How to be a trail blazer

This fall, enjoy forest color while helping out on your favorite hikes.

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Have you ever wondered who keeps your favorite hiking trails open?

It's not Mother Nature. She's the one downing trees, washing out bridges and making brush grow over the path.

By helping maintain and build trail, you can do good, make friends, see the fall colors and get a free or cheap weekend. Many companies even pay their employees to volunteer for a day or two. It's win-win for everyone.

Workers don't need special skills and are welcome year-round, but here are some of the chances to help out this fall.

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Best bets for the weekend

Have fun with kayaking, cranes, covered bridges and quilt shows.

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Autumn seems to have hit its groove, with glorious weather and fall colors peaking late, to give everyone a chance to enjoy them.

In Minneapolis, check out a kayak from the new Mississippi River Paddle Share and take in the scenery from water. At a marsh in northwest Wisconsin, go to the Crex Meadows Fall Wildlife Festival and see sandhill cranes take flight.

Covered bridges are a good excuse for a fall drive, and we round them up for a scenic road trip. Wisconsin's last original bridge is in Cedarburg, which is a stop on the Covered Bridge Art Studio Tour. In central Iowa, see famous bridges during the Madison County Covered Bridge Festival.

In the southeast corner of Iowa, 11 villages offer quilt shows and scarecrow contests during the Scenic Drive Festival in Van Buren County.

There are Oktoberfests in Lake Geneva, St. Paul, New Ulm and Cedarburg, which includes a sauerkraut-eating contest.

That's not the only place where you can eat yourself silly and win prizes. There's pasty-eating in Marquette and onion-eating in Grant, Mich., near Muskegon. In Chicago, the fastest pizza-eater wins $1,000.

The walking dead will be staggering around Duluth, Des Moines and Spooner, Wis., on zombie walks and runs. The truly dead will be heard from on spooky cemetery walks in Northfield, Winona, Janesville and Madison, where actors will portray Civil War-era historical figures.

In Princeton, Ill., see what happened the last time our country was hopelessly divided at Shadows of the Blue and Gray, which features Civil War battle reenactments. Then take a break from the gore at nearby Starved Rock State Park, which is lovely to visit in fall.

Next weekend

In cities, enjoy spectacular architecture, art and music.

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Open House Chicago. The Chicago Architecture Foundation sponsors this free, behind-the-scenes peek at more than 200 mansions, clubs, churches, hotels, theaters and other distinctive buildings. Oct. 15-16.

St. Paul Art Crawl. Stop by the studios of more than 400 artists downtown and in the Raymond-University area. On Saturday, there's also a St. Paul Classical Music Crawl, with 20 groups playing 90 mini-concerts in Lowertown. Oct. 14-16.

Oktoberfest in Milwaukee. There's music, food, dachshund racing and stein-hoisting and brat-eating competitions in Veteran's Park. Oct. 13-16.

Apple Festival in Charlevoix, Mich. In this Lake Michigan town, there's a pumpkin-carving contest, children's activities and an arts and crafts show. Oct. 14-16.

For more events, see our Events Calendar.

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