Split Rock Creek State Park is a Minnesota state park near Jasper, covering 1,926 acres. Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. It offers camping or lodging. Entry needs a state park vehicle permit, $7 for a day, as the DNR fees page said on October 19, 2026.
- 1,926acres
- Jaspermailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Camping
- Swimming beach
- Fishing and water recreation
- Wildlife/waterfowl observation
- Hiking
- Horse trails
Plan It In Three Lines
- Hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Cost: a $7 one-day vehicle permit or a $35 year-round permit, per the DNR fees page of October 19, 2026; confirm before you go.
- Pets: leashed (six feet or shorter) outside buildings, lodging and beaches, per the DNR rules page; park-specific limits are listed below.
About The Park
The DNR describes it: Swim, fish, or boat the waters of Split Rock Lake, the largest body of water in Pipestone County. The lake is the predominant feature of this park. Stop by the Beach Side Trail Center for an excellent vista and to discover more about the area. Seven miles north of the park is the famous Pipestone National Monument.
Wildlife. Lake and prairie animals inhabit the park. Meadowlarks, beavers, and waterfowl can be seen along the lakeshore. The southern, wooded part of the park is home to woodpeckers, fox squirrels, and other woodland animals.
History. A large dam was completed in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The dam was constructed of Sioux Quartzite, a hard red rock that was quarried locally for use in the building of the dam and nearby highway bridge.
Geology. Three major ice movements during the ice age deposited a thick layer of sand, gravel, rocks, and clay called till, which are several hundred feet in some areas. Under the till lays a hard pink bedrock known as Sioux quartzite.
Visit Facts
- Address336 50th Avenue Jasper, MN 56144
- Phone507-348-7908
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursThe ranger station (park office) is open sporadically on weekdays. Please call ahead to confirm hours of operation. 507-348-7908
- Emailsplitrockcreek.statepark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point43.89595, -96.36717 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Split Rock Creek State Park
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | — | Redrock trail runs .25 miles from the picnic area to the dam. |
| Summer | Hiking | — | The Hiking Club Trail begins at the beach and loops south 2.1 miles. |
| Summer | Horse | — | The park has 4.5 miles of horse trails. The trailhead, parking, hitching post and picnic tables are at the park's south end. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | — | Snowshoe anywhere in the park. |
| Winter | Other | — | The park has 2.1 miles of winter hiking trails. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | — | The park has 33 seasonally available, shaded sites located next to a hard-surfaced campground road. The campground is adjacent to Split Rock Lake. |
| Electric Sites | — | The park has 21 electric sites. One is accessible. |
| RV Length Limit | — | The max RV length is 52 feet. Length is measured from front of tow vehicle to rear of vehicle being towed. |
| Accessible Sites | 2 | There are two accessible drive-in sites with electric hookup. One site is next to accessible showers and restrooms. |
| Cart-in Sites | — | The park has three seasonally available cart-in sites located a short distance away from vehicle parking. Cart-in sites are tent only with fire rings and picnic tables. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing Pier | — | The park has an accessible fishing pier on Split Rock Lake. |
| Swimming Beach | — | The park has a swimming beach on Split Rock Lake |
| Boat Access | Split Rock Lake | The access only accommodates smaller boats. |
| Boat Docks | — | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | The park's shaded picnic area sits alongside the lake and includes tables, fire rings and grills. |
| Playground | — | A playground and sandbox are located in the campground. |
| Volleyball | — | Pick up volleyball equipment at the ranger station. |
| Warming House | — | The warming house is at the top of the sledding hill. |
| Sliding Hill | — | The sliding hill is next to the boat landing. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | Ranger station hours vary seasonally. |
| Historic Site | — | The Split Rock Dam was built by WPA in the late 1930s. The county road that goes over the dam is listed on the National Register of Historic Bridges. |
| Gift Shop | — | Visit the nature store inside the ranger station. |
| Rentals | — | Rent canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards at the ranger station. Rentals are seasonal and first-come, first-served. Birding kits, fishing kits (reel, rod, stocked tackle box), and GPS units are free to check out from the ranger station. |
| Firewood | — | Purchase firewood year-round at the ranger station or through Yodel. Gathering firewood can spread tree-killing insects and is against state park rules. Protect our trees – please burn only approved firewood! |
| Ice Sales | — | Ice is available seasonally at the ranger station. |
Pets And Permits
Statewide, the DNR rules page says pets are welcome in state parks on a leash six feet or shorter, attended at all times; only service animals are allowed in buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas. A vehicle permit costs $7 a day or $35 a year (DNR fees page, read October 19, 2026). See the parks passport page for the full price list.
Directions
Located 7 miles southwest of Pipestone off State Highway 23.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Blue Mounds State ParkState Park, about 15 miles away in a straight line
- Lake Shetek State ParkState Park, about 37 miles away in a straight line
- Camden State ParkState Park, about 39 miles away in a straight line
What We Could Not Verify
- Current alerts, closures, trail and campground conditions: they change daily. Read the DNR park page before you go.
- County: the DNR page does not state it, so we do not print one.
- Fees for lodging and group sites, and day-by-day availability: set by the DNR reservation system.
- Permit prices were read on October 19, 2026 and the DNR page shows no effective date.
- The map point is the park’s printed coordinate, not a verified entrance.
More In Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands
- Pipestone National Monument
- Big Stone Lake State Park
- Blue Mounds State Park
- Camden State Park
- Flandrau State Park
- Fort Ridgely State Park
- Kilen Woods State Park
- Lac Qui Parle State Park
- Lake Shetek State Park
- Minneopa State Park
- Events in Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Split Rock Creek State Park?
It is near Jasper, Minnesota. The DNR address is 336 50th Avenue Jasper, MN 56144.
How much does it cost to visit Split Rock Creek State Park?
A one-day vehicle permit is $7 and a year-round permit is $35 on the DNR fees page we read on October 19, 2026. Check the fees page before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Split Rock Creek State Park?
Pets are welcome on a leash six feet or shorter outside buildings, lodging, tours and beach areas, per the DNR rules page. The park page states no extra limits we could read.
Sources
- Split Rock Creek State Park (DNR Recreation Compass data) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park fees (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota state park rules (DNR) (read November 1, 2026).
- Minnesota State Parks Passport, all places, park fees and rules.