Early Winter Near Little Falls, MN: 6 Things to Do This Season
Most people picture central Minnesota in July, with boats on the lakes and the cabin crowd heading north on Friday afternoon. We like the stretch between mid-November and New Year's just as much. The leaves are down, the crowds are gone, the first ice starts to creep out from shore, and the small towns around Little Falls put up their lights. Here are six things we'd point a friend toward over the next several weeks if they were spending time near our parcels in Cushing, Randall and Lincoln in Morrison County.
1. Finish Out Deer Season in the Big Woods
Firearms deer season wraps up this month, but hunting doesn't stop there. According to the Minnesota DNR's season dates, the 2026 calendar looks like this:
Firearm Season A: Nov. 7–15 in 200- and 300-series permit areas, and Nov. 7–22 in 100-series areas
Firearm Season B: Nov. 21–29 in 300-series areas
Muzzleloader: Nov. 28 through Dec. 13, statewide
Archery: open through Dec. 31, statewide
Late season is a different hunt. Deer settle into tighter routines around food and cover, the woods are quieter, and a fresh snow shows you exactly where they're moving. Check your permit area and the DNR regulations before you head out, since rules differ from area to area.
If you've thought about having your own spot to hunt from, parcels like our Lakefront Land On Private Lake (South) near Randall sit in exactly this kind of mixed woods-and-water country.
2. Walk (or Ski) Charles A. Lindbergh State Park
Just south of Little Falls, Charles A. Lindbergh State Park covers about 569 acres along the Mississippi River. The land was once the family farm of Congressman Charles A. Lindbergh and his son, the aviator Charles Lindbergh. The family gave the farm to the state in 1931, and it became a park in the congressman's honor.
In the 1930s, Works Progress Administration crews built the park's rustic stone-and-log buildings, including a picnic shelter and a stone water tower that still look much as they did when they went up. Trails follow Pike Creek through the woods toward the river.
In winter, hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are allowed, but the DNR notes that the trails aren't groomed or packed. That makes it a good place for a slow walk on a cold, bright morning rather than a fast ski. You'll need a state park vehicle permit. The restored Lindbergh house and museum inside the park are run by the Minnesota Historical Society on their own schedule, so check their hours before planning around them.
3. Spend a December Afternoon in Little Falls
Little Falls grew up along the Mississippi, and it does the holidays well. A few ideas:
Little Falls Christmas Tours. In past years, local historic sites have opened for holiday tours in the days after Thanksgiving. In 2025, the Morrison County Historical Society listed the tours from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2. Watch Visit Little Falls for this year's dates and locations.
Minnesota Fishing Museum and Hall of Fame. This downtown museum is filled with donated vintage fishing gear and Minnesota fishing history. It's a good warm-up before ice season. Call ahead for current hours.
Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum. The new museum building near Camp Ripley opened to the public in September 2026. Check its visitor page for winter hours before you drive out.
Before you head home, walk down to the river. The Mississippi runs right through town, and the dam and the mill buildings along the water look sharp with a little snow on them.
4. Watch for First Ice, and Be Patient About It
Morrison County has plenty of lakes, from small private lakes to bigger ones like Lake Alexander. The DNR LakeFinder lists Lake Alexander at about 2,709 acres. Early ice gets anglers excited, but it's also the most dangerous time of the year to be on a lake.
The DNR's ice thickness guidelines are for new, clear ice only:
Under 4 inches: stay off
4 inches: ice fishing or other activities on foot
5 to 7 inches: snowmobile or small ATV
7 to 8 inches: side-by-side ATV
9 to 10 inches: small car or SUV
White ice, the kind that forms when snow melts and refreezes on top, is only about half as strong as clear ice, so the DNR says to double those numbers. The DNR also doesn't measure ice on Minnesota lakes, so checking it with a spud bar or auger is on you. Ice can be thick in one spot and dangerously thin a few yards away, especially near inlets, springs and pressure ridges.
Our Land Next to 2,700 Acre Lake near Lincoln is one of the parcels in this part of the county that puts you close to big water, for open-water fishing in summer and hardwater fishing once the ice is truly ready.
5. Get Ready for Snowmobile Season
If you ride, Dec. 1 is the date to circle. The DNR says Minnesota's Grant-in-Aid snowmobile trails, more than 21,000 miles maintained by local club volunteers, are open from Dec. 1 through March 31 when snow conditions allow. Early season means thin snow cover and ice that may not be ready, so take it easy on trails that cross wetlands or lakes.
Close to home, the Camp Ripley/Veterans State Trail has an eastern segment near Genola that runs 3.7 miles and connects to the Soo Line South motorized trail. The trail's 1.4-mile paved western segment links Lindbergh State Park with Mill Park in Little Falls. In winter, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and snowmobiling are all allowed on the trail, though it isn't groomed or packed.
6. Spend a Quiet Weekend on Your Own Land
Some of our favorite early-winter days don't involve going anywhere. With the leaves down, you can finally see the shape of a piece of land: the low spots, the ridges, the deer trails, and where the sun hits in the afternoon. A light snow turns the whole property into a record of who's been through, from deer and turkeys to fox and rabbits.
It's also a smart time to walk a parcel you're thinking about buying. What you see in November is what the land really is, without summer leaves hiding the view. Parcels like our Vacant Land For Camping & Building V near Cushing are easy to picture as a base camp once you can see through the trees.
Making This Part of Minnesota Your Own
The country around Little Falls, Cushing, Randall and Lincoln is a working mix of woods, marsh, farmland and lakes, and it doesn't shut down when the weather turns. Deer season runs into December, the state park stays open all winter, the towns light up for the holidays, and once the ice and snow come in, the lakes and trails fill back up.
Owning a small piece of land here gives you a place to come back to in every one of those seasons: a deer stand in November, a spot for a fish house trailer in January, a campsite in June. And because many of our Morrison County parcels are listed under $20,000, it's a realistic goal for a lot of families.
You can browse all of our current parcels to see what's available in Morrison County and beyond. If you have questions about any property, reach out. We're always happy to talk land.
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