Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine

Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine SP https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00285#homepage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vermilion-Soudan_Underground_Mine_State_Park The Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park is located at the site of the Soudan Underground Mine, on the south shore of Lake Vermilion, in the Vermilion Range (Minnesota). The mine is known as Minnesota's oldest, deepest, and richest iron mine, and now hosts the Soudan Underground Laboratory.

LAKE VERMILION SOUDAN UNDERGROUND MINE STATE PARK ABOUT THE PARK In 2014, the state legislature combined two neighboring parks to create Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park. This new park offers both the beauty of the Lake Vermilion shoreline and the one-of-a-kind experience of touring the Soudan Underground Mine. At 40,557 acres, Lake Vermilion is the fifth largest lake located entirely within the borders of Minnesota. The nearby mine is a National Historic Landmark that highlights a mining history reaching back over 4,000 years. The park offers 31 electric sites, 3 group camp sites, a rental house, 8 camper cabins and a day-use area. P.O. BOX 335 1379 STUNTZ BAY RD. SOUDAN, MN 55782 218–300–7000 LAKEVERMILION-SOUDAN.STATEPARK@STATE.MN.US VISITOR TIPS • Respect trail closures. • Gates to the Soudan Underground Mine close at 6 p.m. • Watch for construction closures within the park as we build new recreational opportunities near Lake Vermilion. • Help keep our lakes pristine. Check your watercraft for aquatic invasives before and after launching. • Please respect safety fencing near open pits. • The park has two main entrances. Soudan Underground Mine is located at the 1302 McKinley Park Dr. entrance. • In an emergency call 911. SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE PARK... • Take a self-guided audio surface tour of the mining operations. Check out MP3 players from the park visitor center at no charge. • Hike the Hiking Club Trail to the banded iron formation, a unique geological feature. • Walk the West Tower Mine Trail to a boardwalk overlooking the deepest mine pit. • Park at Armstrong Bay and hike to Onamani Overlook. • Bike sections of the Mesabi Trail. 8 a.m.–10 p.m. daily. Soudan Underground Mine open 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. VEHICLE PERMITS Required for all except main Soudan Underground Mine and Stuntz Bay parking lots; purchase at visitor center or entrance kiosk. PETS WELCOME Explore a historic mine. FIREWOOD A daily firewood permit, which includes firewood provided by the park, must be purchased for anyone having a campfire; no gathering of firewood is allowed in state parks.. TAKE A TOUR OF THE MINE Historic Mine Tour • Experience the life of the miner as you travel by cage a half-mile underground. • Ride the rails three-fourths of a mile to the former working area of the mine. • Gain insight into the working conditions of the miners and their remarkable mining methods. • Learn firsthand why this mine was called the Cadillac of Mines. TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS Hiking Club Trail 2.4-mile loop Hilly • Rocky • Roadway View the famous banded iron formation and the Alaska shaft. Pass mine pits and go through an old-growth forest. Part of the trail involves walking up the entrance road which has car traffic, so use caution. West Tower Mine Trail 0.2-mile loop Wooden boardwalk • Rocky Take a short hike through the woods and by several open pits left from early mining. Follow the boardwalk past the deepest pit on the property. Finally, experience nature conducting its own reclamation project on an old pit. • Discover what happens to ore once it reaches the surface. • Learn about jobs on the surface that made mining possible. • Explore the equipment used in mining. Tour Tips TAKE A TOUR • Call the park for exact times. • Tours are ADA accessible. • Dress for 51-degree temperatures underground. • Wear sturdy shoes for uneven terrain. CURIOUS ABOUT SPECIAL TOURS AT STATE PARKS? VISIT MNDNR.GOV/STATE_PARKS/TOURS MORE INFORMATION Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Information Center 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 888-646-6367 or mndnr.gov/parks The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MORE TO EXPLORE AT THE PARK LOOKING FOR MORE TO EXPLORE DURING YOUR STAY? VISIT MNDNR.GOV/VERMILIONSOUDAN PARK OPEN Keep on 6-foot leash; pick up after; attend at all times; only service animals allowed in buildings. Surface Tour ONLY HAVE AN HOUR? A FULL SET OF STATE PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS IS AVAILABLE AT THE PARK OFFICE OR MNDNR.GOV. • Attend a naturalist program. • Borrow a GPS unit and search for a geocache. • Checkout a birding kit from the park visitor center. This information may be available in alternative format upon request. • Explore a park hiking trail. • Cast a line from the fishing pier. • Launch or land at the boat access. 

CAMPGROUND AND CAMPER CABINS © 2021, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources