Best Places to See Fall Colors Near Eau Claire & Chippewa Falls (2026)

There’s a two week window every fall where the Chippewa Valley looks like it’s showing off, and if you blink, you miss it. 🍁

So let’s talk about the best places to see fall colors near Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls. The REAL spots, not just “drive around and look up.” Some are five minutes from town, some are worth a whole day trip, and every single one is worth grabbing a thermos for.

When Is Peak Fall Color Near Eau Claire?

Around here, the color usually hits its peak sometime in the first half of October, but it shifts every year depending on the weather. Northern spots like Cornell and New Auburn tend to turn a little earlier than Eau Claire. My tip? Check the Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report before you head out. It’s updated all season and will tell you exactly how close we are.

Lake Wissota State Park, Chippewa Falls

This is my top pick close to home, hands down. Lake Wissota State Park sits just outside Chippewa Falls and gives you water views and tree lines in the same frame, which is about as good as fall photography gets without a filter. Pack a thermos, walk the shoreline trails, and bring the camera.

And if you’re even a little bit considering a move out this way, driving through the Lake Wissota area in October is basically a cheat code for falling in love with it. 😍

Irvine Park, Right in Chippewa Falls

If you want fall colors without leaving town, Irvine Park delivers. The walking paths wind through mature trees that turn every shade of orange and red, and with the free zoo and playgrounds right there, it’s an easy stop even with little ones who have a very short attention span for “look at the pretty trees, guys.”

Phoenix Park and Carson Park, Eau Claire

On the Eau Claire side, Phoenix Park gives you that same easy walkability with the Chippewa River right there for reflection shots. Carson Park, overlooking Half Moon Lake, is another stroller-friendly option that still delivers real color. Both are the kind of spot you can swing by for twenty minutes on your way somewhere else and still feel like you did something.

Hoffman Hills Observation Tower, Near Menomonie

Want a view from ABOVE the trees? Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area near Menomonie, about half an hour from Eau Claire, has a 60-foot observation tower at the top of the hill. It’s about a mile walk up to get there, so wear real shoes, but once you climb to the top you’re looking out over color in every direction. Totally worth the leg burn. 🙌

Heads up: pets aren’t allowed at Hoffman Hills, so this is one to leave the pup at home for.

Brunet Island State Park, Cornell

A little further north in Cornell, Brunet Island sits where the Chippewa and Fisher Rivers meet, and the water-on-both-sides setup makes for some of the prettiest reflection shots you’ll get all season. It’s a bit of a drive from Eau Claire, but if you’re making a day of it, it’s worth the trip.

Chippewa Moraine Ice Age Trail, New Auburn

For something a little more rugged, the Chippewa Moraine area of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail near New Auburn gives you rolling hills, kettle lakes, and genuinely peaceful hiking with color on every side. It’s less crowded than the parks closer to town, which makes it a great pick if you want quiet over convenience.

The Chippewa River State Trail

If biking or a long walk is more your speed, the Chippewa River State Trail starts in downtown Eau Claire and follows the river all the way to Durand. You get miles of tree cover and water views, and it’s flat and easy, which means you’ll forget you’re exercising because you’re too busy looking around. Start downtown and you can easily turn it into a whole afternoon with a coffee or lunch stop along the way.

Buena Vista Park, Alma (Worth the Drive!)

If you’ve got a free Saturday and want a true “wow” moment, make the drive to Buena Vista Park in Alma. It’s about an hour and fifteen minutes from Eau Claire, and the overlook sits 500 feet above the Mississippi River with views for miles in both directions. Rolling bluffs, river, fall color as far as you can see. It’s genuinely one of those views that stops conversation in the car.

Make a whole day of it and take the Great River Road home. You won’t regret it. 🍂

Just Take the Scenic Route

Honestly, some of my favorite fall color moments haven’t been at a park at all. They’ve been the backroads between Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire, windows down, kids arguing about whether a tree is “more red or more orange.” 😂

If you’ve got a little more time, Menomonie, Osseo, and Fall Creek all make easy day trips loaded with color. (I wrote all about the small towns just outside Eau Claire if you want ideas!) If you’re up for going a bit further, Big Falls County Park east of Eau Claire and the Dells Mill Museum near Augusta are both worth the drive. And if you’ve only got twenty extra minutes, skip the highway and take the long way somewhere this month. The valley earns its name this time of year.

Quick Tip Before You Go: State Park Passes

Lake Wissota, Brunet Island, and Hoffman Hills are all part of the Wisconsin State Park system, so you’ll need a vehicle admission pass. A 12-month pass for Wisconsin plates is $28 and a daily pass is $13, and you can grab one online, at the park, or even when you renew your vehicle registration. Check the Wisconsin DNR for current rates. If you’re planning to visit more than one park this fall, the 12-month pass pays for itself fast!

Fall Is the Best Time to Fall in Love With the Chippewa Valley

Looking for even more ways to soak up the season? My Chippewa Valley fall activities guide has all the pumpkin patches, orchards, October events, and cozy coffee shops. ☕

And if scenery like this is part of why you’re dreaming about a move to the Chippewa Valley, I’d love to show you around in person, not just in a blog post. Fall is honestly one of my favorite times to take buyers out to see neighborhoods and acreage properties, because the land just looks like itself in a way it doesn’t the rest of the year. Start with my guide to moving to Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, or let’s chat! 💕

Now go find yourself a pretty tree. Chat soon, friend! 🍁