Is Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, to secure a spot.

What is the best time to visit Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground?

Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground is open Permanently closed (abolished as a state park in 2024); active mining planned to resume in 2025.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground?

Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Are dogs allowed at Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground

1 review

Featured in:Family-Friendly Campgrounds Minnesota

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Quick Facts

1,407 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

Varies

Season

Permanently closed (...

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Minnesota State Parks)Official Website

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Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

1,407 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

Varies

Season

Permanently closed (...

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (Minnesota State Parks)Official Website

Get Directions

Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Hill Annex Mine State Park is permanently closed to the public; there are no campgrounds or camping fees associated with this site.

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

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888-646-6367, 651-296-6157

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Campground Map

Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground

47.3271, -93.2774

Weather at Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground

Best Time to Camp at Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground

The park operated seasonally before closure, with guided tours running during warmer months. Specific seasonal conditions weren't documented in visitor feedback. Winter access was not available. Site preparation for resumed mining began in 2024, and ore extraction is planned for 2025.

Winter(Dec-Feb)

Not recommended

Winter access was not available historically; site now permanently closed.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Permanently closed (abolished as a state park in 2024); active mining planned to resume in 2025.

About Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground

Hill Annex Mine State Park closed permanently in 2024 after the Minnesota Legislature deauthorized the site to allow resumed iron ore mining. The park never offered traditional campgrounds or recreational trails. A small rustic campground with 15 drive-in sites existed for visitors attending guided mine tours and fossil-hunting programs, but all public access ended when site preparation for mining began.

There were no campgrounds at Hill Annex Mine State Park; the park is permanently closed.

Historical Significance

The Minnesota Legislature authorized the park in 1988 to preserve an iron mine that operated until the 1960s on the state's Iron Range. Former miners led guided tours through industrial buildings, equipment yards, and the pit, explaining ore extraction and processing. A Clubhouse Museum displayed mining artifacts. The site also served as a laboratory for mine reforestation practices later applied across the region. The DNR operated the park on an annual surface lease and never owned the land. Legislative deauthorization in 2024 ended the park's 36-year run.

Weather and SeasonsThe park operated seasonally before closure, with guided tours running during warmer months. Specific seasonal conditions weren't documented in visitor feedback. Winter access was not available. Site preparation for resumed mining began in 2024, and ore extraction is planned for 2025.

Natural Features and SceneryThe landscape centers on a water-filled open-pit mine surrounded by tailings piles now covered in regrown woodlands. Reforestation experiments conducted here after the mine closed in 1978 turned bare industrial ground into forested habitat that attracted deer, coyotes, timber wolves, bears, grouse, eagles, hawks, and peregrine falcons. The tailings offered overlook views of ore processing areas and the flooded pit below. The site sits on School Trust Land valued for mineral potential rather than recreational use.

Scenic ViewsA mine overlook existed but is closed to public access due to an eroding pit wall; general views relate to the open-pit mine and surrounding tailings and reclaimed forested areas.

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Hill Annex Mine State Park had no campgrounds; the park is permanently closed and no campground amenities are available.

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Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsPublic access is restricted for safety: the mine overlook is closed because the pit wall is eroding, interior buildings have extensive vandalism and are unsafe, and active mining operations are planned to resume. The mine pit is not a fishery and there is no public water access.

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

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Reviews

From Booking Sources

0.0

1 reviews

Limited Reviews

Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground has limited reviews, placing it in the bottom % of campgrounds based on reviews

Public access is closed permanently (deauthorized as a state park in 2024) as the site is being prepared for resumed mining; historically visitors praised the site's mining history exhibits and fossil tours but reviews also report frequent limited hours, seasonal access, and closures. Visitor sentiment in online reviews ranged from highly positive about guides and history to frustration over closures and vandalism.

Review Summaries

Based on 1 reviews

What Campers Love

Visitors historically highlighted knowledgeable guides, interesting mining history, fossil-hunting tours, and scenic views of the former mine and tailings.

Based on 1 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Confirm current status before visiting (site is permanently closed and mining activity is planned). For Passport Club collectors, a copy of the Hill Annex Mine stamp is at DNR regional headquarters...

Based on 1 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Excellent staff and beautiful scenery. Very interesting to learn about the history of the area.” — “It is an awesome place to visit. The park is open on Friday and Saturday from Memorial Day to...

Based on 1 reviews

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Go if

Minnesota Passport Club collectors can still get the Hill Annex stamp at the DNR regional office in Grand Rapids or at Scenic State Park without making the trip to the closed site.

Skip if

Everyone else: the gates are shut, mining prep is active, the pit overlook is condemned due to an eroding wall, and no amenities or tours exist in any form.

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Reservable

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Campgrounds

Hill-Annex Mine State Park

Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground

About Ririe Reservoir

Context for the broader area surrounding Hill Annex Mine Fossil Tour Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

Ririe Reservoir is formed by <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Ririe+Dam">Ririe Dam</a> which is a major feature on the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Ririe%20Project">Ririe Project </a>. Ririe Reservoir is administered by the <A HREF="http://www2.state.id.us/home/other/county/bonnevil.htm">Bonneville County</a> Parks & Recreation Department. Access to this 1,500-acre reservoir with 32 miles of shoreline is fair to good. Fishing season runs from late May through November. Available species include rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. Reservoir acre feet and total reservoir capacity and cubic feet/second release rates for rivers below <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/burtea.cfm">Upper Snake River Basin</a> reservoirs and select river locations are updated daily and graphically provided. Site offers rest rooms, boat ramp and dock, campground, swimming, and visitor center. <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/ramps/ririe/ririe.html"> Boat ramp elevations.</a>

Directions

Site is located 20 miles east of Idaho Falls off U.S. 26.