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It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Vermillion, MN

Home Care Vermillion, MN

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Clay County Historical Society gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Vermillion, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Vermillion, MN

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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“Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the”

Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”

Gloria285054

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Vermillion, MN?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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Senior Care Vermillion, MN

Types of Elderly Care in Vermillion, MN

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
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Respite Care Vermillion, MN
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
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Caregivers Vermillion, MN
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Cotton Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
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Home Care Vermillion, MN
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Silk Road Café or visit W. H. Over Museum, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

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In-Home Care Vermillion, MN

Benefits of Home Care in Vermillion, MN

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Vermillion, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Elderly Care Vermillion, MN

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your MN's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
Senior Care Vermillion, MN

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Vermillion, MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.

Respite Care Vermillion, MN

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
Caregivers Vermillion, MN

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Sanford Health Vermillion Dakota Gardens
  • Senior Citizens Center
Home Care Vermillion, MN

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

In-Home Care Vermillion, MN

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Vermillion, MN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

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Elderly Care Vermillion, MN

Latest News in Vermillion, MN

Bodies of people who went missing along Vermillion River near Red Wing found

The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office said the two adult men and a 17-year-old girl were found around 7 a.m.RED WING, Minn. — The bodies of three people who disappeared while spending time along the Vermillion River near Red Wing on Monday, July 3 have been located, the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday.Police said the ...

The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office said the two adult men and a 17-year-old girl were found around 7 a.m.

RED WING, Minn. — The bodies of three people who disappeared while spending time along the Vermillion River near Red Wing on Monday, July 3 have been located, the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday.

Police said the two adult men and a 17-year-old girl were "located in the search area" around 7 a.m. after search operations resumed the morning of July 5.

On Tuesday, the GCSO explained that members of a family were spending time on the north side of Diamond Lake on the Vermillion River near the Mississippi River Monday night. At the time, three people were swimming and another was fishing. The sheriff's office said that when the swimmers began to struggle, the man fishing went into the water to help. He was able to rescue an adult woman, his daughter, and bring her to shore, and then went back into the water to get the other two swimmers. At that point, the three people went underwater.

The sheriff's office said everyone involved in the incident is believed to live together in the same household in Oakdale, Minnesota. A spokesperson added that the location in which the family members went missing was only accessible by boat, and those who went underwater were "inexperienced swimmers."

In their first reports on Monday, the GCSO said the three missing individuals were fishermen.

The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office will eventually release the names of the victims.

"Thank you to all the law enforcement agencies who assisted in this search," the GCSO said in a statement Wednesday. "A special thank you to Northstar Search and Rescue for their assistance and resources."

The recovery effort along the Vermillion and Mississippi Rivers was just one of several fatal drownings to happen on Minnesota waterways over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. On Sunday, a 20-year-old man drowned after jumping off a raft at Lake Lomand. Then on Monday, July 3, a 20-year-old man from Mexico drowned while swimming in Wright County's Lake Pulaski, and a 52-year-old boater's body was recovered on Swan Lake in rural Itasca County.

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Bodies of 3 swimmers who went missing in Red Wing recovered

RED WING, Minn. – Three relatives who went missing in the waters of the Vermillion and Mississippi rivers on Monday have been found dead.Authorities with the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office said they learned a family gathered on Diamond Island, and three in that group swimming in the river started to struggle.A man in the group who was fishing jumped in to save them. He pulled his adult daughter from the river, then went back in to save two other relatives, a man and a 17-year-old girl. The three never re...

RED WING, Minn. – Three relatives who went missing in the waters of the Vermillion and Mississippi rivers on Monday have been found dead.

Authorities with the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office said they learned a family gathered on Diamond Island, and three in that group swimming in the river started to struggle.

A man in the group who was fishing jumped in to save them. He pulled his adult daughter from the river, then went back in to save two other relatives, a man and a 17-year-old girl. The three never resurfaced. All are from Oakdale.

Two bodies were recovered around 6:50 a.m. on Wednesday, and the other was found at 7:05 a.m. They were all found in the search area.

MORE NEWS: 1 gravely hurt, 1 arrested after road rage incident at Hudson boat launch

The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office said first responders were called to the mouth of the Vermillion, where it enters the Mississippi, at about 7:35 p.m. Monday.

The county's water patrol, with the help of several other agencies, rushed to the scene, but they soon had to call off the search effort due to rain and the threat of severe weather.

Crews continued the search Tuesday morning, with divers and boats using sonar and other electronic tools. Major Mike Johnson with the sheriff's office told reporters Tuesday that the three missing people were all "inexperienced swimmers" who weren't wearing life jackets. They were swimming in an area that was 3 feet deep, he said, but there is a sharp drop off to right to 9 feet deep.

Johnson described the search as challenging, in part because all the different bodies of water meeting near the search spot create challenging underwater currents. Six responding agencies are assisting with the search efforts, including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and a nearby sheriff's office in Wisconsin.

"They're searching a large area, there's extreme heat. There's been inclement weather that have just made the search very difficult," Johnson said. "However all of the parties out there working - law enforcement and volunteers - keep working through and doing the best they can."

The names of the relatives will be released by the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office.

If someone is drowning, the Red Cross says "Reach or throw, don't go." Use your hand or an item to reach the victim, or throw them a life jacket or floatable object. Going into the water yourself puts you in danger.

NOTE: The sheriff's office previously said an angler went overboard while on the Mississippi River and two people jumped in after them. While details are developing, this story is updated with the latest information.

WCCO Staff

The WCCO Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WCCO.com.

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Vermillion Gold seeks additional state mineral leases in Itasca County

Vermillion Gold, Inc. is hoping to gain more than 1,600 acres of negotiated nonferrous metallic mineral leases along Itasca County's Owen Lost, Napoleon and Pickle lakes.The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday announced it was recommending the Minnesota Executive Council — made up of the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of sta...

Vermillion Gold, Inc. is hoping to gain more than 1,600 acres of negotiated nonferrous metallic mineral leases along Itasca County's Owen Lost, Napoleon and Pickle lakes.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday announced it was recommending the Minnesota Executive Council — made up of the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor and attorney general — approve the mineral exploration company's request for the four additional leases at the council's Feb. 26 meeting.

The company's request for leases is far less than its original application in 2017 when it asked for 25 mineral leases in Itasca and St. Louis counties covering almost 11,500 acres. The DNR on Tuesday said Vermillion Gold had "amended its lease request to substantially reduce its size."

Vermillion Gold currently has three leases adjacent to the four it's requesting. The company holds a total of 12 leases in both Itasca and St. Louis counties.

A state mineral lease means the company could explore for minerals on that land, but the DNR would first have to approve any drilling or exploration.

A state lease does not mean the company can mine on the land. That process requires a years-long environmental review and permitting process.

Vermillion Gold last explored in 2018 on state leases it holds near ArcelorMittal's Minorca mine in Virginia.

The only nonferrous (metals that don't contain iron) mine awarded permits in Minnesota is PolyMet, which is trying to open the state's first copper-nickel mine and processing facility near Hoyt Lakes and Babbitt.

PolyMet was fully permitted until courts placed numerous permits on hold and sent several permits back to the DNR for further review.

Twin Metals, a proposed underground copper-nickel mine near Ely and within the same watershed as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, kicked off its years-long review process in December.

Vermillion Gold did not immediately respond to an email or phone call from the News Tribune on Tuesday evening.

Despite a small gold rush near Lake Vermilion in the 1860s, there has never been an economically successful gold mine in Minnesota. But interest in possible gold mining in the state has increased in recent years.

The DNR has released two reports on high numbers of tiny gold grains found on the ground in areas near Tower, sometimes an indication of far more gold below ground.

In Ontario, just 40 miles north of the Minnesota border, the New Gold company opened its Rainy River Mine in 2017. Just this week, New Gold announced it was shortening its mine life from 14 years to 11 years due to lower gold prices, according to Northern Ontario Business.

But gold prices have been higher recently. Gold was trading at about $1,600 per ounce Tuesday.

A winter weekend at Lake Vermilion State Park

Even for those Minnesotans who love winter and claim it as their favorite season, there are moments when it seems to drag on way too long. It’s easy to notice these moments on social media, when we start posting summer paddling photos and longing for sunsets over the water.By nature, I am not one of those people who love winter. If I can be honest with you, I find winter to be a bit of a pain. Having to start your car and let it run a bit before driving and taking extra caution on icy trails, only to wipe out anyway, are not t...

Even for those Minnesotans who love winter and claim it as their favorite season, there are moments when it seems to drag on way too long. It’s easy to notice these moments on social media, when we start posting summer paddling photos and longing for sunsets over the water.

By nature, I am not one of those people who love winter. If I can be honest with you, I find winter to be a bit of a pain. Having to start your car and let it run a bit before driving and taking extra caution on icy trails, only to wipe out anyway, are not things I look forward to. I spent many years dreading Minnesota winters and complained my way through them. And then one year I decided that I might be happier if I simply embraced it.

From that point forward, my husband and I have made it a point to explore new winter adventures. While I’d still prefer an endless summer, there are things about winter that I look forward to each year. One of the things I look forward to are the trips we take up north each winter when we play in the snow, relax by the fire, and enjoy the quiet beauty of winter in the northwoods.

There are so many wonderful winter getaways in Minnesota, it’s easy to return to the same one again and again. We try to challenge ourselves to try a new place each year. On top of our winter bucket list: the new camper cabins at Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park. And I’ll let you in on a little secret—our stay there far exceeded our expectations. Before we even checked out, my husband was online, looking for open weekends in the coming months. Between you and me, this park is a Minnesota winter hidden gem.

  • Why go?

    There are many reasons to visit Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park in any season, but especially in the winter. The first thing we enjoy about heading up north in the winter is the quiet. All of the summer crowds have gone home and many campgrounds and businesses have shut down for the season. The next thing we love is that it’s unbelievably beautiful. The boreal forest is breathtaking any time of year but is arguably the most stunning with a fresh layer of sparkling snow. In addition, it’s nearly impossible to run out of things to do in the area. There’s great hiking and snowshoeing in the park and nearby. You also have access to skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing.

    How to find Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park

    Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park is located along the southeastern shore of Lake Vermilion and connects to the Soudan Underground Mine site about 10 miles to the west. Be sure and schedule enough time to explore both sections of the park. The state park is located about 15 miles west of Ely and 12 miles east of Tower. Coming from the Twin Cities, expect to travel around 250 miles or about 4 hours.

    Wherever you’re coming from, it’s a beautiful drive. If you have the time, you might consider taking a different route there and back. On our last trip to the area, we drove up along the North Shore past Duluth. After passing Tettegouche State Park, turn left to follow Highway 1 toward Finland and Ely. When you reach Ely, turn left on 169 and follow that until you reach the park entrance. Slow down and enjoy the sights and sounds of these idyllic small towns. On our way back, we continued down 169 toward Virginia, Eveleth, and Cloquet. Don’t miss more hidden gems as you travel this way.

  • New camper cabins

    The camper cabins are located in the northern portion of the eastern section of the park. There are eight cabins featuring two distinct layouts, and while they sleep six, it was also perfect for the two of us. Camper cabins at Minnesota State Parks can accommodate up to six people and no pets are allowed. The cabins at Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park have heat and electricity, but no running water. Cooking inside the cabins is prohibited except for coffee pots, electric tea kettles, and slow cookers. Each cabin has an outdoor kitchen area and fire pit. Firewood is available onsite, and outside firewood is strictly prohibited. You can find more information here.

    Trails in the park are still under development and many are unmarked. Be sure and grab a map from the self-service kiosk or restrooms before you head out. A GPS app may also prove helpful if you know how to use them. There are more than a dozen miles of trail to explore. We love the Onamani Overlook Trail paired with the Lakeside Trail in the eastern section of the park. We’ve hiked the entire western section over several trips. Last time we hiked the Swedetown Loop along with the Miners Trail. Keep your eyes peeled for wolf tracks.

    Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park is a wonderful park to explore any time of year. Still under development, you’re likely to be delighted with new discoveries upon each visit. We’ve visited this park in every season and I have to admit, winter is my favorite. That’s quite to compliment coming from a “winter convert.”

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    Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park – MN DNR

    Holly Scherer is a Minnesota-based writer, photographer, outdoorswoman, and guide. She’s most at home in the great outdoors; camping, hiking, paddling, cycling, and gardening. When she’s not on an adventure, she and her husband live in the Twin Cities where they’re fond of saying, “home is where we store our outdoor gear.”

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    Did This Hiking Minnesota Woman Really See A Monster Near Lake Vermilion?

    Since the calendar has turned over to October, it's got plenty of people looking for some spooky/scary stories and places to go. I stumbled across a YouTube channel recently, Lilith Dread, and found that she had recently shared a LONG episode that had to deal with a monster sighting near Lake Vermilion. Could this really have happened or was it a figment of the woman's imagination?Get our free mobile appThe woman in the YouTube episode went hiki...

    Since the calendar has turned over to October, it's got plenty of people looking for some spooky/scary stories and places to go. I stumbled across a YouTube channel recently, Lilith Dread, and found that she had recently shared a LONG episode that had to deal with a monster sighting near Lake Vermilion. Could this really have happened or was it a figment of the woman's imagination?

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    The woman in the YouTube episode went hiking hear Lake Vermilion, she says that she enjoys it due to the solitude, and one day her dog, Daisy, got away from her after she had parked the car. While she was looking for her dog, she said that she heard noises behind her and while she expected to see her dog chasing after a squirrel, she instead was greeted by a creature perched in a tree staring down at her!

    The creature she describes, eyes like a human but having a snout rather than a typical nose on its face, and its face was also covered in hair or fur. The mouth had small fangs coming out, and the woman states that she thought the perched creature "snarled" at her.

    The size of the creature was as she describes HUGE, "bigger than any forest creature" the woman had ever seen before. The beast was estimated to be over 7 feet tall and had 'clawed' hands, that gripped the tree it was crouching in.

    It was right after the beast snarled at the woman, it stopped, sniffed the air, and at that moment her missing dog appeared on the path behind her. As the dog reached the woman, the beast leaped from the branch and came towards them, only to run past them and into the forest!

    The animal/creature/beast she describes sounds so much like a Dog-Man creature that is heard so much about in Wisconsin and Michigan, but it's not as popular of a tale in Minnesota as the Wendigo, the Vergas Hairy Man, or ol' Sassy itself Sasquatch.

    Could this have been an encounter with a Dog-Man? It certainly sounds like it, or was it simply a piece of carefully crafted fiction? You can decide by taking a listen to the whole tale below.

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