The Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park Geology Trail Project grew out of our group's passion for understanding Earth's ancient terranes preserved in northern Minnesota, outdoor education, and the desire to share these passions with both Earth scientists and the general public. This project builds on an expansive body of work by geologists George Hudak III and Dean Peterson, among many others. Their mapping of the geology of the park gives us a remarkable level of detail regarding the location of critical outcrops and geologic interpretation of the outcrops and the region.

As our discussions grew, so did our vision for this project. The original plan was to provide signage to engage park visitors in the unique and well-preserved world of Archean Earth as exposed in the state park. While this is still a big part of our outreach project, we have expanded it to include work with k-12 educators in the state of Minnesota. 

Northern Minnesota has a rich history. It has been home to the Anishinaabeg and later settlers and miners. This region is an ideal setting to explore geology, geologic history of Earth, mining and communities, and the wonders of the outdoors. Site will be updated periodically during Spring/Summer 2026, so check back or email for more information.