Fall Colors Attract Thousands to Two Harbors, Gooseberry Falls

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The fall colors are bringing thousands of visitors to the North Shore.

This past weekend was packed with tourists driving to Two Harbors and Gooseberry Falls to see the sights.

Janelle Jones, president and CEO of the Two Harbors Area Chamber of Commerce said traffic has been a bit of a challenge, but don’t let that discourage you from making the trip.

“Come enjoy our trails. Our hiking trails, our biking trails are great. If you want to just go for a nice ride with the family. Going inland right now, the leaves are at about 75 percent,” said Jones.

Locals are encouraged to use alternative routes to help with traffic flow.

If you drive further to Gooseberry Falls, you will experience subtle fall colors among the aspen, birch and white cedar trees.

It’s recommended that you visit during the week to avoid crowds.

“So when you come here you’re going to actually see the bright yellows and some oranges, and then some pines are going to be the backdrop against this bright gray rock,” said Carolyn Rock, a naturalist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “This year the waterfalls are running spectacular. We are at level that you might not normally see in September, October. The waterfalls are going quite well.”

This season, Gooseberry Falls has seen up to 5,000 people on a Saturday.