Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is a Minnesota state park near Two Harbors, covering 2,260 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.
- 2,260acres
- Two Harborsmailing town
- Yesovernight stays
- $7day vehicle permit
- Lake Superior shoreline
- Historic lighthouse tours
- Mountain bike trail access
- Waterfalls and scenic views
- Rustic cart-in and backpack campsites
- Drive-in electric sites in the new Shipwreck Creek Campground
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: This park is situated on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Perhaps best known for its historic lighthouse, this park offers numerous recreational opportunities. Visitors can cart-in their supplies to pristine campsites along Lake Superior, or enjoy drive-in sites with electricity in the Shipwreck Creek Campground.
Wildlife. Wildlife in the park includes a variety of small songbirds, herring gulls and common loons. Peregrine falcons have been spotted on their migration along the North Shore.
History. In 1905, a punishing November gale (the kind Lake Superior is famous for), claimed the Edenborn and the Madiera (a barge the Edenborn was towing) as well as five other ships, within a dozen miles of the Split Rock River.
Geology. The magnificent cliffs upon which the lighthouse is built are masses of anorthosite, an unusual igneous rock (formed from the molten state) that is made of the light-colored mineral plagioclase.
Visit Facts
- Address3755 Split Rock Lighthouse Road Two Harbors, MN 55616
- Phone218-595-ROCK (7625)
- Park hoursDaily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Park office hoursDaily office hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There may be times when staff are not available to have the office open during posted hours. Call ahead if you need to make sure the office is staffed during your visit. The office will sometimes be closed if staff are unavailable or need to briefly leave to attend to other needs.
- EmailSplitRockLthouse.StatePark@state.mn.us
- Park GPS point47.20565, -91.36825 (DNR printed coordinates)
- Official pageDNR page for Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
- Entry noteLighthouse is a Minnesota Historical Society site, not managed by the state park; separate tour fee. If ranger station closed, buy permit online or via QR codes outside
Trails
| Season | Trail type | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Accessible | — | The short, paved trail in picnic area runs 0.25 miles along the shoreline of Lake Superior |
| Summer | Self-Guided | — | The 6 miles of self-guided trail passes several historic points of interest. Ask for brochure at the ranger station. |
| Summer | Hiking | — | About 3 miles of trail run along the lakeshore 5.8 miles of the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) passes through the park. These trails will treat you to many spectacular views of Lake Superior and northern hardwood forests with remnant red and white pine. |
| Summer | Paved Bike | — | The park connects to 15 miles of the paved Gitchi-Gami State Trail from Gooseberry lakeshore to the Beaver River in Beaver Bay. Parking and access are available at the trail center parking lot. |
| Summer | Unpaved Bike | — | The park has 22 miles of unpaved bike trails that connect to Split Rock Wilds, managed by Lake County. Parking is available near Shipwreck Creek Campground. |
| Winter | Snowshoe | — | Snowshoe rentals are available at the ranger station. |
| Winter | Other | — | Fat bikers, hikers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers share 8.2 miles of groomed trails. All trails are intermediate and begin at the trail center. |
Camping And Lodging
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-in Sites | — | The Shipwreck Creek Campground had 46 electric sites open seasonally, May – October. Most site parking pads are at least 70 feet long. When you make your reservation, please doublecheck that you are reserving a campsite at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. There is also a Split Rock Creek State Park in southern Minnesota. Don't get the two mixed up! |
| Accessible Sites | — | The Shipwreck Creek Campground has three accessible drive-in sites with electric hookups. Sites 110 and 203 have elevated tent pads with a ramp. Site 314 does not have an elevated tent pad, but the entire site is packed, crushed gravel with no grass. The cart-in campground has two accessible sites. |
| Backpack Sites | — | The park has four backpack sites that range from 0.5 to 2 miles from the campground parking lot. Two of the sites are accessible by kayak from Lake Superior. |
| Cart-in Sites | — | The park has 20 secluded cart-in sites 2,000 feet of the parking lot. Wheeled carts are available to haul gear and supplies to your campsite. Carts are not available in the winter. A backpack or sled is recommended to haul gear during the winter months. Call the ranger station for questions. |
Reservations go through the DNR system; start from the park page.
On The Water
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Canoe Access | — | — |
Other Recreation
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Picnic Area | — | The picnic area on the Lake Superior shoreline includes tables, fire rings and shelter buildings. |
| Picnic Shelter | — | The enclosed shelter has restrooms, an outdoor patio and an indoor room that serves as a warming house in the winter. The other picnic shelter is smaller and open on all sides. Both are accessible and may be rented by calling the ranger station at 218-595-ROCK (7625). |
| Warming House | — | The trail center serves as a warming house. |
Amenities
| Type | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Station | — | The ranger station is about one block off Highway 61. Stop here for park-specific information as well as information about the area. |
| Visitor Center | — | Operated by the Minnesota Historical Society, the Visitor Center is open May 15 – October 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 16 – May 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays. |
| Interpretive Exhibit | — | Exhibits, films and programs are conducted in the Minnesota Historical Society's Split Rock Lighthouse visitor center, which also includes a gift shop. |
| Historic Site | — | Operated by the Minnesota Historical Society, the Split Rock Lighthouse Historic Site is open May 15 – October 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 16 – May 14, Lighthouse and historic buildings are closed. Visitor Center and Museum Store are open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays. |
| Tours | — | MN Historical Society Split Rock Lighthouse tours are available May 15 through Oct. 15. |
| Gift Shop | — | The nature store in the ranger station has t-shirts, books, caps, postcards and other gift items. |
| Rentals | — | Birding kits and kids' discovery kits (activities and stories for ages 5-12) are free to check out from the ranger station. Snowshoe rentals are available at the ranger station in the winter. |
| Firewood | — | Purchase firewood at the ranger station or through Yodel. Prevent the spread of tree-killing insects by burning only approved firewood. Gathering firewood in state parks is not allowed. |
| Ice Sales | — | Ice is available May through October 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 about 20 miles northeast of Two Harbors on MN Highway 61.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions.
Nearby Places
- Gooseberry Falls State ParkState Park, about 7 miles away in a straight line
- Tettegouche State ParkState Park, about 12 miles away in a straight line
- George H. Crosby Manitou State ParkState Park, about 22 miles away in a straight line
- Temperance River State ParkState Park, about 33 miles away in a straight line
- Bear Head Lake State ParkState Park, about 53 miles away in a straight line
- Cascade River State ParkState Park, about 53 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.
Related Pages
More In Duluth & North Shore
- Canal Park and the Lakewalk, Duluth
- Grand Portage National Monument
- Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center
- Split Rock Lighthouse Historic Site
- Superior Hiking Trail
- Cascade River State Park
- George H. Crosby Manitou State Park
- Gooseberry Falls State Park
- Grand Portage State Park
- Jay Cooke State Park
- Events in Duluth & North Shore
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Split Rock Lighthouse State Park?
It is near Two Harbors, Minnesota. The DNR address is 3755 Split Rock Lighthouse Road Two Harbors, MN 55616.
How much does it cost to visit Split Rock Lighthouse 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 Lighthouse 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 Lighthouse 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.