Cherry Grove Blind Valley SNA

40 Acres Located From Cherry Grove, go S on Co Rd 5 for .5 miles, E 1.25 miles on Co Rd 20, then N .375 mile. Park on side of road. Fillmore County Twp 101 Rng 12W Sec 3 Type: Prairie Grasslands ECS Subsection: Rochester Plateau

Description:

Deep in karst country, the only above-ground clues to Goliath Cave in Cherry Grove Blind Valley SNA are sinkholes filled with scrub trees. Below ground, this huge cave system has at least four cave entrances, numerous connecting sinkholes, several disappearing streams, and extremely rare speleothem formations (secondary mineral deposits caused by water evaporation in a cave) with iron pyrite. One passage features a large wall of flowstone and soda straws, which are hollow calcite formations hanging from the ceiling. Side passages feature rimstone dams and bacon rind formations. A 12-foot water fall adds drama, if possible, to one 60-foot high chamber. Goliath Cave also connects with Trout Spring and Deep Lake Cave in Forestville State Park, and probably others, such as Downwater and Woodchuck Caves. It ends in a water-filled passage heading toward Big Spring on Canfield Creek. Few stream passages are of walking height, with only an inch of air clearance in on low point. The cave is subject to flooding during thunderstorms. In 1999, the Thomas Kapper family sold the property to the SNA Program to see it protected for conservation purposes.

Plant List

Visitor notes:

To ensure public safety, entry to the gated cave system is subject to written permission, Researchers and qualified spelunkers should apply through the Minnesota DNR SNA Program (651) 259-5088. Visitors may explore the land above the cave at any time without permission.