Mineral Point Historic District
Historic town · Wisconsin
A lead mining town in the Driftless hills where Cornish immigrants built stone cottages by hand in the 1830s and 40s, many of which still stand along the downtown streets. Pendarvis preserves a cluster of the original miners' homes, and Shake Rag Alley runs an arts center out of seven more, both a short walk from the storefronts on High Street.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Color nearby peaks: October 18–October 22
Color builds from October 5 · mostly bare by November 10
Method: daily ERA5 temperatures drive a photoperiod + chilling phenology model, sampled at Mineral Point Historic District’s own coordinates and elevation (346 m) rather than a regional average. Estimates, not promises — check locally before you plan a trip around it.
Mineral Point Historic District on the map
More things to do in Wisconsin
Peninsula State Park
State parkPeak October 15
Door County's flagship park, established 1909, covers 3,776 acres and eight miles of Green Bay shoreline near Fish Creek and Ephraim. Climb Eagle Tower or bike the shoreline trails as sugar maples turn against the water. It's the peninsula's most photographed fall scenery, peaking late Sept into early Oct.
Don’t miss: Eagle Tower observation deck · 8 miles of Green Bay shoreline · peak color late Sept to early Oct
Devil's Lake State Park
State parkPeak October 15
Wisconsin's most-visited state park rings a 360-acre lake with 500-foot quartzite bluffs near Baraboo, its 9,217 acres crossed by 29 miles of trail past formations like Balanced Rock and Devil's Doorway. Oak and maple color the bluff tops in early October above climbers and lake-trail hikers alike.
Don’t miss: 500-ft quartzite bluffs · Balanced Rock and Devil's Doorway · 29 miles of trails
Holy Hill Basilica
ViewpointPeak October 16
A minor basilica built by Discalced Carmelite friars crowns a Kettle Moraine hilltop in Hubertus, where a 178-step observation tower climbs above the church for 360-degree views over turning maple and oak, with Milwaukee's skyline visible some 30 miles off on a clear fall day.
Don’t miss: 178-step observation tower · 360-degree Kettle Moraine views · working Carmelite monastery
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
National parkPeak October 11
Established in 1970, this Lake Superior park protects 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland shoreline near Bayfield, home to the National Park System's largest collection of lighthouses. Fall boat and kayak tours thread sea caves and sandstone cliffs backed by turning birch and maple, usually peaking late September.
Don’t miss: 21 Lake Superior islands · largest NPS lighthouse collection · sea cave boat and kayak tours
Frequently asked
- When does Mineral Point Historic District peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 18–October 22 (best estimate October 20). Color starts around October 5 and is mostly bare by November 10.
- What is Mineral Point Historic District best for?
- A slower fall day trip in the Driftless region, southwest of Madison.
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