Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

This guide is for families planning a cave tour, trout anglers, horseback riders and campers. It covers how the cave tours work, the campground and camper cabins, trails, what is open in each season, fees and directions, including the separate road to the cave. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR unless noted; sources are at the end.

The park in brief

The park is named for the former town of Forestville. The DNR says the town was founded in 1853 and declined after the railroad bypassed it in 1868; by 1890 one man, Thomas Meighen, owned the whole town and employed all its residents. Forestville State Park was established in 1949 but did not acquire land until 1963. In 1987 Mystery Cave was added and the park took its current name.

The park sits in Minnesota's karst region, where water dissolves limestone to form caves, sinkholes and underground drainage. The DNR notes that in dry years the entire South Branch Root River sinks into the cave through crevices in the riverbed. Three spring-fed streams meet in the park, and the DNR rates them "among the best trout waters in Minnesota."

Mystery Cave tours

The DNR tours page and park page describe Mystery Cave as more than 13 miles of underground passages, while the park page's geology narrative says over twelve miles. It was discovered in 1937 and holds stalactites, stalagmites, fossils and clear pools, per the tours page. It stays 48°F year-round, so bring a jacket and sturdy shoes. Tours start at the Morrissey Visitor Center by the cave entrance, which sells tickets and has exhibits, a nature store and restrooms. There are no restrooms underground.

Current status: as of November 2026, the DNR alert (updated November 9, 2026) says the cave is closed for the season beginning October 19, 2026 and will reopen in May 2027; the tours page gives the date as May 8, 2027. Prices and schedules below are from the 2026 season, and 2027 details may change. In 2026, scenic tours ran from May 9 through the MEA weekend, October 17 and 18, according to the DNR Mystery Cave tours page.

How booking works, per the tours page:

• Reservations are recommended, online or at 866-857-2757, up to 2 p.m. on the day of the tour.
• Each scenic tour takes 20 tickets at most. Unsold tickets are sold at the cave first come, first served, and in 2026 the 12:20 and 3:20 p.m. scenic tours were walk-in only.
• There are no refunds for missed tours or late arrivals. The DNR asks visitors to arrive at least 30 minutes early.
• Everyone walks across mats that clean spores from footwear, because the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats has been confirmed in the park.

Finding the cave

The cave entrance is not at the main park entrance, and the DNR warns that phone GPS directions to Mystery Cave are often wrong. From State Highway 16, go 6 miles south on County Road 5, turn right on 180th Street for 3/4 mile, turn right on Old Cave Road and go 1/2 mile north to the Mystery Cave Entrance Road on the left.

Historic Forestville

Historic Forestville is run by the Minnesota Historical Society inside the park. Its MNHS visitor page lists admission as free, with a state park vehicle permit required for parking. MNHS describes a self-guided visit to the townsite, with the general store and homestead, and the sites of the former grist mill, distillery, cemetery and schools. The DNR park map says MNHS history tours run May through October; check MNHS for current hours, which its site did not list when this guide was checked.

Camping and camper cabins

The cabins are named Mink, Pine and Owl (each sleeps six) and Lily and Trout (accessible, each sleeps five). The DNR says self-registration is not available for cabins, so arrange key pickup with the ranger station before you arrive.

Seasons in 2026: electric sites were open April 10 to October 18, and rustic non-electric sites stay open through November 30. As of November 2026, the campground shower building and flush toilets are closed, water is off in the campground and the dump station is closed. Water stays on year-round at the ranger station, picnic shelter and cabin area, and the ranger station and picnic shelter have flush toilets all year.

Reservations: the DNR recommends booking ahead for weekend arrivals in spring, summer and fall for electric sites, horse electric sites and group sites. ReserveMN opens dates 120 days ahead at 8 a.m. Central, per the DNR reservation FAQ; the Minnesota state park reservations guide explains how it works.

Trails, trout and horses

The DNR lists 20 miles of hiking trail, 17 miles of seasonal horse trail and 5 miles of snowmobile trail that connect to more than 100 miles of grant-in-aid trails. Trails are surfaced with crushed limestone, and some cross streams.

Flooding notice: the DNR alert (November 9, 2026) says all trails are open after heavy fall rain, but the water crossing on the South Branch Root River near the main campground is closed.

Horses: horse trails are open May 1 through October 31, shod horses are strongly recommended, and riders over age 16 need a Horse Pass ($21 a year or $5 a day, per the DNR fee schedule).

Trout: several parking lots serve anglers, and the park map says special trout regulations apply within the park. The DNR's 2026 fishing regulations name Forestville's Forestville Creek, Canfield Creek and South Branch Root River: harvest April 11 to September 14, 2026, then catch and release only from September 15, 2026 to April 9, 2027. Anglers 18 to 64 need a license and trout and salmon stamp validation. Free fishing kits can be checked out at the ranger station.

Winter at Forestville

Hiking is available year-round. The DNR says skiing, snowshoeing and hiking are allowed anywhere in the park but nothing is groomed for them, and snowshoers should stay off groomed snowmobile trails. Snowshoes can be rented at the ranger station. Snowmobile trails open December 1 through March 31 when there is enough snow. The enclosed picnic shelter becomes a warming house, several lots are plowed for winter trout anglers, and the camper cabins stay open.

Fees and permits

From the DNR vehicle permit page and fee schedule, before tax:

For multi-night stays, ask the park which permit covers your whole stay.

Example calculation (day trip, 2026 prices): scenic tour tickets for two adults and two children ages 5 to 12 ($15 + $15 + $10 + $10) come to $50 before tax, plus a $7 one-day vehicle permit, or $57. Check 2027 tour prices before you budget.

Getting there

The DNR's directions to the main entrance: 4 miles south of State Highway 16 on Fillmore County Road 5, then 2 miles east on Fillmore County Road 118. The nearest town is Wykoff. See the Bluff Country guides, the Beaver Creek Valley State Park guide and the Lake Louise State Park guide for nearby parks, or the park finder.

Before you go

1. Check the DNR alert; the cave is closed until May 2027 (tours resume May 8, 2027, per the tours page).
2. Reserve cave tickets ahead and arrive 30 minutes early; there are no refunds.
3. Follow the DNR's road directions to the cave, not your phone.
4. Bring a jacket for the 48°F cave, and do not wear gear that has been in other caves.
5. Download maps first; there is no cell service in the park.
6. For a cabin, call ahead to arrange the key.

Related guides: Bluff Country parks · Beaver Creek Valley State Park · Lake Louise State Park · Great River Bluffs State Park

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Sources

• Minnesota DNR, Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park (camping, trails, seasonal update, alerts, directions): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00148
• Minnesota DNR, Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park map and guide (PDF, 2024): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00148.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, Forestville/Mystery Cave campground map (PDF): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00148_camp.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, Mystery Cave tours: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/tours/mystery-cave.html
• Minnesota Historical Society, Historic Forestville hours and admission: https://www.mnhs.org/forestville/visit/hours
• Minnesota Historical Society, Historic Forestville: https://www.mnhs.org/forestville
• Minnesota DNR, Reservation FAQ: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reserve-faq/index.html
• Minnesota DNR, State park fees: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fees.html
• Minnesota DNR, Vehicle permits: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html
• Minnesota DNR, 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations (stream trout seasons in southeast state parks): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/fishing/fishing_regs.pdf