Hike A Hidden Cave And Explore A Ghost Town All At This Underrated Minnesota State Park

One state park near the Iowa border is home to both the longest cave in the Land of 10,000 Lakes and a ghost town that’s open to exploration. Forestville/Mystery Cave in Minnesota is a state park that's a bit off the beaten path, so it doesn’t receive as much attention as some of its more popular counterparts. But folks who love caves will love the park and its karst geology, as well as a couple of stops afterward on one of the best day trips in Minnesota.

Mystery Cave was added to the park in 1987 and is a popular destination in itself.

The Mystery Cave unit of the park is a few miles away from the main Forestville unit, so be sure to plug in directions accordingly.

With more than 13 miles of passages, pools, and fantastic geology, Mystery Cave is Minnesota’s longest.

To explore the cave, you must go with a tour guide. Several tour types are available, focusing on different aspects of cave exploration, like geology, scenery, and photography.

Serious spelunkers can even book a “wild caving” tour to explore underground passages that most others will never see.

When you resurface, head back to the Forestville unit, and cross the Root River bridge into another time.

Forestville was founded in 1853. But by 1868, the railroad had passed it by, and it was on its way to becoming little more than a ghost town.

The Minnesota Historical Society restored Forestville. Today, demonstrations and reenactments educate and delight visitors to the park.

However, don’t forget the rest of the park, with its hiking trails through the driftless area’s bluffs.

Moreover, anglers will love its blue-ribbon trout streams.

After your day of adventuring, head a few minutes east of the park to keep up the cave theme of the day trip.

When you get to the charming small town of Fountain - ​​the "Sink Hole Capital of the U.S.A." - stop in at Karst Brewing for one of its rotating brews. Named for the geology that permeates these bluffs and creates the caves, the brewery is a local favorite and a popular watering hole on the Root River State Trail.

Cap off the day with a classic supper club dinner in atop one of these karst bluffs in Preston, less than five minutes south of Karst Brewing.

​​The Branding Iron has been a regional dining destination for more than half a century. You'll enjoy all the classics you'd expect from a Minnesota supper club - with views of Preston and the Root River valley - and you will not leave hungry.

There aren’t many parks that can claim both a cave and a ghost town, so we in the Bold North must count ourselves lucky. Don't want this day trip to end, just book a night a Preston, and keep it going the next day! Have you had a chance to explore Mystery Cave or visit Forestville? While you’re exploring Minnesota’s driftless area, don’t forget to explore its other geological highlights, like Niagara Cave and its stunning underground waterfall near Harmony. For further inspiration, check out more of our best day trips in Minnesota.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/minnesota/very-best-day-trips-mn/