This Ride Through An Old Mine In Minnesota Will Take You Back In Time

While there are plenty of unique tours you can take in MN, none are as fascinating as the underground tour at Lake Vermillion – Soudan Underground Mine State Park. Not only can you take a ride through the mine, but you can also tour their state-of-the-art underground physics lab!

One of Minnesota's most fascinating places, this mine on the Vermilion Range is the oldest and deepest in the state.

Above ground you can explore the top of the mine...

And peer into history with the museum exhibits.

Check out the aboveground areas, and then head below for a wide variety of tour options. Most run an hour and a half and they start at $12 for adults, and $7 for kids.

Take a cart ride down the tunnels over 20 stories underground.

It is only 3/4 of a mile but it is absolutely exhilarating!

You'll find yourself headed down towards the mine's lowest level, the 27th, at 2,341 feet below ground.

You'll see all sorts of pieces from when the mine was operating as you cart down the tunnel.

You can walk through some of the mineshaft for a very unusual experience.

The underground views are incredible - the vastness of the space will definitely shock you.

Another fascinating part of the mine is that it's estimated to be the home to between 8,000 and 12,000 bats.

The University of Minnesota also runs an underground lab on its premises.

Enjoy a behind the scenes look at this state of the art lab...

And even learn about their research projects on a special tour.

Once you're done, hop up and check out some of the other park views thanks to the elevated crusher house and trestle.

You can catch sweeping vistas of the neighboring towns that you will never forget.

Want more underground adventures? Take a tour of Niagara Cave in Southern MN – complete with an underground waterfall and wedding chapel, or any of these 4 other caves!

Jo Magliocco

Minnesota staff writer for Only in Your State and owner of Minnesota blog NorthGuide.co, I'm a Minneapolis transplant who loves my cats, camera, and local coffee. On the weekends I'm usually exploring the North Shore or making my way through the list of Minnesota's State Parks. Want to talk about MN or ask me a question? Tweet me @sotafiedjo!