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Short answer: Split Rock Lighthouse, 20 miles north of Two Harbors on Lake Superior, runs on winter hours from October 20, 2026 to January 4, 2027: open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The Minnesota Historical Society sells a $8 grounds pass, and a $25 Keeper’s Tour that is limited to 10 people.
- 10 am-4 pmWinter hours, Thu-Mon
- $8Grounds pass, no lighthouse entry
- $25Keeper’s Tour, 10 people
- 1910-1969Years the beacon guided ships
How we checked: the Minnesota Historical Society’s Split Rock Lighthouse pages on hours and admission, directions, amenities, winter activities and history. The hours page is dated October 20, 2026 to January 4, 2027. All read on November 3, 2026. Hours, prices, rules and closures change, so check the named agency or business before you rely on them. Anything we could not read is marked Not confirmed where it appears. The state park around the lighthouse is run by the Minnesota DNR with separate admission; its permit price is not stated here. General guidance on this page is labelled as general guidance. This is not safety, medical or legal advice; where a safety or legal rule appears, the quoted words are the official source’s own.
Winter Hours and Admission, Per The MNHS
- HoursOctober 20, 2026 to January 4, 2027: Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday closed.
- Grounds Pass$8. The page says “No Lighthouse or Keepers Home Access.”
- Keeper’s Tour$25, MNHS members save 20%. Capacity limit 10. Start times 12:00, 1:00 and 2:30 p.m. The page lists Saturdays October 23 to November 22 and Friday through Sunday, January 1 to 3.
- Christmas at the LighthouseNovember 27 to December 27. Capacity limit 10 per tour. Start times 10:30 a.m., 12:00 and 1:30 p.m. $20, free for MNHS members.
- Beacon lightingEach November 10 the beacon is lit to remember the people lost on the SS Edmund Fitzgerald; the MNHS event listing for November 10, 2026 reads 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Getting There and What to Bring, Per The MNHS
- Address3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Rd., Two Harbors, MN 55616. Phone 218-226-6372.
- Distance“20 miles north of Two Harbors and within Split Rock Lighthouse State Park,” off Highway 61.
- ParkingFree for historic site visitors during site hours only. A state park vehicle permit is required during off hours. Five disability parking spots; the pathway to the visitor center is paved.
- FoodPicnic tables are near the parking lot. Food and beverages other than bottled water are not allowed on the historic site.
- PetsService animals are permitted. Pets are not allowed on the historic site.
- SafetyFirst aid kits and AEDs are on the site.
Why The Light Was Built
The MNHS says a November gale in 1905 that wrecked nearly 30 ships prompted the construction. The U.S. Lighthouse Service completed the light station in 1910, and the beacon served mariners from 1910 to 1969.
Plan The Day
What We Could Not Confirm
- Whether the Keeper’s Tour runs on a Friday: the hours page lists Saturdays, but the MNHS event listing shows a Keepers Tour on Friday, November 6, 2026, 12 to 1 p.m. Not confirmed
- The state park vehicle permit price and the park’s own hours: the DNR page loads them by script and our reader got none. Not confirmed
- Road and shoreline conditions on the day you go: see the winter driving answer and 511mn.org. Not confirmed
- Whether the lighthouse interior is open outside the tour times. Not confirmed
Sources Read
- MNHS, Split Rock Lighthouse: Hours and Admission, read November 3, 2026 (hours table dated October 20, 2026 to January 4, 2027)
- MNHS, Split Rock Lighthouse: Directions and Parking, read November 3, 2026
- MNHS, Split Rock Lighthouse: Amenities, read November 3, 2026
- MNHS, Split Rock Lighthouse: Winter Activities, read November 3, 2026
- MNHS, Split Rock Lighthouse home page and event list, read November 3, 2026
Keep Planning
Cite this page: It's Minnesota, “Split Rock Lighthouse: Winter Hours and Tours”, itsminnesota.com/visit/tours-and-day-trips/split-rock-lighthouse-visit/ (updated ). By the It's Minnesota editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.