Mystery Cave State Park

For a while, I’ve wanted to go to the Mystery Cave State Park and we finally made it happen this summer! Honestly, I’ve been to a lot of Minnesota state parks, both as an adult and a child. Mystery Cave, without a doubt, is definitely one of my favorites now. Located in Southeastern Minnesota, we visited the caves and did the scenic tour (one hour) while we were visiting Austin, Minnesota. We purchased tickets ahead of time, which is recommended, but not required. This made the process really easy as we knew we had a spot and didn’t need to rush. Since we already have a state park pass, we only needed to pay for the tour tickets which were very reasonably priced.

Make sure to look up directions prior to driving here as you won’t have cell reception most likely and there are several sites for the state park. When we arrived, we checked in and spent some time in the visitor center. They had a few animals and quite a bit of history about the caves. By far, my kid’s favorite thing in the visitor’s center was the squeeze machine. Since in some spots of the cave, it’s a tight fit, you can attempt to squeeze through the machine to see what it would be like. Let me tell you, being claustrophobic, there was no way I was going to attempt fitting through this machine or any part of the cave where this was necessary. Yet, my kids did it repeatedly while we were there. Once we checked in for our tour, we received laminated tickets to give to our tour leader which, allowed for fun pictures.

Once it was time for our tour, we met with our guide outside of the visitor center. She collected our tickets and we were on our way! Just a short walk away from the Visitor’s center, there was a beautiful river and bridge that led straight to the Mystery Cave entrance. As a kid, I visited the Soudan Underground Mine. I still remember the ride down to the cave, feeling somewhat scared as we rode down in a small cage-like vessel and spying all the bats right outside the cage as you zoomed down. Much to my pleasant surprise, this cave entrance was nothing like that! We just walked into several sets of doors. The cave entrance was wheelchair and stroller accessible, although it was slippery throughout the tour. There were hand railings to hold onto as you progressed through the cave.

When we were finally inside, all family members were instantly in awe. The walls and ceilings were unlike any place that you have ever been! Each new walkway held unique parts of the cave that were interesting, beautiful, and educational. Throughout our time, the tour guide educated us and answered countless questions about the rocks, the water, and the cave. It held all of my kid’s attention, even the two year old. I did wear her on my front in a toddler carrier as I wasn’t sure what to expect. This was a wise choice as you weren’t allowed to touch the walls, which would have been very tempting for her had she been on her own. Near the end of the tour, we were surprised with a stunning turquoise lake. It was absolutely beautiful and hard not to just sit and observe. Thankfully, there was ample time for pictures and questions.

Both my five and eight year old were enthralled with the entire experience. They easily lasted the full tour and walking was no problem as it was only a 3/4 mile walk. It wasn’t until the very end when my youngest started to get a little restless. Once I took her out of my carrier, she settled back down again. Truly, if you’re looking for a memorable outing for an entire family, this is it! My mom also, came with and couldn’t stop talking about how cool this tour was when we finished. At the end of the tour, we were brought back to the visitor center. In the visitor center, there is also, a gift shop that had fun souvenirs and momentos for the cave. As tradition, we did buy a small ornament to remember this special trip.

Just a few notes to make your visit the most enjoyable:

*Dress warm! The cave is 48 degrees year round.

*Wear close-toed shoes! It just makes the tour a lot easier and more comfortable.

*You can take pictures in the cave.

*No backpacks or large bags are allowed. Also, you can’t have anything on your back during the tour.

*Have everyone go to the bathroom before the tour starts. There are no bathrooms once in the cave.

*Tours are available from Memorial Day until mid-October.

Pricing: Ages 13 and up: $15

Ages 5-12: $10

Under 5: FREE, but they still need a ticket.

Daily State Park Pass: $7 per car or $35 for an annual pass

Pro Tip: Buy a Minnesota state parks passport book for your family! My kids love getting a stamp at each state park we have been to. At 25 stamps and when you complete all passport stamps, you receive a free night of camping at a Minnesota state park. You also, get a personalized plaque when you finish and a pin at 25. They are only $14.95 plus tax.

Overall, Mystery Cave State Park was definitely an amazing experience! It’s one of those spots that fills your heart with amazement and wonder. All family members enjoyed it and learned from the tour. Again, I’d put this state park up near the top of my list as the tour is so fun and entertaining for all ages. If you haven’t visited yet, it’s worth the drive!

Until my next adventure,

Allie