The multitude of colors across the forest canopy was spectacular, and the view extended across the horizon to Lake Superior. We returned to camp later in the afternoon, but with time to sit by the fire and enjoy a light snack and beverages. With the temperature dropping into the upper 20's at night, we stayed by the campfire well into the night. The next day, we awoke and returned back to Chicago.