Explore one of Southeast Minnesota’s caves for family fun, education, history and adventure. The United States has many popular caves, but Minnesota offers more interesting ones. The majority of Minnesota! s caves occur in the southeastern part of the State – mostly in Fillmore and Olmsted counties.
In Southeast Minnesota, most caves have been naturally carved out of limestone. Preston is located near two caves that your can tour.
Niagara Cave is located south of Harmony, Minnesota and is a family owned and operated cave, which has been rated among the best in the nation. On their 1-hour guided tour, you will hike one mile underground, discover fossils about 450 million years old, view an underground waterfall, and visit a subterranean wedding chapel. While you are there, you can also enjoy 18-holes of mini golf, pan for gemstones and fossils, shop in their gift shop, and enjoy a picnic on their grounds.
Mystery Cave is located in the Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park west of Preston and is one of the largest cave complexes in North America with more than 13 miles of passageways. On the tour, you will travel the subterranean paths this water has taken, seeing many of the features that make up Mystery Cave including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, fossils, and beautiful underground pools. Parks naturalists lead your tour through various portions of the cave and explain its history, its features, and how it was formed.
