Guide to Minnesota Caves: Fossil Hunting, Spelunking and Gem Mining
Minnesota offers some excellent caves and fossil hunting for the geology fanatic! There are several places for cave exploring and tours in Minnesota. Here are the best gem mines, fossil hunting, and cave tours in Minnesota.
Lilydale Brickyards:
Holy brachiopods, Batman! Located in Lilydale, MN (near St. Paul), the Lilydale Brickyards offer some of the finest fossil hunting in Minnesota. The Lilydale Brickyards have one limitation: You will need to get a $10 permit from the city to dig. This is a popular place for school field trips - kids love looking for fossils. If you're not going to dig, you can enter the park for free, just to walk around and explore. There are caves here, most of which are sealed off via bars. No spelunking here, unless you want to get arrested. If you will be digging for fossils, bring along a container (an ice cream pail will work) to store your crinoids!
Check StPaul.gov for more information
Forestville/Mystery Cave
Located in Southeastern Minnesota, Forestville/Mystery cave is found in Preston, MN. This cave offers 3 types of tours, including 4-hour, real caving adventure, where you put on caving gear and spelunk! Forestville/Mystery Cave also offers non-caving activities such as horseback riding, trout fishing, and camping. Out of all the caves, this cave is my favorite - and it's beautiful in the fall. If you go, make sure to check out the Echo Chamber!
Website: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/forestville_mystery_cave/index.html
Niagara Cave:
Located in Harmony, Minnesota, Niagara Cave offers hour-long tours, a 60-foot tall waterfall, gem mining, a great gift shop, and even a wedding chapel! If you and your fiancé are really into spelunking, you can get married in a cave! Niagara Cave is a limestone cave and has many interesting formations, underground streams, and high ceilings. Niagara Cave is open April - October, but check their website for specific hours.http://www.niagaracave.com/default.asp
Lilydale Brickyards:
Holy brachiopods, Batman! Located in Lilydale, MN (near St. Paul), the Lilydale Brickyards offer some of the finest fossil hunting in Minnesota. The Lilydale Brickyards have one limitation: You will need to get a $10 permit from the city to dig. This is a popular place for school field trips - kids love looking for fossils. If you're not going to dig, you can enter the park for free, just to walk around and explore. There are caves here, most of which are sealed off via bars. No spelunking here, unless you want to get arrested. If you will be digging for fossils, bring along a container (an ice cream pail will work) to store your crinoids!
Check StPaul.gov for more information
Forestville/Mystery Cave
Located in Southeastern Minnesota, Forestville/Mystery cave is found in Preston, MN. This cave offers 3 types of tours, including 4-hour, real caving adventure, where you put on caving gear and spelunk! Forestville/Mystery Cave also offers non-caving activities such as horseback riding, trout fishing, and camping. Out of all the caves, this cave is my favorite - and it's beautiful in the fall. If you go, make sure to check out the Echo Chamber!
Website: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/forestville_mystery_cave/index.html
Niagara Cave:
Located in Harmony, Minnesota, Niagara Cave offers hour-long tours, a 60-foot tall waterfall, gem mining, a great gift shop, and even a wedding chapel! If you and your fiancé are really into spelunking, you can get married in a cave! Niagara Cave is a limestone cave and has many interesting formations, underground streams, and high ceilings. Niagara Cave is open April - October, but check their website for specific hours.http://www.niagaracave.com/default.asp
Comments
Never heard of any caves in Minnesota - learned something new again today on AC!
Sounds wonderful!
These tours sound like so much fun.
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