Early Autumn Color in Superior National Forest

A small branch of maple leaves shows the first vivid signs of autumn deep within Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. Early-season reds stand out against the darker greens and shadows of the surrounding pine-hardwood understory, a characteristic mix of the region’s boreal and temperate forest types. The shallow depth of field highlights the delicate transition of the season—one of the defining visual markers of fall in the Northwoods.

Photo taken in September 2021.