The Best List of Caves in Minnesota

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Minnesota is a great place to live, but it’s also home to some of the world’s most stunning natural wonders. When you’re outdoorsy and adventurous, there are few things more thrilling than exploring the state’s caves. It can be hard to know where to start when it comes time for your explorations – that’s why we’ve put together this list of Caves in Minnesota as a starting point!

Minnesota is a popular destination in the US and popularly known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” as the state is home to many lakes, including the majestic Lake Itasca.

The Best List of Caves in Minnesota

There are several beautiful attractions in the state, such as the Duluth and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, apart from the many galleries and museums present in the cities. If all these do not attract you, then we are confident that the caves surely will! The caves of Minnesota are less in numbers compared to some other states, but they are worth exploring. 

The Top Caves to Visit in Minnesota

The majority of the caves in the state are located along the Mississippi River Valley, but there are many caves scattered throughout the state. Exploring the caves is a great way to spend your time in Minnesota.

Here is the list of major caves in the state – 

• Cold Water Spring State Reserve
• Forestville Mystery Cave State ParkNiagara Cave, Harmony
• Spring Valley Caverns
• Tyson Spring Cave
• Wabasha Street Caves
• Crystal Cave
• Carver’s Cave
• Schieks Cave
• Robinson’s Ice Cave
• Minnehaha Park
• The Salt Cave
• Whispering Caves

There are some of the best caves in the state, but it would still do you a world of good if they can be classified appropriately so that you can visit the caves of your choice. So, to make the job easier for us, let’s break this down a bit into certain categories.

Best Caves in Minnesota

We have classified the best caves in the state as per popularity, choice and interest of local and international tourists.

Mystery Caves in Minnesota

The mystery caves are a perfect location for family-friendly day trips and to beat the heat outside. 

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

If you are inclined towards history, you will love visiting the Mystery Cave, which was discovered way back in 1937. Located 40 miles from Rochester, the park has lots of plants, wildlife, campgrounds, and horseback trails. It also has a 13-mile-long cave which is also the longest cave in Minnesota.

The camp looks like a complete package with a pool, stalactites, ancient fossils, and stalagmites. The cave is visited by local and international tourists and is an excellent place to bring your family for a picnic. What makes this place more appealing are the enchanting geographical features formed above and below the cave. 

Ice Caves in Minnesota

What are ice caves?

Ice caves are a type of cave with ice formations in them. The most famous examples in the world are those found near Lake Baikal, Siberia which is thought to be about 25 million years old and contain many amazing features!

These caves are formed when the water from an ice-covered lake enters into a cave and freezes there. The temperature inside is maintained at 0 degrees Celsius and visitors can walk on walls of pure ice!

Ice Caves are a great attraction in Minnesota, and although you can visit most of these caves any time of the year, the winters are great fun as ice caves are formed. 

Minnehaha Falls Ice Cave

The best time to come to Minnehaha Falls Park is early, and late winter as the waters of the Falls freezes to form an ice cave. However, you will miss the beautiful sound of the flowing water, and the great ambiance all around that is prevalent during the summer months. The trail into the ice cave remains closed due to safety concerns, but the pool below the Minnehaha Falls also freezes at the peak of winter. 

Robinson’s Ice Caves

The winter season comes with freezing temperatures and natural things like ice form some excellent natural features. The winter season in Minnesota sees many tourists who come here to enjoy nature at its best. Events like Ice Festival are held here mainly due to the renowned Robinson’s Ice Caves. Enjoy the experience as you explore the hiking trails and the unique formations of ice. 

Salt Caves in Minnesota

What will you do when you feel stressed out in Minnesota? Instead of stretching out on the couch, we will advise on an exciting way of relaxing. 

The Salt Cave Minneapolis

It is the most popular salt cave in Minneapolis, where you have a chance to enjoy the benefits of salt in multiple ways. The classic salt therapy will give you a relaxing session that you will never forget. If you prefer to be more active, you also opt for a yoga class in the cave. 

The Whispering Cave

It is an entirely different kind of salt cave that will transport you to a different world. The dim lighting and the salt-lined walls will put away all your worries and anxieties. Most of the sessions run for 45 min. 

Haunted Caved in Minnesota

We all love ghost stories, although we would always prefer not to meet one. Here, we take a deep look into a few of the spookiest caves in Minnesota. 

Wabasha Street Caves, St Paul

The Wabasha Street Caves are famous for many reasons. First, they are a unique cave site in St Paul as it was carved out of sandstone more than 160 years ago. Today you can have your wedding at these caves or can arrange swing dance nights. But all these good things will slowly end as the place is haunted. There are ghosts of three gangsters of the 1920s who were murdered and buried on the cave floors.

People who visit these caves feel a random chill as soon as they enter the caves, indicating that there are ghosts around! There are reports that Wabasha Street Caves will be closing down permanently at a later date. 

As you can tell, the state of Minnesota has a lot of caves to explore. Make certain to always be safe and prepared before entering any cave so you can make your cave experience a good one!

Other articles you may find helpful or interesting:

• Ultimate Guide to Carver’s Cave, Minnesota (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
• Caving Lamps: Essential Gear for Safe and Successful Underground Exploration
• Ultimate Guide to Samuels’ Cave, Wisconsin (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
• Ultimate Guide to The Lava Tube, California (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
• Ultimate Guide to Ice Cave at Bixby State Preserve, Iowa (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)