I have written about many of the state parks we have been to over the years, and as we planned this trip, I didn’t think Forestville Mystery Cave State Park would be any different than the rest. I mean, the location is different, and all of the history and particular features are different, but I did not realize that this park would always stand out in our minds for years to come. Not only are there the namesake features of the park, Historic Forestville and Mystery Cave (links to blogs for each), but wonderful facilities, an amazing amount of activities, and truly scenic nature all around. This park is a bit off the beaten path, but totally worth the trip.
Facilities for Your Use
I know we talk about the bathrooms at almost every state park we go over, but seriously, these were our favorite bathrooms ever. This was our first time seeing them with the shower stalls separate and on one end, and the building was beautiful and very well kept. We loved our site which was right next to the bathrooms and very well shaded. The park office (pictured below) is a bit small but really fun to explore, they have a small selection of items for sale and the staff we met there was amazing. There is also an amphitheater you pass on the hiking club trail that look wonderful for naturalist classes, although there were none at the time we visited. The facilities at Historic Forestville are run by the Minnesota Historical Society and are a short drive away. Mystery Cave’s facilities are a slightly further away and you have to exit the park to get there, but they are technically considered part of the state park.
Activities To Keep You Busy
When we planned this trip I figured the two namesakes would be our main focus, but I had no idea what the park offered as a whole! I have mentioned the facilities above, but they are just the tip of the iceberg. The trail system is extensive and while we generally stick to the hiking club trails, we did wander to a few of the other trails as well. Our favorites were the small bridges and cut offs all throughout the campground. With all of the different areas around the state park, we really enjoyed our driving tour as well. If you end up there on a rainy day, you can certainly enjoy a drive if nothing else. I talk quite extensively about the historic town and cave tour in the blogs linked above, and they are worth the read if you are planning a visit. We did spend a couple of hours at each and really enjoyed it!
Nature’s Beauty All Around
At the time of this trip, B was well into his obsession with Bob Ross and kept telling us how much Bob Ross would have wanted to paint each of the scenes unfolding in front of us. We took lots of pictures to inspire him when he got home at wanted to paint. This park was beautiful and still very green even in September. Everywhere we went it was a beautiful view. There are multiple streams and different habitats throughout the park to explore and I cannot convey to you how nice it was to explore them all. I think it would be nice to visit any time of year, as each would offer a variety of experiences of the natural beauty the park has to offer. Because there are several easy loops to hike, even the most inexperienced hiker can see some of this beauty for themselves!
Seriously, Plan Your Trip!
As I have said in the blogs about the historic town and cave tour, you should plan your trip now. We loved this trip and it was really a refreshing breath of fresh air compared to some of the other parks we have been to. There were things to keep us busy the entire trip and a beautiful backdrop for each of them! It was a long drive for us but in the end it was entirely worth it, we talk about the things we did and the fun we had quite a lot. You can really get away from it all at this park and just enjoy what nature offers. Have you been to this state park before or are you planning to go? If so, please let me know in the comments below!
