Head to Minnesota state parks and recreation areas for long MEA weekend

Each October, Minnesota children get a school break during the Minnesota Educator Academy. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages families to spend time outdoors during the MEA weekend, which is Oct. 15-18 this year.

For families looking for fun ideas for MEA weekend, Minnesota state parks and recreation areas have a wide range of terrific outdoor activities, from day trips to multi-night stays.

With fewer bugs, cooler temperatures and gorgeous fall leaves, here are a few ways to discover family fun at Minnesota state parks.

Plan a fall camping trip

Families will find campsites across Minnesota for Oct. 15-18. More than 25 state parks and state recreation areas currently have more than 20 drive-in campsites still open to book. Fall offers perfect camping conditions, where people can savor the crisp night air around a campfire (don’t forget the s’mores!) before curling up in a warm sleeping bag.

Many state park campgrounds close for the season after MEA weekend, so it might be the last chance to sneak in an overnight visit to a favorite park in 2026. Check availability and book campsites on the DNR's reservations webpage.

Crunch some leaves on a hike

According to the DNR’s Fall Color Finder, central Minnesota typically sees its last burst of 75% to 100% color during MEA weekend. Peak colors then start to move into the Twin Cities metro and southern Minnesota.

A hike is a great way for families to engage with nature and burn off energy. A few fall color routes to consider over MEA weekend:

Hiking Club Trail, Lake Carlos State Park – This 2.8-mile loop combines the Hidden Lake and Red Oak trails. It’s perfect to admire lake views and the colors of sugar maples and oaks.
Tom Trail, Sibley State Park – This 3.3-mile loop travels through forest and prairie and climbs to the scenic outlook at Mt. Tom, one of the highest points in Kandiyohi County.
Big Woods Loop, Lake Maria State Park – On this 5.5-mile loop, experience old-growth forest made up of oak, maple and basswood trees, plus hills, ponds and marshes.
Hiking Club Trail, Sakatah Lake State Park – Enjoy rolling hills through a forest of foliage on this 2.2-mile loop. Add another 0.75 miles for another loop of even more brilliant leaves.
Chimney Rock Trail, Whitewater State Park – While this hike is only a 0.7-mile loop, it’s a workout with more than 100 stairs and 200 feet of elevation. At the top of the bluff, hikers can take in the panoramic view of the Whitewater River Valley.

Become a Junior Ranger

Pick up a free Junior Ranger booklet at a ranger station and set off to explore Minnesota state parks and recreation areas. With two booklet options aimed at different ages, kids can complete activities to learn about mysterious and misunderstood wildlife, or animal and plant superpowers.

Then, bring the completed booklet to a ranger station to collect a special Junior Ranger patch. Learn more at the DNR’s Junior Ranger webpage.

Attend a naturalist event or tour

State park naturalists offer a variety of events for all ages to learn about Minnesota’s amazing natural world. Check out 56 naturalist events across the state during MEA weekend. Visitors can:

Find the full events calendar on the DNR website.

MEA weekend is also the last chance to catch the following naturalist-led tours before the end of the 2026 season:

Prairie and bison tours, Blue Mounds State Park – Travel into the bison range to experience the sights and sounds of prairie and learn about the important relationship between the land and its resident bison herd.
Mystery Cave tours, Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park – Enter Minnesota’s longest cave system and discover flowstone, fossils, underground pools and more.
Soudan Mine tours, Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine State Park – Travel 2,341 feet underground to explore the oldest and deepest iron mine in Minnesota.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.