Visiting the state's newest state park

Lake Vermilion State Park is in Soudan, Minn., in the northeastern part of the state. It is adjacent to Soudan Underground Mine State Park. Both are just off Hwy. 169, a common route to Ely and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from the Twin Cities.

Lake Vermilion State Park is already open to the public, but access this summer has been mainly by boat. Primitive campsites with small docks, fire pits, biffies and bear boxes are available in Cable Bay and Stuntz Bay. At Armstrong Bay, work on a day-use area is underway, and a road leading there from outside the park should be completed by the middle of next summer.

This winter, the park will be accessible by snowmobile and snowshoe.

For info on Lake Vermilion State Park, go to www. startribune.com/a1682. For more about Soudan Underground Mine State Park, go to www.startribune.com/a1298.