The North and South shores of Lake Superior get a lot of love when the leaves start to turn. But don’t sleep on Minnesota’s only national park.

Voyageurs National Park is another great spot a few hours’ drive from Duluth.

Voyageurs Conservancy Education Specialist Jesse Gates said the leaves are starting to change.

“I would say the peak, where the colors are really popping, my guess would be in the next week or two because they’re starting to come alive right now, but it needs a little bit more time,” Gates said.

He suggests leaf peeping from the trails or the water.

“The way the trees are situated here, the trees that will give you those really vibrant colors are scattered all throughout the park,” Gates said. “You can go on any one of our four large lakes, whether it’s on a boat or on a canoe. You can rent one or bring your own. But if you’re not a water person, you can go on any one of our hiking trails and when the colors are peaking, you’re guaranteed to get a good spot of fall color viewing anywhere.”

He also loves to stargaze at Voyageurs, specifically in the fall.

“In fact, Voyageurs is recognized as what we call an International Dark Sky Park. It means we’re recognized for our dark skies. We take special precautions to ensure that we remain dark,” he said. “And if you love fall colors, the colors aren’t the only crazy colors you can see up here. If you’re lucky, you can see the crazy colors of the Northern Lights. In fact, I’ve seen them a handful of times just this year alone.”

If you want to make a trip, Gates suggests first deciding where you want to stay: camping or in a hotel. Then consider bringing a boat or renting one to get on the water.