The Gopher Way, Underground pedestrian tunnel system at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, US.
The Gopher Way is a network of tunnels and skyways that links buildings across both the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses of the University of Minnesota. It runs on multiple levels, connecting academic buildings, residence halls, and parking structures across eight separate segments.
The system was built to protect students and faculty from Minnesota's winters while moving between campus buildings. New sections were added over the decades as the university grew and new buildings were constructed across both campuses.
Students use the passages to move between lectures, libraries, and dining halls without stepping outside, which shapes how daily life on campus feels. The underground sections often pass through basement floors where you can hear music from practice rooms or catch glimpses of labs and studios.
Most sections are open on weekdays, with access hours posted at individual building entrances. The network can be hard to navigate on a first visit, so following posted signs or asking campus staff for directions is a good idea.
The passages connect parking structures to the rest of campus, so commuters can park and spend an entire workday inside without once going outdoors. Few campus systems anywhere are designed to function as a fully enclosed environment from arrival to departure.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
