The Underground Booty Squad
The Trout Brook drain follows an old creek valley from the Mississippi River to Lake Como, a distance of about 4.5 miles. The Phalen Creek drain follows another old creek valley from the Mississippi to Lake Phalen, a distance of about 4 miles. We followed Phalen Creek for about half its length and explored a bizarre side tunnel with tar-covered walls that eventually intersected an abandoned, flooded tunnel that looked like an old electric transfer tunnel.
Since these drains are in the valley and only a few feet underground, they do not share the interesting features found in most of the deep sandstone drains in the Twin Cities – large dimensions, drop shaft waterfalls, and amazing architecture. On the other hand, you can follow the main drain and side tunnels farther than you would if they were sandstone drains because of the absence of the drop shafts which are impossible to climb.