I've been interested in urban exploration for many years now, as you can see by my four year old account here, but I haven't actually brought myself to do very much of it in that time, as other things always have gotten in the way. I've been thinking that once the snow starts melting, either this spring or maybe summer, I want to try to start seeing some of the urban sites that Minnesota has to explore. Any other folks from the Twin Cities have suggestions on things to check out or visit? I'd love some tips or maybe even a guide to help me get started! Despite reading a lot of things about it, I'm still new to urban exploration in general, so some guidance would be very much appreciated!

Posted by CupidHitman I've been interested in urban exploration for many years now, as you can see by my four year old account here, but I haven't actually brought myself to do very much of it in that time, as other things always have gotten in the way. I've been thinking that once the snow starts melting, either this spring or maybe summer, I want to try to start seeing some of the urban sites that Minnesota has to explore. Any other folks from the Twin Cities have suggestions on things to check out or visit? I'd love some tips or maybe even a guide to help me get started! Despite reading a lot of things about it, I'm still new to urban exploration in general, so some guidance would be very much appreciated!

...and in four years time you're still looking for tips and a guide, to get you started?


We'll, c'mon everybody, maybe we can band together and give him a list of all the best trespassing locations in Minneapolis!

The only tip I have for you is just go for it. Find areas that you think are neat and scout them out. Or if you don't know where you want to go just find a previously explored place online and get the general location and go there and try to find it.

Posted by Dalmaticus ...and in four years time you're still looking for tips and a guide, to get you started?

As I said, I've been interested but I've been otherwise unable to follow through in any actual exploration or the like.

Thank you DJ Craig, that is actually helpful.

It's really not as complicated as a lot of people make it out to be.

1. Grab a flashlight
2. Put on appropriate clothing/footwear
3. Get (in your car/on your bike/out for a walk) and look for something interesting

Repeat as necessary.

Can be more fun with a friend.

_{(4. Don't blast everything you find all over the internets - use some discretion and the cool things you find will stay cool.)}

Posted by NotBatman It's really not as complicated as a lot of people make it out to be. 1. Grab a flashlight 2. Put on appropriate clothing/footwear 3. Get (in your car/on your bike/out for a walk) and look for something interesting Repeat as necessary. Can be more fun with a friend. (4. Don't blast everything you find all over the internets - use some discretion and the cool things you find will stay cool.)

You're lucky you didn't get lost and go in to Survival Mode!!!

It's a shame you waited four years before getting active about getting out.

Most of the best/historical/traditional abandoned buildings in the Twin Cities have recently gone extinct for real. Ford Motor Plant, Purina mill, Bureau of Mines, Island Station Power Plant, and many other buildings we once explored/enjoyed on a regular basis have been torn down in the past few years. Others avoided the wrecking ball by getting redeveloped as condominiums. Hamms Brewery, Abbott Hospital, Schmidt Brewery, Pillsbury Mill, etc. have been redeveloped or are currently being redeveloped, making their continued exploration impossible.

While it is still possible to find new buildings becoming abandoned, they are few and far between, and the greatest and most historically significant structures are no longer available for us to access or explore.

Underground locations also have been getting increasingly difficult to enjoy. Several caves, such as Banholzer and the majority of the "Pickerell Caves Labyrinth" in St. Paul have been sealed up or backfilled by the city.

That's not to say there's nothing available to explore. But the enormous variety of underground locations that once made the Twin Cities a global urbex destination are dwindling fast.

What the Twin Cities still has, and will continue to offer for the forseeable future, is one of the greatest collections of various storm drains in the country. These are not all boring circular tubes of concrete (though some are). The variety and character each storm drain possesses should not be disregarded.

They aren't difficult to find either. Just walk along any stretch of the river throughout the cities and you should be able to find a drain to explore in no time. Many drains you can walk right in. Required equipment is a reliable light source, and rubber boots.

DO NOT EXPLORE STORM DRAINS IF THERE IS ANY POSSIBLE CHANCE OF RAIN. You will die.

In the summer time, you can paddle canoes and kayaks into some drains straight from the river.

If you intend to tag or otherwise spread graffiti "art" in storm drains, please refrain from defacing any antique bricks. Assholes have been seriously defacing/painting antique bricks in drains lately, something that is doubly frustrating when so much plain boring concrete is available for painting on.

Posted by Dalmaticus You're lucky you didn't get lost and go in to Survival Mode!!!

Haha, too soon, man. Too soon.

Posted by Clockwork It's a shame you waited four years before getting active about getting out. Most of the best/historical/traditional abandoned buildings in the Twin Cities have recently gone extinct for real. Ford Motor Plant, Purina mill, Bureau of Mines, Island Station Power Plant, and many other buildings we once explored/enjoyed on a regular basis have been torn down in the past few years. Others avoided the wrecking ball by getting redeveloped as condominiums. Hamms Brewery, Abbott Hospital, Schmidt Brewery, Pillsbury Mill, etc. have been redeveloped or are currently being redeveloped, making their continued exploration impossible. While it is still possible to find new buildings becoming abandoned, they are few and far between, and the greatest and most historically significant structures are no longer available for us to access or explore. Underground locations also have been getting increasingly difficult to enjoy. Several caves, such as Banholzer and the majority of the "Pickerell Caves Labyrinth" in St. Paul have been sealed up or backfilled by the city. That's not to say there's nothing available to explore. But the enormous variety of underground locations that once made the Twin Cities a global urbex destination are dwindling fast. What the Twin Cities still has, and will continue to offer for the forseeable future, is one of the greatest collections of various storm drains in the country. These are not all boring circular tubes of concrete (though some are). The variety and character each storm drain possesses should not be disregarded. They aren't difficult to find either. Just walk along any stretch of the river throughout the cities and you should be able to find a drain to explore in no time. Many drains you can walk right in. Required equipment is a reliable light source, and rubber boots. DO NOT EXPLORE STORM DRAINS IF THERE IS ANY POSSIBLE CHANCE OF RAIN. You will die. In the summer time, you can paddle canoes and kayaks into some drains straight from the river. If you intend to tag or otherwise spread graffiti "art" in storm drains, please refrain from defacing any antique bricks. Assholes have been seriously defacing/painting antique bricks in drains lately, something that is doubly frustrating when so much plain boring concrete is available for painting on.

Very informative post! Thank you!

It is unfortunate, I know. I've been far too busy with school and work, and I mostly forgot about the interest that I had, just because I hadn't properly gone out and done it yet. I've never much been intrigued by storm drains, but they might be a good introduction. Don't worry, I have no intention of tagging. "Take only photographs, leave only footprints." =)

Since this is a public thread, I am not going to be too specific but what clockwork said is great. With that being said, buildings are always going to be around. It's a huge cycle, when one is gone another is there. It does suck though that buildings aren't made like they used to be, no doubt older buildings are more interesting to explore.

The older buildings mentioned above may be gone but there are some that are just as fun if not more fun that you can explore right now. The window of opportunity has been dwindled from 5-10 years to about 3 months. Get out there, it may not be as obvious as it used to be but i can assure you it won't take long to find something that sparks your interest to explore...