The Land of 10,000 Lakes is home to a few abandoned places. There are ghost towns across the state, especially up north. Abandoned factories and hospitals also make their appearances on most lists of forgotten places in Minnesota. Most abandoned places are left for nature to reclaim. But some of these places are given new uses, like the ghost town Forestville at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park - and the attraction we'd like to introduce today. Read on below to learn more about the history of the tunnel at Ely's Peak and how it's used today.
Ely's Peak is a high hill near on Minnesota's North Shore, near Duluth. While it's not a soaring mountain peak, it certainly rises high above the surrounding area.
Its rise over the land is part of what makes Ely's Peak a popular place to hike. Trails on the hill lead through a beautiful forest...
...and to the top of the hill. Here, you'll find beautiful scenery that stretches for miles in every direction. It is a truly breathtaking place that will make your hike well worth the effort!
There's also another interesting landmark on Ely's Peak: an abandoned tunnel! It's a railroad tunnel, to be exact. It was first blasted through the hill around the turn of the last century, in 1910. It's known as the DWP Tunnel, named after the Duluth, Winnipeg, and Pacific Railway.
The railroad has been gone for years. But hikers have repurposed this tunnel into an interesting place to explore. Old graffiti lines the walls, offering an interesting look at the people who have visited before you.
In the winter, the cave is often filled with ice, giving it an even more otherworldly atmosphere.
All in all, those who visit this tunnel can expect an interesting look at the area's past history. This has not been a railroad for a long time, but its presence on the landscape points to a piece of Minnesota's forgotten past!
If you'd like to explore more interesting abandoned places in Minnesota, try following our abandoned places road trip! And if you'd like to suggest any other great places (abandoned or otherwise!), be sure to let us know by nominating them.
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