Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park is a Minnesota state park near Preston, covering 3,583 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 3,583acres
- Prestonmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Mystery Cave tours
- Trout streams
- Camping
- Great horseback riding trails
- Spring wildflowers
Plan It In Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: Visit Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park to see natural wonders above and below ground. In the summer, beat the heat with a visit below ground. Explore the world of Mystery Cave with its stalactites, stalagmites, and underground pools. Park naturalists provide tours of the cave throughout the summer and on weekends in the spring and fall.
Wildlife. The great variety of habitats supports remarkably different wildlife ranging from rare glacial snails to timber rattlesnakes. While a few rattlers live in the park, they are of very little threat if left alone. Please report sightings.
History. The park is named after the former town of Forestville. Founded in 1853, the town prospered until the railroad bypassed it in 1868, after which the town declined steadily.
Geology. Two to five hundred million years ago material was deposited in the bottom of shallow seas which intermittently covered large portions of North America.
Visit Facts
- Address21071 County 118 Preston, MN 55965
- PhoneMain Park: 507-352-5111 Mystery Cave: 507-808-8000
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursFall/Winter hours through April 8, 2026 Sunday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Closed on state government holidays. Hours may vary due to staffing.
- Emailforestville.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point43.63366, -92.23064 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hiking | 20 miles, varying terrain | — |
| Summer | Horse | 17 miles, seasonal | Trails are surfaced with crushed rock – horseshoes are recommended. Some water crossings required. Trail elevation is 200 feet from valley floor to top of hill. Very scenic. A Horse Pass is required. |
| Winter | Snowmobile | Five miles | The park's trail connects to more than 100 miles of the grant-in-aid trail system. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | Anywhere in the park | Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in the park, except for groomed snowmobile trails. Snowshoe rentals are available from the ranger station. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | 73 sites | 50 seasonal non-electric sites. |
| Electric Sites | 23 seasonal sites | — |
| RV Length Limit | 50 feet | Length is measured from the front of the tow vehicle to the rear of the vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | 2 | 2 accessible drive-in, electric campsites are available: 1 in the main campground, 1 in the equestrian campground. |
| Horse Camp | 55 sites | 23 sites are electric. |
| Group Camp | Two seasonal sites each accommodate up to 50 people | Group campsites are in a wooded area near the Root River, and share a shelter with lights and electric outlets. Each has terraced campsites, water spigots, vault toilets, and fire rings. Limited drive-in camping is available for small campers and trailers, depending on weather. Parking is adjacent to sites. |
| Accessible Lodging | 2 accessible camper cabins | The Lily and Trout camper cabins are accessible. |
| Camper Cabins | Cart-in from main campground parking lot | Five camper cabins with heat and electric, available year-round. No pets. Mink, Pine and Owl each sleep six; Lily and Trout are accessible and each sleep five. Self-registration is not available for the camper cabins – make sure to arrange in advance with the ranger station to be sure the key is available for you when you arrive. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Source | Streams | — |
| Fishing | Trout | Several parking lots are available for anglers. |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | Two picnic areas | A seasonal picnic area with drinking water and restrooms is near Mystery Cave. The main picnic area is in the park. It is accessible, and has an all-season picnic shelter, running water and flush toilets. |
| Picnic Shelter | Accessible enclosed shelter | Available year-round. Features both fully enclosed and partially enclosed areas. |
| Warming House | In the picnic shelter | The enclosed picnic shelter becomes a warming house in winter. Restrooms available. |
| Other | Trout angling | Several parking lots are plowed for winter angling access. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | — |
| Visitor Center | Accessible – located at Mystery Cave | Interpretive displays, tour tickets and information, Nature Store, restrooms. |
| Interpretive Exhibit | — | Kiosks and information signs throughout the park. |
| Naturalist Programs | Occasional seasonal programs | — |
| Historic Site | — | Historic Forestville is operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. Self-guided outdoor tours are available. |
| Tours | Learn more about Mystery Cave tours | — |
| Gift Shop | At Mystery Cave | Books, games, camping supplies, clothing, snacks and other souvenirs are available at the main park office, and seasonally at the Mystery Cave visitor center. |
| Rentals | — | Fishing kits (rod, reel, stocked tackle box), birding kits, sensory kits (headphones, fidget toys, calming toys), and kids discovery kits (activities and stories for ages 5-12) are available to check out for free from the ranger station or visitor center. |
| Firewood | — | Available year-round during park office hours, or from self-service vendors outside the park. |
Pets And Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Park-specific: No pets.
Directions
Park Entrance: Approximately 5 miles south of Wykoff. Entrance to the park is 4 miles south of State Highway 16 on Fillmore County Road 5, then 2 miles east on Fillmore County Road 118. Mystery Cave Entrance is 6 miles south on County Road 5 from State Highway 16. Right-hand turn on 180th street west, 3/4 mile, turn right on Old Cave Road, travel 1/2 mile north. On your left is Mystery Cave Entrance Road.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Lake Louise State ParkState Park, about 15 miles away in a straight line
- Whitewater State ParkState Park, about 31 miles away in a straight line
- Carley State ParkState Park, about 33 miles away in a straight line
- Beaver Creek Valley State ParkState Park, about 34 miles away in a straight line
- John A. Latsch State ParkState Park, about 42 miles away in a straight line
- Great River Bluffs State ParkState Park, about 45 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
Related Pages
More In South Lakes & Bluff Country
- Lake Pepin
- Beaver Creek Valley State Park
- Carley State Park
- Frontenac State Park
- Great River Bluffs State Park
- John A. Latsch State Park
- Lake Louise State Park
- Myre-Big Island State Park
- Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
- Rice Lake State Park
- Events in South Lakes & Bluff Country
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park?
It is near Preston, Minnesota. The DNR address is 21071 County 118 Preston, MN 55965.
How much does it cost to visit Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. This park’s page adds limits listed in Pets And Permits above.
Sources
- Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.