Hill Annex Mine State Park Haul Road Loop

The Hill Annex Mine shut down in 1978, leaving behind a moonscape of terraced benches and haul roads built for Caterpillar 777 mining trucks. This 8-mile loop follows the actual roads used to move millions of tons of taconite pellets, offering views into a 500-foot-deep pit that’s slowly filling with groundwater. The highlight is Bench Road 14, where you can park and look down into the vastness of what was once Minnesota’s most productive iron mine.

Any stock SUV can handle the well-maintained gravel roads, making this more of a scenic drive than technical challenge. The park offers guided tours during summer months, but you can drive the perimeter roads year-round except during deer hunting season. Bring a camera for the industrial archaeology and keep an eye out for peregrine falcons that nest on the pit walls. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the Iron Range’s mining heritage without the crowds of the bigger tourist mines.