kerfoot canopy tour tours

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PROJECT DETAILS

CLIENT :  KERFOOT CANOPY TOUR

LOCATION:   Henderson, MN

WEBSITE: www.kerfootcanopytour.com

Minnesota’s #1 outdoor activity, the Kerfoot Canopy Tour features a Challenge Towers built and designed 3-story adventure park showcasing 21 unique challenges up to 50 feet above the ground. This self-guided, pole-based course offers challenge elements suitable for all ages, from lower, less challenging features to higher, ninja-worthy challenges for the truly adventurous.

Our Passion

We draw our passion for the outdoors from our grandmother, legendary Minnesota northwoods pioneer Justine Kerfoot.

Justine fell in love with the Minnesota outdoors, specifically the Gunflint Trail, where she owned the Gunflint Lodge from the 1920’s through the 1960’s.  She learned how to hunt, trap, fish, guide, dog sled, and survive in the wilderness from the Native Americans.

As she began to transform the resort from a seasonal fishing camp to a year-round business, she learned how to build log cabins, install plumbing, market the property, and survive a fire burning down the main lodge building in the middle of the peak summer season. Along the way she went from writing a newsletter to past guests to writing for the local newspaper for 40 years. Her curious mind and resourcefulness often got her into as much trouble as it got her out of trouble. Justine’s stories usually started with a twinkle in her eye and a guilty smile, and ended with the listener laughing at the outcome.

Today, Justine Kerfoot’s legendary love of adventure lives on in many ways, one of which is the outdoor adventures experienced by our guests, allowing them to explore and connect with nature as they fly through the woods and valleys on our zip line tour. After experiencing one of our outdoor adventures, we hope you have a twinkle in your eye and a huge smile!

Our Mission

Easy to get to.

A short getaway from the Minneapolis, MN! You’ll get here in no time but feel worlds away from the Twin Cities.

Address: 30200 Scenic Byway Henderson, MN 56044

Drive Times: From Eden Prairie: 35 minutes From Mankato: 40 minutes From Downtown Minneapolis: 50 minutes

In The News

Thank you to everyone who keeps including us in your articles, stories, pictures, news, events, and dialogues! We have been honored to zipline with so many of you!

Star Tribune – Zipline attractions around Minnesota

Star Tribune – Summer Fun

Kare 11 – Top 5 Minnesota Adventures

Connect Business Magazine – Kerfoot Canopy Tour

Only in Your State

Star Tribune

Power 96 Radio

WCCO Viewer’s Choice for Minnesota’s Best Zip Line

50 Campfires – 11 Unique Ropes Courses and Ariel Adventure Parks

Lake County Journal  – Zip Lines A High Gliding Treetop Adventure

Southwest Metro Magazine – Souring Through Kerfoot Canopy Tours

Mankato Free Press – Kerfoot Canopy Zipping Along

Echo Journal

The Dave Ryan Show – Zip Lining at Kerfoot Canopy

LPTV – Brainerd Zip Line Tour

Family Fun Twin Cities – Fly with the Birds

98.1 Minnesota’s New Country

Pickles Travel Blog

DayTripper28.com

Postbulletin.com – Zip Lining is for the People

Minnesota Roots

We draw our passion for the outdoors from our grandmother, legendary Minnesota Northwoods pioneer, Justine Kerfoot. We want to continue her legacy of connecting others to nature through outdoor adventure.  More about us

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Kerfoot Canopy Tour

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KERFOOT CANOPY TOUR (Henderson) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Kerfoot Canopy Tours

Review Highlights

“ They start you slow and teach you everything you need to know to feel comfortable on the larger zip lines. ” in 8 reviews

“ Our guides (Jeff and Cassie ) were fantastic, and they made us feel both safe and right at home. ” in 3 reviews

“ They made sure we all had a great time while enjoying the beautiful scenery and course, and were also pretty funny and easy to talk to. ” in 3 reviews

Location & Hours

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30200 Scenic Byway

Henderson, MN 56044

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Overall rating

This place is so incredibly fun! Brought my Girl Scout troop here today and did not regret it one bit. My scouts had an opportunity to experience something they never have. Explore, be courageous, and get some exercise. One of our guides, Sarah, was fantastic. She was helpful, friendly, and always had a smile on her face. I can't wait to go back here and try the zip lining. The guides gave everyone a detailed crash course and showed all of us how to use the equipment, helped us put it on, made sure everyone was in the correct size. They have a super cute gift shop as well with some fun gear and souvenirs. They also had a water tank on ground level for drinks. And you can go up and down as you please.

Ropes course from ground level.

This was my first zip lining experience. I'm a little afraid of heights, but decided to give it a shot. Really glad I did. Our two guides were very professional and friendly. They created a very lighthearted atmosphere, and from there on, it was difficult to not have fun. I will definitely visit them again.

Everything was so good, best place ever. If you like zip lining, go here. If you are me and are scared of heights and decide you need to get off, they are super amazing about making sure you're comfortable and get you off. We had a pretty big group and everyone had the best experience

Loved the zip lines. They are top notch. Our guides, David and Kim, were excellent. Would definitely recommend the experience. It was worth the drive (3 hours) and the cost.

First time zip lining and I would go again! I really enjoyed the experience and the guides were very knowledgeable.

Adventure course

Have you ever wanted to climb a whole bunch of stairs and then jump off of platforms trusting only a few cables and a harness to get you to a safe landing? If you answered yes, please go to this place! This was my husbands choice for celebrating our wedding anniversary; although I think he was trying to kill me off, the staff at Kerfoot were professional and made sure all of my lines and harness were secure at each take off to thwart his plans. There were 14 zip lines to throw yourself off of... so don't worry, you get plenty of opportunities to put yourself at death's doorstep. They think they're all smart starting on the little short ones near the ground, and next thing you know you're 6 stories in the air wondering what good your helmet will actually do when the cables snap. Fun fact: they operate in all weather conditions unless there's stupid high winds or lightning...this worked out great for us as we got our first soaking rain here today in a couple of weeks which picked up nicely as we got to the first zip line. All around we had a really great time, I do love this kind of thing and it's awesome that we have this so close to the twin cities. I'm sure it would be absolutely stunning in the fall. They also have go pros you can rent and record your zips! Would definitely do this again! You will never, however, catch me on their ropes course....I will play dead if he tries to surprise me with that next year.

Ropes course in the background

Us in our gear after the final zip back to the ground with the ropes course behind us.

Wasn't super impressed, it rained and pushed our slot back a half hour so when we got up there one of our instructors kept rushing us through the whole thing so they could get the next group up on time. There's better places to go honestly

This was a good one time experience. There's about 10-12 lines, and each line gets better as you go. I would recommend going during the fall to see the beautiful colors. Do anticipate some wait time.

This place says "canopy tours". This is no "tour". They actually make you have to stop yourself with a leather glove on each of their 14 runs. You only get to see one "canopy". Even if there were enjoyable views (there weren't), you are constantly waiting for the guide to tell you when to stop or slow down so you can't look around at all. You have to carry your own very heavy rigging equipment and have to hook yourself up to the wire lines. You are tethered to a high tree on each platform and there are no railings. You can't enjoy anything at all. Also no cameras are allowed unless you bring a helmet cam, which they don't tell you about, so you can't take pictures of your companions. Overall very stressful and not fun or beautiful at all. Would give it a Zero if I could.

My kiddos and I always look for a zip line or aerial adventure when we vacation so we were thrilled to find Kerfoot on our trip to the Minneapolis area this summer. There are two courses. We chose the longer course with 14 lines. As you progress through the course the lines either get longer or faster. There is a good balance between lines of distance and speed. Our guides (Jeff and Cassie) were fantastic, and they made us feel both safe and right at home. We went on a hot (ish - we're from Texas so Minnesota hot isn't a fair comparison) August day, and everything was lush and green. Temps were quite a bit lower deep on the course. I'd recommend insect repellent because the mosquitoes were active the deeper into the woody areas. I know that other reviewers said that it's a great one time activity, but my family would definitely do it again.

21 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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Kerfoot Canopy Tours

30200 Scenic Byway, Henderson , Minnesota 56044 USA

• Independent
• Credit Cards Accepted

Learn more about this business on Yelp .

Kerfoot Canopy Tour invites you to experience a zip line canopy tour experience soaring through trees and over gorges adjacent to the Minnesota River National Scenic Byway. Visit us at www.kerfootcanopytour.com.

Reviewed by Tara G.

This place is so incredibly fun! Brought my Girl Scout troop here today and did not regret it one bit. My scouts had an opportunity to experience something they never have. Explore, be courageous,... Read more

Reviewed by Patrick H.

This was my first zip lining experience. I'm a little afraid of heights, but decided to give it a shot. Really glad I did. Our two guides were very professional and friendly. They created a very... Read more

Reviewed by Jessica B.

Everything was so good, best place ever. If you like zip lining, go here. If you are me and are scared of heights and decide you need to get off, they are super amazing about making sure you're... Read more

View 34 reviews on

• Sun - Sat: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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Twin Cities Business Listing

Welcome to kerfoot canopy tours .

In February–when my husband and I were in Thailand–we wanted to go on a jungle canopy tour. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for us, and even though I was extremely relieved, I thought, Shoot! There goes our chance for ziplining . Little did I know that Minnesota itself offers its own real live canopy tour. Two to be exact– Towering Pines Canopy Tours  at the Gunflint Lodge up by the Boundary Waters and Kerfoot Canopy Tours  in the Minnesota River Valley down Highway 169 near Henderson/Belle Plaine.

Lee Kerfoot, outdoor rec enthusiast and owner of Kerfoot Canopy Tours (and son of the Gunflint Lodge/Towering Pines owners) contacted Family Fun Twin Cities for a press tour, and the three of us jumped at the chance!  Maybe I should be more honest. Our husbands and Anne were excited for the opportunity. Joy was grateful that she was unable to participate due to her pregnancy, and I was scared to death ! We set up our tour, and as we drove closer, I had to take one deep breath after another to calm my thumping heart.

10 miles away from the sight, I got a text from Joy explaining that they had car problems and couldn’t make it.  We were all disappointed with the the day’s turn of events.  But soon, I wasn’t sad anymore….

I was terrified.

Before I go any further, let me explain.  I am deathly afraid of heights, and just thinking about ziplining made my hands and feet sweat. While I knew this was going to be an incredible adventure, I also knew it was going to be one of the hardest things I would ever do.

( Anne here: Gianna’s heart palpitations were in fact making me a little envious! I was excited, but not nervous — a few extra butterflies in my stomach would have been welcome. )

Unless you are afraid of heights. Then, there’s plenty to be afraid of.  Because you are going to be really high up in the air–like 150 feet or so with your feet dangling in the middle of space. ( Anne again: Soaring over the gorge, in my opinion, is the best part. Make sure to keep your eyes open! )

Most importantly, I want you to know that  I still sweat bullets remembering my adventure in the Minnesota River Valley one Sunday in September, but I can’t wait to do it again!

Other features include two super fast rides. One zipline is a quarter of a mile long–that’s where your guides will teach you how to do the cannonball. Before all this craziness starts though, they take you through ground school to help you get the feel of the lines and how to use your handbrakes. And then before you know it, your adventure has started. ( Anne’s bit: Starting out with a few easy rides is the perfect way to settle any nerves — and then the thrills amp up as you go! )

Cameras, phones, keys are not allowed on the tour for safety, but for $20 you can rent a Go Pro Camera and mount it on your helmet.  The guides are really good about making sure you get some still shots taken too in the most picturesque overlooks. Then, they upload everything onto a thumbdrive for you to keep.  Lee likes to say it’s the best $20 you will ever spend.

Tours take place in all weather except for lightening and high winds.  Dress for the weather and make sure to wear your closed toe and heel shoes!

But I know there are adventurous kids out there who would be ready to do this. How perfect would this be to do with your teenager? Whether you just enjoy the thrill together or have a friendly competition of who lands the best at each landing, this would be a great bonding experience for your family. Husbands and wives, uncles and aunts with nieces and nephews, adventuresome grandparents with grandkids. This isn’t something you do everyday!

( Anne’s two cents: The scenery was lovely in September; I can only imagine how gorgeous the course will be once the leaves have turned. Act quick if you want the colors, though — Kerfoot’s busiest season is right around the corner. )

And yet, it’s not that far away. Just an hour south of the Twin Cities. It’s very easy to get to (unless, of course, your van breaks down).

Reservations:  Click Here to book online

Rates: $95-$119

Go Pro Camera Rental $30

Tip for Skyguides:  Anywhere between $5-$20

Original Article written by Gianna Kordatzky, 2014

Kerfoot Adventure Park

Lee Kerfoot, owner of Kerfoot Canopy Tour and Brainerd Zip Line Tours (aka Minnesota Zip Lines &  Adventures ), likes to surprise us with invitations to do the next terrifying thing.  And I always surprise myself by saying yes.

Our first zipline experience was at Kerfoot.  While I had heart palpitations going into the experience, I came out ready to zip again.  My husband and I got another chance, only this time in Thailand.  And our Thailand experience was not pleasant.  I wanted to be back with my Minnesota guides and their kindness and patience.  Even my husband, who does not have a fear of heights, said the same thing.

Kerfoot Canopy Tours has an Adventure Park unlike any.  Once again, FFTC was invited to preview this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and once again, we said yes. Lee invited us for another heart-stopping, death-defying experience. You may think I’m exaggerating–my children would definitely say I am exaggerating–but I would argue that I’m not.

We geared up with our harnesses and helmets and Y tails (bornax). Then, we were given an orientation and practiced our tweezles–a very specific system that locked our Y tails onto the safety cables.

After that we headed up to the Sieve (aka the entrance/exit to the park) and climbed 20 feet to the first level.  There are three levels–20 feet and the beginner’s course, 30 feet for the intermediate, and 40 feet for the advanced adventure-lover.  Plus, there is a Crow’s Nest a few feet above that!

I was terrified, but my children?  No problem.  They were crawling all over it like they didn’t have a care in the world.

Reasons why I love Kerfoot Adventure Park

• Safety • Everyone’s safety is of first priority. Before we were allowed onto the platform, we had to learn how to attach and detach from the cables.  Our harnesses had to be properly adjusted.  At any point if you uncomfortable in your harness for whatever reason, one of the guides would come to you and make necessary adjustments. At one point, my 7 year old needed to have an extra length of the Y Tails added so that he could reach each element.  Instead of quickly adjusting him at the top of the first platform that had a railing, all the guides agreed that it would be a better option for him to be adjusted on the ground. Also there were always three guides.  Two on the equipment and one on the ground.  Aaron and I spoke about the idea of having even more!
• Authority  • I don’t mean the guides bossed us around.  I mean that while they were very comfortable on the elements and platforms, they respected the dangers.  Each guide was very calm and in control.
• Encouraging and Kind  • While they don’t want you to give up, they don’t just tell you what to do.  They make it their business to help you go past what you think your limit is but still have a good time. When Trevor walked me by my hand (quite literally) through the lowest level, he constantly was helping me to breathe, relax and not think about the higher levels.  And when we were all done, he said, “But how do you feel?  Like a winner?  Because you did GREAT!”

Details you need to know about the Adventure Park

• three stories of varying challenges
• 2 hours of (heart-stopping) Fun!

Requirements to play on the park

• be 7 years of age or older
• be accompanied by an adult if they reach 5”0” while standing flat-footed
• can participate alone if they reach 5’5” while standing flat-footed
• weigh less than 275 pounds
• sign a waiver
• wear closed-toe shoes
• not be pregnant

Original Article Written by Gianna, 2019

Ziplining: Thailand Versus Minnesota

Ever wanted to go ziplining through the jungle?  I am here to tell you don’t need to go to Asia or South America just to zipline. Try Ziplining Minnesota, instead. You will get the best experience of canopy tours in Minnesota — in the Minnesota River Valley at Kerfoot Canopy Tours .  Think I’m exaggerating?

My husband and I just returned from our second trip to Thailand where we decided to go ziplining. Not only did it confirm that I hate heights, but it also confirmed that our experience in Minnesota was 100 times more enjoyable. Let me tell you why.

In Chiang Mai, we looked through eight different packages and finally settled on Dragon Flight .

Why?  Because it had the most platforms and a very long zip (It turned out that their claim of a 800 meter zip was false advertising).

Honestly, it was the t-shirt that really sold it for us.

I was excited!  Since I already knew what ziplining was like,  this experience was going to be three times more fun with three times more platforms. Plus, it was flying through the jungle. Minnesota = No Jungle.

The day came for our flight, and after a puke-inducing ride through the mountains (they are inevitable with manual vehicles and winding roads), we were there.

We were harnessed up, given our water bottles and sent up the road in the back of a pick-up.  Then, we hiked up the mountains deeper into the jungle to our starting point.

After all the fliers had arrived, the guides gave us a rundown of what to do.

“You don’t do anything.  We do everything for you.  You?  Nothing.  Us?  Everything.”

So thanks to my training at Kerfoot Canopy Tours , I was able to guide our friends Shyan and Sara through the proper technique.  Little did I know, it was not going to matter.

5 Reasons I prefer Kerfoot

• Kerfoot limits each group to 10 people per tour.  Each group is equipped with two guides and plenty of time to enjoy the experience.
• Dragon Flight only limits the number of participants by how many guides they have to send with the group.  Our group has 33 participates and 6 guides.  While the ratio was approximately the same, it made the experience drag a little.

Lessons to Zippers

• Kerfoot gives you braking equipment and lessons to be in control of your experience.  The guides teach you hand signal responses, and your first zip can be done over and over until you feel comfortable with your form and with braking.

Flying Technique

• At Kerfoot, the guides were in agreement about each flier’s technique.  Hold the trolley with both hands, apply pressure behind the trolley to brake, and keep your feet up.  Knowing exactly what to do was extremely helpful.
• At Dragon Flight, we were not given any hand gear so we could not brake.  We were also not given any lessons how to land.  But that is nothing compared to the guides’ conflicting instructions during the zips.  We were told to hold on to the cables on our harness or to throw our hands out, but to not touch the trolley.  However, after twisting in circles for the first three zips, I was told that if I hold the trolley, I won’t twist.  So I did.  When I arrived on the other side, I was reprimanded for holding the trolley.  So I didn’t hold the trolley for the next one and I spun in a circle again.  For the next zip, I was reassured that I could hold on the trolley.  When I landed, again I was firmly told not to do that.  Round and round this happened.
• Kerfoot has 14 ziplines, some spiral staircases and a 170-foot suspension bridge.  You zip short, you zip high, you zip long, you zip fast and each zip is its own experience. You only have to tackle one obstacle that is not a zip line.  You also zip across a beautiful gorge three times (Maybe four.  No, I think it’s four times).
• Dragon Flight is a completely different canopy tour with multiple bridges to cross:  suspension bridges and logs and a high wire.  It was not fun.  You have to climb up and down different ladders and staircases.  But the worse experiences of all are the abseils. An abseil is supposed to be another word for repelling (like when you climb down a mountain), but that is not how Dragon Flight understood it. An abseil experience with them was being attached to a rope, jumping off a platform and falling until the guide catches you before you break your legs.  We had three of these abseils to do.  The last “adventure”  of the entire experience was a 50-foot drop to the jungle floor.

• Speaking of the guides, they really do make or break your experience.  At Kerfoot, we had the opportunity to get to know four guides.  Two guides got our trip started and part way into the tour, our assigned guides took over.  All four of them had great energy and were confident in their instruction and reassurance.  They didn’t talk down to us, and they made sure we were doing alright/having fun.  They spoke in an even tone and were very reassuring.
• The Dragon Flight guides thought you experience would be better if you were terrified.  They tried to scare us often.  “Watch out for the snakes!”  Or “Oh, NO!” after they pushed you off the platform.  Of the six guides, four of them were okay, one of them was horrible, and one of them I really liked (he introduced himself as Ice and called me Bob).

When our ziplining experience was over in Thailand, I wanted to go home.  I didn’t want to eat anything, and I didn’t really want to talk about it.

Kerfoot, on the other hand, made the 2 hour experience so enjoyable that even though I was terrified the entire time, I wanted to come back and do it again.  Anne and I and our husbands couldn’t stop talking about how much fun we had had. Even Chris, my adventure-loving husband , prefers Kerfoot Canopy Tours over Dragon Flight.

All this to say, visit Asia. It’s beautiful and I love it. And if you are in Asia and you want to zipline, go for it!  But don’t assume you will get the ultimate zipline adventure through the jungles of Asia!  For that, you will find the best experience right here Ziplining Minnesota through the Minnesota River Valley at Kerfoot Canopy Tours!

Original Article Written by Gianna, 2015

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Zipline - Kerfoot Canopy Tour

• United States    
• Minnesota (MN)    
• Henderson    
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• Kerfoot Canopy Tour

Wow! Unbelievable! I loved every minute of it. They were well managed and Extremely safety... read more

The zip line was really fun and each stop or platform made for a nice view of nature! It also made... read more

I had a super fun exciting time for my 66th birthday with my 4 daughters & one of my granddaughters. My daughters gifted me with this adventure at Kerfoot zipline in Henderson,Mn. The guides Shawn & Sky were pros, informative, encouraging and fun. The weather was gorgeous and fall colors we beautiful! Thanks to all who helped make it a great day! Suzie

Fun time. Great guides. Beautiful weather and scenery. Our second time at this and enjoyed it even more than the first.

Such a fun and memorable experience, came here for my boyfriend’s birthday and we both had a great time. Very exciting and active experience. Liam and Emma were such great guides and made sure we were knowledgeable and informed in what we had to do which overall made me feel safe.

We had a great time. Good for beginners to experienced zip liners. Guides were very helpful, funny and patient. Beautiful views - we had wonderful fall colors.

We went with a group of 7 and had Aaron and Shawn as our guides. They were awesome! Super professional, but also really entertaining and personable. I always felt safe getting hooked up and launching, they were really good about checking everything, and really good at keeping an eye on everyone throughout the tour to make sure they weren't doing anything accidentally dangerous. The course itself was a blast. It started off with a couple training lines, but quickly got up high and fast with some breathtaking views and great surprises. Towards the end there were some very fast lines, and they were pretty awesome. I'd definitely recommend Kerfoot for the awesome staff and course.

Outstanding views, fun and experienced guides and 900' zip lines! From start to finish the experience was amazing!

Take A Canopy Tour At Kerfoot Canopy Tour In Minnesota To See The Fall Colors Like Never Before

Betsy Rathburn

Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at [email protected] or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.

More by this Author

As if there weren’t enough things to do in fall in Minnesota… In addition to fall foliage road trips , colorful train rides , and charming cider mills , there’s one fall attraction that you don’t want to miss this. A canopy tour with Minnesota Ziplines & Adventures will help you see the season’s colors like never before. Kerfoot Canopy Tour is the best fall canopy tour in Minnesota and it’s an outdoor adventure you won’t want to miss out on this season.

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What do you think? Do you think this is the best place to see fall colors in Minnesota? Have you taken flight on the best fall canopy tour in Minnesota? If you’re looking for even more treetop fun, check out our article about the stomach-dropping canopy walk you can only take in Minnesota .

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Best fall canopy tour in minnesota.

What other places in Minnesota offer canopy tours or similar adventures?

There's nothing quite like an outdoor adventure in Minnesota. Our state offers year round excitement for all interests and abilities and you can easily cross so many thrilling excursions off your bucket list. If your idea of a fun day spent outdoors involves climbing and zipping through the trees, then Minnesota is the place to be. There are several treetop adventures that include that best fall canopy tour in Minnesota, as well as others. For a list of 8 of the best treetop experiences, check out our previous article here .

What is the best way to experience fall foliage in Minnesota?

The best place to see fall folors in Minnesota is likely not far from your front door. With parks, lakes, and farms scattered across the state, you can have a beautiful day in the fall foliage in a variety of ways. If fall is your favorite season in Minnesota, you may want to plan a trip to see some of the best and most scenic spots. We've done the planning for you; just check out our fall foliage road trip through Minnesota, featured in a previous article here .

What are the best hiking trails to take in the fall in Minnesota?

Fall hiking in Minnesota is another great way to see the vibrant colors of the season. There's nothing better than time spent outside on a crisp, fall day. Of course you can spend an entire day traversing a long, challenging trail, or perhaps you prefer ones that are short and sweet. For a list of 11 of these short and scenic trails, check out our previous article here .

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Kerfoot Canopy Tour Offers A Unique View Of Minnesota's Fall Colors

September 22, 2021 / 10:02 PM CDT / CBS Minnesota

HENDERSON, Minn. (WCCO) -- Soon enough the leaves will start changing across the state. And along the Minnesota River Valley, there's a pretty cool way to see the yellows, reds and oranges.

In this week's Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen takes us to Kerfoot Canopy Tour for a scenic thrill 175 feet in the air.

There's a gravel road in Sibley County that zigs and zags you to the top of a hill. And from there, it's all about zipping your way back down.

"It was crazy. Some of them you look down and you were like, 'aaaaahhhhhhh!'" said Eli Johnson.

"I was pretty nervous the first time. I didn't know what I had gotten myself into," said Eli's mother, Mandy Johnson.

What the Johnson family got themselves into was 14 different zips totaling more than a mile. The first leg of Kerfoot Canopy Tour starts out slow and gradual. But eventually you cross a bridge, and as course manager Aaron Carlson puts it, that's where the money is.

"You go up this 50 foot tower. You go across a few ravines. You end up going about 170 feet in the air," said Carlson. And at speeds up to 40 miles an hour.

"You get up above them and you are looking down on the trees and all of that. Zipping on down the line is a lot of fun," said Jason Johnson.

Kerfoot has been around since 2013. They are one of the few zip lines that offers canopy tours in the winter. In fact, the colder it is, the faster you go.

"There is physics involved. It's a little more intense. You've got the cold. You've got the speed. It's awesome," said Carlson.

But make no mistake, the aerial runway is fast no matter what time of year it is.

"When you come down, you see the ridge and it's up and down. It looks like the back of a dragon with spikes up," said Carlson while pointing at one zip line called the Dragon's Back.

"To enjoy the cool breeze out there when you are up high in the towers. And to be able to see so much of Minnesota from one space. It's great," said Mandy Johnson.

There's no bad view from up top, but that's just a bonus. Visitors might arrive feeling apprehensive and nervous. They leave feeling accomplished and renewed.

"Smiles, relief, joy -- just a little bit of everything. Our biggest thing is, I did this," said Carlson. "It's just mind-blowing. Absolutely mind-blowing."

Kerfoot also has a ropes course with 60 obstacles and two free falls.

The DNR has a  fall color map  that offers day to day updates on when leaves are peaking and where, and you can always see current conditions on  WCCO.com's weather page .

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