-

- Summer season interpretive

- 17 miles of horse trails

- 19 miles of hiking trails

- Mystery Cave visitor center

- Picnic area with enclosed

- Trailer dump station

- 57 equestrian campsites

- 73 Semi-modern campsites

Forestville/Mystery Cave
Facilities:
Visitor Favorites:
the park

Creek)
Historic markers throughout

Big Spring (source of Canfield

Overlook

Spring wildflowers and birding

Trout fishing

Historic Forestville tours

Mystery Cave tours

stores.
State Parks, and major sporting and map
DNR gift shop, DNR regional offices, MN
(PRIM) are available for purchase from the
These Public Recreational Information Maps

recreational facilities.
federal, state, and county lands with their
The DNR has mapped the state showing

and picnic area

shelter and 60 picnic tables

(23 with electrical hookups)

(23 with electrical hookups)

amphitheater
Canfield Creek
Forestville Creek
South Branch Root River
For camping reservations go online at
www.mndnr.gov/reservations

Looking for more information?

Call our information center at

State Park
www.mndnr.gov

Visit our website at

888 MINNDNR
866 857 2757

(646 6367)
or call

Historic Site Inset

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Because lands exist within the boundaries

/
. .14
/
of Forestville that are not under the jurisdiction
1300

14
of the DNR, check with park staff if you plan
to use facilities such as trails and roads other
than those shown.

McCaslin - March 2012

 a greater variety of attractions than does Forestville riding. These features also require extra effort on VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE: The steep SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE PARK…
/Mystery Cave State Park. The park is rich in both the part of riders to preserve fragile plants, soils, bluffland topography has created a marked variety • State parks were established to preserve natural,
historical and natural resources including the 1853- and waters for future generations. Many of the trails of localized climate conditions. South-facing slopes cultural, and aesthetic features, and to help meet
1910 townsite of Forestville, meandering blue- are surfaced with crushed rock to prevent erosion. are warmer and drier. North-facing slopes are cooler the diverse recreational and educational needs of
ribbon trout streams, diverse plant and animal life, Because of this, shod horses are recommended. and wetter. In addition, Forestville/Mystery Cave visitors. Please observe rules deigned to keep our
and dramatic Mystery Cave, Minnesota’s longest There are also several streams to ford 57 sites are is located at the edge of two great biomes: the tallgrass parks clean and to protect park resources.
known cave. available for horse campers (23 with 50 amp electrical prairie to the west, and the eastern deciduous forest. • Daily or annual permits are required for all vehi-
Duluth • hookups). Other amenities in the horse area include This combination has resulted in a striking mosaic cles entering a state park. They may be purchased
CAVE TOURS/ INTERPRETIVE SERVICES: drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, hitching rails of plant communities included prairie, savanna, oak at the park headquarters or the Information Center
The very popular guided tours of Mystery Cave are and vault type outdoor toilets. woodland, maple/basswood forest, and even white in St. Paul (see “FOR MORE INFORMATION”
available every day from Memorial weekend through pine and fir. The streams that converge in the park at left).
Minneapolis/
Labor Day and on weekends in spring and fall. Fishing – Three of Minnesota’s top trout streams also provide habitat for a rich variety of aquatic life. • The park is open year-round. On a daily basis,
St. Paul • Other interpretive programs are offered on summer converge within the park. Angler parking is available the park gate is closed from 10:00 P.M. to 8:00
weekends including hikes, field trips, and evening in the picnic area and near the main campground. The great variety of habitat supports remarkably A.M. the following morning except to registered
FORESTVILLE/ campfire programs. The Mystery Cave Visitor Center A special catch and release winter season is in effect different wildlife ranging from rare glacial snails to campers. Loud noises and other disturbances
MYSTERY CAVE is open during the tour season and contains a number on most park streams from January 1 to March 31. timber rattlesnakes. While a few rattlers live in the are not allowed after 10:00 P.M. in the camp-
STATE PARK
of exhibits relating to the cave. Other self-guided Slot restrictions apply during the regular season. park, they are of very little threat if left alone. Please ground.
signage in the park relates to natural and cultural Canfield Creek is restricted to artifical lures. report sightings. • Camp only in designated locations.
features found here. • The use of firearms, explosives, air guns, sling-
FORESTVILLE/ HISTORIC FORESTVILLE: The Minnesota
Hiking – Many park trails are shared with horseback
riders. Most trails climb about 200’ in elevation from
Other wildlife of note include deer, raccoon, beaver,
mink, opossum, woodchucks, four species of squirrels,
shots, traps, seines, nets, bows and arrows, and
all other weapons is prohibited in state parks.
MYSTERY CAVE Historical Society has restored a portion of the town-
site of Forestville. In the summer months, visitors
valley floors to ridge tops. The scenic overlook,
cemetery, and Big Spring are favorite destinations.
red and grey fox. Coyote numbers have grown in
recent years and can often be heard at dusk. Several
• Pets must be restrained on a leash no longer than
six feet. Pets are not allowed in park buildings.
STATE PARK discover Forestville’s past by stepping back in the
summer of 1899. Costumed interpreters portray Winter Trails – Cross-country skiing and snowmo-
species of reptiles and amphibians are also present. • Motor bikes and other licensed vehicles are al-
lowed only on park roads, not on trails. Park in
FOR MORE INFORMATION Forestville residents. Explore the “latest” styles of biling are both popular here in winter. Ski trails are At least 175 species of birds have been recorded in designated areas only.
merchandise in the brick store or visit the Thomas scenic touring trails and are groomed in classic the park including several important Neotropical • Bicycles are allowed on park roads but not on
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park and Mary Meighen residence. Pass the time with fashion. Three Grant-In-Aid snowmobile trails con- migrants (scarlet tanager, ovenbird, American redstart) trails.
21071 County Road 118 farm laborers as they go about their daily chores verge in the park, providing access to dozens of and a sizeable population of wild turkeys. Barred • Enjoy the park wildlife and plants, but please
Preston, MN 55965 around the farm buildings. miles of trails outside the park. Snowshoeing is owls often wake campers with their evening calls and respect them. Do not pick or dig up plants, disturb
(507) 352-5111 allowed almost everywhere in the park. Off trail soaring turkey vultures delight summer visitors. or feed animals, or scavenge dead wood.
While in the historic district, you can help preserve use is encouraged.
♦ the 1899 character of Historic Forestville. HISTORY: In the center of the park along the South HORSEBACK RIDERS: You can help ensure the
Department of Natural Resources Other popular recreation activities include bird Branch Root River is the townsite of Forestville. future of riding at Forestville.
Information Center • Please park vehicles, bicycles, and horses only watching, wildlife observation, photography, and Founded in 1853, the village emerged as a rural trade
500 Lafayette Road in designated areas. wading. center, typical of hundreds that emerged across • Ride only on designated horse trails.
St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 • Pets are not allowed within fenced areas. southern Minnesota during the 1850s. Area farmers • Avoid shortcutting at corners and switchbacks.
• Please refrain from smoking in the restored GEOLOGY: About 450 million years ago material came to Forestville to trade their farm produce for • Cross streams only at designated ford areas.
(651) 296-6157 (Metro Area) village area. was deposited in the bottom of shallow seas which goods and services. By 1858, Forestville numbered • Leave beverage containers at camp or pack them
1-888-646-6367 (MN Toll Free) intermittently covered large portions of North 100 inhabitants and 20 buildings including: two out in saddle bags.
Besides the restored portion of the village, there are America. As the deposits increased in thickness, the general stores, a gristmill, a brickyard, two hotels, • Avoid riding on roads.
TDD (Telecommunications many historic sites to explore including the Zumbro layers on the bottom were compressed to form lime- a school, and “mechanics of several trades.” • Save precious shade trees. Use designated hitching
Device for Deaf) Hill cemetery, south townsite, schools, brick yard, stone, dolomite, shale, and sandstone. Today in the areas.
residences, mills, and distillery. park, these rocks are 1300 feet above the sea. In the Forestville prospered until the first area railroad, the
(651) 296-5484 (Metro Area) past million years, some of the limestone and dolomite Southern Minnesota, bypassed the community in ♦
1-800-657-3929 (MN Toll Free) Call Historic Forestville for more information about layers have been dissolved by water. This has created 1868. Village residents watched their town struggle
summer living history tours (507-765-2785), or see a landscape that is characterized by sinkholes, under- to survive while towns served by the railroad This information is available in
DNR Web Site: www.dnr.state.mn.us the MHS website at mnhs.org. ground streams, and caves. This landscape is called boomed with prosperity. By 1890, Thomas J. alternative format upon request.
State Parks page: www.mnstateparks.info karst, and is represented here by features such as Meighen, son of one of the town’s founders, owned Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from
RECREATION: Camping in Forestville’s lovely Mystery Cave, Minnesota’s longest known cave. With the entire village. The 50 residents made their living programs of the Minnesota Department of Natural
wooded campsites are very popular, especially on over 13 miles of passages, Mystery is a maze of linear on Mr. Meighen’s farm. In return for their work, his Resources is available to all individuals regardless of race,
FORESTVILLE/MYSTERY CAVE STATE PARK is summer weekends. For this reason reservations are corridors. During dry periods, the entire South Branch employees received housing, board, and credit in color, creed or religion, national origin, sex, marital status,
located in Fillmore County in southeastern Minnesota recommended. Showers and flush toilets are typi- Root River sinks into the cave through gravel filled his store. Mr. Meighen also maintained the post status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation,
about halfway between Spring Valley and Preston. cally available from mid-April through mid-October. crevices in the river bottom. Forestville also exhibits office, the school, and a feed and saw mill. age or disability. Discrimination inquires should be sent to
The entrance to the park is located four miles south Each site comes with a gravel parking spur, fire ring features of the unglaciated or “driftless” region. The the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500
Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 551455-4031;
of MN Highway 16 on Fillmore County Highway 5, and picnic table. last major glacial advance did not cover the vicinity In 1905, Meighen moved to Preston and in 1910 he or to the Equal Opportunity Office,
Minnesota

and two miles east on Fillmore County 118. Minn- of Forestville. Down-cutting of stream valleys by closed his general store. In 1934 he proposed estab- Department of the Interior, Washington,
esota highway map index: M-21 Horse Area – Forestville has the highest horseback powerful glacial meltwater created the steep hills and lishment of the State Park, but it took nearly 30 years D.C. 20240.
use of any state park in Minnesota. The hilly terrain bluffs we see in the park and surrounding area today. for the park to be formally designated. DEPARTMENT OF
Perhaps no other Minnesota state park offers visitors and winding streams provide interesting and scenic © 7/2007 by State of Minnesota, NATURAL RESOURCES

Department of Natural Resources DNR Maps