Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park

This guide is for families planning a mine tour, campers comparing the campground, cabins and island options, and boaters headed for Lake Vermilion. It covers the tour, overnight options, trails, what is open in each season and what everything costs. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR park page, the DNR's mine tour page and the 2026 park map unless noted.

The park in brief

The DNR says Minnesota's first iron ore mine opened here when Captain Elisha Morcom and his miners arrived in 1884, and the first ore shipment left for Two Harbors on July 31, 1884. (The tour page says the mine operated from 1882 to 1962.) Underground mining began in the 1890s, and the mine came to be called the "Cadillac" of underground mines. High costs closed it in 1962. U.S. Steel donated the mine and 1,200 acres to the state in 1963, and tours began in 1965.

In 2010 the state bought 2,848 more acres from U.S. Steel, including about five miles of Lake Vermilion shoreline. In May 2014 the two neighboring parks, Soudan Underground Mine and Lake Vermilion, were merged. The DNR record lists 4,048 acres. The park map calls the mine a National Historic Landmark and says Lake Vermilion, at 40,557 acres, is the fifth largest lake entirely within Minnesota.

The Soudan Underground Mine tour

The tour drops visitors 2,341 feet down the shaft in a cage on the mine's hoisting equipment, a ride the DNR says takes three minutes in a "dimly lit, closed, confined space." Underground, a train carries you nearly a mile to the Montana stope, the last working area of the mine. The standard tour runs 90 minutes.

In the off-season, only prearranged educational and group tours run. Bring a warm jacket and sturdy shoes.

You can still explore the surface buildings when tours are not running. The DNR offers a self-guided audio tour of the above-ground mine features; in winter, start from the winter entrance at 1379 Stuntz Bay Road and follow the Hiking Club Trail signs up the hill. White-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that kills hibernating bats, has been confirmed in the mine; the DNR says it does not threaten people. In warmer months, look for bats at dusk at the Alaska shaft.

Camping and lodging

The camper cabins share a bathhouse with showers, flush toilets and a water bottle filling fountain that stays on all year. The DNR also manages Hinsdale Island, a rustic, water-access-only campground on Lake Vermilion in Kabetogama State Forest, first come, first served.

The DNR is inconsistent on the two boat-in sites: the facilities list says they are first come, first served, while the seasonal update says to reserve them by calling the park. Call 218-300-7000 before you go.

Blue Heron Island Cabin

Per the DNR cabin page, the island cabin costs $220 a night including firewood, is available from the end of May through the end of September, and has a two-night minimum from Thursdays to Sundays. It is not in the state park reservation system; call 218-300-7017. There is no indoor plumbing and no potable water on the island; fill containers at the mainland campground.

Reservations

Campsites and camper cabins in Minnesota state parks need a reservation, made up to 120 days ahead through ReserveMN; on the first day a date opens, online booking starts at 8 a.m. Central, per the DNR reservation FAQ. Our Minnesota state park reservation guide covers the steps.

Campfires: the DNR says this park requires a campfire permit for each day you plan a fire, and the permit includes access to the park's firewood bunker. The DNR also notes the park has no trees large enough to hang a hammock safely.

Trails and things to do

The tour page says the mine site has more than seven miles of hiking trail. As of November 2026, the DNR lists the Miner's Trail, West Tower Pit and Towering Pines Spur open at the mine, and the Onamani Overlook, Scrambler's Pass, Lakeside and Wawa Way trails open at the Lake Vermilion side. The DNR alert (updated October 19, 2026) says the Swedetown loop section is closed until further notice, and the seasonal update says some southern parts of the Crosscut Trail near Lily Lake may be impassable when wet.

On the lake: public boat accesses are at Cable Bay on Vermilion Ridge Road and at Stuntz Bay on Stuntz Bay Road. The Armstrong Bay day-use area has an accessible fishing pier, picnic shelters and restrooms. The DNR says that in many cases Minnesota residents can fish in state parks without a license.

Winter: six miles of snowmobile trail link the Taconite State Trail to the Lake Vermilion ice trail; there is no snowmobile trailer parking in the park. Snowshoeing is allowed on all ungroomed trails. Off-highway vehicles are allowed only in the state recreation area, not in the state park.

When to go

Mine tours run from Memorial Day weekend to early fall, so that is the window for most visitors. As of November 2026:

• Water is off in the campground, dump station and group sites, and is expected back in mid-May 2027. Water in the camper cabin area stays on year-round.
• Campground and group-site showers are closed for the season; camper cabin showers are open.
• Camper cabins are open and taking reservations.

Fees and permits

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

The DNR feed says a vehicle permit is not needed in the main visitor center lot at the mine; the park map says the main mine lot and the Stuntz Bay lot are both exempt. Everywhere else, you need one. For multi-night stays, ask the park which permit covers your whole stay; the year-round permit covers every visit for a year.

Getting there

The DNR directions: take U.S. Highway 169 (or State Highway 1) to Soudan and follow the signs; the mine is on the north side of town. The Vermilion Ridge Campground is on Highway 169 about one mile east of Soudan toward Ely, a 15-minute drive from the mine. See the Boundary Waters and Iron Range region for nearby parks, including Bear Head Lake State Park and McCarthy Beach State Park.

Before you go

1. Book mine tour tickets ahead; they often sell out.
2. Bring a jacket for the 51-degree mine, and leave bags in the car.
3. Ignore your GPS near Soudan and follow the street signs to the mine.
4. Buy a daily campfire permit if you plan a fire.
5. Arrange your own boat for Blue Heron Island or the boat-in sites.
6. Check the DNR alert for trail closures before hiking.

Related guides: All Boundary Waters and Iron Range guides · Bear Head Lake State Park · Scenic State Park · Find a state park

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Sources

• Minnesota DNR, Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park (camping, trails, seasonal update, alerts): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00285
• Minnesota DNR, Soudan Underground Mine tours: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/lake_vermilion_soudan/tours.html
• Minnesota DNR, Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park map and guide (PDF, 2026): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00285.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, Blue Heron Island Cabin: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/stay_overnight/blue-heron-island-cabin.html
• 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