Canadian Wildfire Smoke

24 photos · 2021–2025

24 photographs tagged Canadian Wildfire Smoke, 2021–2025.

Downtown Minneapolis skyline from South 7th Street during wildfire smoke. — Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, during wildfire smoke conditions on July 11, 2021. The skyline is visible from South 7th Street as smoke from Canadian wildfires reduced air quality across the city.

Downtown Minneapolis skyline obscured by wildfire smoke from Canadian fires. — Downtown Minneapolis is obscured by wildfire smoke from Canadian fires. The haze softens the city skyline and reduces visibility across the North Loop area.

Interstate 35W in Minneapolis under smoke from Canadian wildfires, with downtown in the background. — Interstate 35W in Minneapolis carries traffic past downtown during smoke from Canadian wildfires. The freeway runs through the central city and connects north–south traffic through Minneapolis.

The Electric Fetus record store in Minneapolis, with the downtown skyline in the background. — The Electric Fetus record store in Minneapolis is a longtime independent music retailer in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. The store sits near downtown Minneapolis.

Stone Arch Bridge and Gold Medal Flour sign in Mill Ruins Park, Minneapolis. — Mill Ruins Park in Minneapolis preserves the remains of the Washburn “A” and Pillsbury “A” flour mills along the Mississippi River. The Stone Arch Bridge, completed in 1883 as a railroad crossing, now carries pedestrians and cyclists. The Gold Medal Flour sign marks the former milling district on the riverfront.

Cyclists ride the Midtown Greenway bike trail in Minneapolis under haze from Canadian wildfire smoke. — The Midtown Greenway is a 5.5-mile bike and pedestrian corridor built along a former Milwaukee Road rail trench that cuts through south Minneapolis. Completed in phases through the early 2000s, it connects the Chain of Lakes to the Mississippi River and sees heavy year-round commuter and recreational traffic. In late July 2021, Canadian wildfire smoke drifted into the Twin Cities, pushing regional air quality into unhealthy ranges for several days. The trail's below-grade route runs past the Midtown Greenway Coalition's maintained corridor and remains one of the busiest bike commuter routes in the state.

George Floyd Square and bad air quality — Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, known as George Floyd Square, is seen under a hazy sky caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires. This area became a focal point for protests and activism following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. The "Free State of George Floyd" sign and barricades signify the community's assertion of autonomy and a memorial to Floyd.

Cup Foods and George Floyd Memorial July 2021 — George Floyd Square in Minneapolis is seen under a haze of smoke from Canadian wildfires, which caused record-breaking air quality issues in Minnesota.

Lake Street in Minneapolis shrouded in haze from Canadian wildfire smoke, with traffic and pedestrians visible. — Lake Street runs about seven miles through Minneapolis, from the Mississippi River east to France Avenue in St. Louis Park, and carries Metro Transit's Route 21 bus line. Smoke drifting south from Canadian wildfires blankets the street in haze on May 18, 2023.

Man and bicyclist on a biking trail with wildfire smoke — The Midtown Greenway in South Minneapolis, a 5.7-mile paved urban trail, was developed on a former railroad corridor. It serves as a vital artery for cyclists and pedestrians, connecting diverse neighborhoods and providing a safe, car-free environment for recreation and commuting. On this day, wildfire smoke from Canada created a hazy atmosphere, impacting air quality and visibility for those using the trail for biking and jogging.

Light rail train and hazy wildfire skies in Minneapolis — A Metro Transit Light Rail train bound for the Mall of America travels through Minneapolis under a sky choked with smoke from Canadian wildfires.

Bikers crossing bridge during air quality alerts in Minneapolis — Cyclists ride across the Martin Olav Sabo Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, under a sky obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires.

Night photo of river and city skyline with a haze in Minneapolis — The Minneapolis skyline is veiled by smoke from Canadian wildfires, impacting regional air quality. The Mississippi River flows past the historic Stone Arch Bridge, a former railway bridge completed in 1883, now a pedestrian walkway. Adjacent to the bridge is the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, a 20th-century engineering project that regulates the river's flow and supports navigation, a function critical to Minneapolis since its establishment.

Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis surrounded by residential neighborhood and tree canopy, with hazy sky from Canadian wildfire smoke in June 2023. — Lake of the Isles in June 2023, smoke drifting south from Canadian wildfires pushed air quality across the Twin Cities to hazardous levels for several days.

Hidden Beach at Cedar Lake in Minneapolis under heavy wildfire smoke. — Hidden Beach at Cedar Lake in Minneapolis is a public swimming beach on the lake’s north shore. On June 14, 2023, wildfire smoke from Canada reduced visibility across the area.

Wildfire smoke full moon hazy IDS Center — The IDS Center, Minneapolis's first skyscraper completed in 1973, is partially obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires. The building, designed by architect Philip Johnson, was a significant development in the city's downtown core and remains a prominent feature of its skyline. The hazy conditions, caused by smoke drifting south, significantly altered the appearance of the city and the sun, casting a reddish hue across the sky and reducing visibility.

Lake of the Isles with wildfire smoke aerial — Canadian wildfire smoke blankets Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, obscuring the urban landscape. The lake and its surrounding parkland are part of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, a system of lakes and parkways designed by landscape architect H.W.S. Cleveland and engineer William Berry in the late 19th century. These lakes, including Bde Maka Ska, Harriet, Nokomis, and Cedar, were developed to provide naturalistic recreational spaces within the growing city. Today, the Chain of Lakes remains a vital public amenity, offering residents and visitors opportunities for walking, biking, boating, and enjoying nature, even when impacted by environmental events like wildfire smoke.

Minneapolis and Bde Maka Ska and wildfire smoke — Minneapolis's downtown skyline is obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires, viewed from the vicinity of Bde Maka Ska. The lake, one of the city's Chain of Lakes, is a popular destination for recreation and is bordered by parkland and residential areas. The presence of wildfire smoke highlights the increasing impact of climate change on air quality across North America.

Capella Tower in Minneapolis is obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires. — Capella Tower in downtown Minneapolis is obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires. The haze hangs over the city along the Midtown Greenway corridor.

Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis with downtown obscured by Canadian wildfire smoke. — Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis is lined with businesses and traffic as smoke from Canadian wildfires hazes the downtown skyline. The corridor runs south from downtown through several commercial blocks. Smoke reduced visibility across the central city on June 3, 2025.

Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis with downtown skyline obscured by wildfire smoke haze. — Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis is bordered by dense tree cover, with the downtown skyline visible through wildfire smoke haze. The haze reduced visibility across the lake and softened the outlines of the city towers.

Lake Street Station in Minneapolis with downtown obscured by wildfire smoke. — Lake Street Station in Minneapolis is part of Metro Transit's Southwest light rail line. Canadian wildfire smoke hangs over the city, reducing the visibility of the downtown skyline beyond the station.

Aerial view of Minneapolis residential and commercial buildings with Mississippi River visible through haze from Canadian — Canadian wildfire smoke covered Minneapolis, Minnesota in July 2025, obscuring the urban landscape.

Soccer players compete at Elliot Park in downtown Minneapolis beneath a purple sky colored by Canadian wildfire smoke. — A soccer game takes place at Elliot Park in Downtown Minneapolis under a sky colored by Canadian wildfire smoke. Elliot Park, established in 1883, is one of Minneapolis's oldest parks.

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