This Scenic Gondola Ride Is One of the Best Ways to See Fall Foliage in the Midwest

To see fall colors from the window of a car is lovely, but when you’re suspended above the treetops, gliding through a sea of crimson and gold in a glass-walled gondola, things just feel different, and a bit more magical. Thankfully, you can experience that fall feeling and more at Lutsen Mountains.

The ski area located in northern Minnesota is known for its fall colors as much as it is for its snow. Each autumn, the resort’s aerial Summit Express Gondola provides 365-degree views of the colors, along with sights of the Sawtooth Mountains and the dramatic coastline of Lake Superior. Occasional sightings of eagles, bears, pine martens, moose, and timber wolves from above add to the fun.

The gondola drops off travelers at the top of Moose Mountainwhere there is an expansive observation deck overlooking the lake, mountains, and rolling colors. From there, there is plenty of on-mountain hiking, and you can grab food and drinks at the Summit Chalet.

New this year is the Signature Gondola Experiencewhich is designed to make an outing at the resort even more seamless. Guests receive priority boarding, a private cabin to themselves, and a few small luxuries—a complimentary drink, house-baked cookies tucked into a goodie bag, and a coupon for a free appetizer at the newly opened Charlie’s Alpine Bistrowhich has a lovely outdoor patio set below the gondola line.

The fall colors tend to arrive at Lutsen between mid-September and early October. The interactive Fall Color Map from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is a great way to determine when the fall colors will peak at Lutsen this year.

A round-trip ride on the Summit Express Gondola is $35 for adults, while the new Signature Gondola Experience starts at $120 for two people and is $250 for five or more guests (each gondola car can hold seven people). The gondola runs daily through October 19, with extended hours during three of the peak fall foliage weekends (Sept. 27–28, Oct. 4–5, Oct. 11–12).

Travelers who want to extend their fall visit to Lutsen will find plenty of on-mountain lodging, including the new Sunset Studios, which are just steps from the gondola and Charlie’s Alpine Bistro. Other Lutsen Mountains activities include hiking, biking, and a kid-approved alpine slide—all with views of the mountains, lake, and fall foliage.