Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Campground

Wish we had our bikes along but took a lot of drives to falls with hikes farther north. Cool new loop. Counterintuitive that the inside spots back up we'll below the inner loop sites. There's a good YouTube video of the 300 loop.

This backpacking site was an easy to hike to spot, located just off Lake Superior. The view from this location was incredible. However, we went in June and the mosquitos and black flies were out in full force. We had bug spray and mosquito nets, but ended up cutting our stay short as our poor dogs got the worst of the bites. Despite the bugs, it was a great campsite.

Shipwreck Creek Campground is brand new and wonderful. Sites are very large with gravel parking, grass lots and paved roads. Handicapped sites are all gravel with ramp to slightly raised tent pad. All sites have electricity, no water/sewer or dump station. Campground has potable water, but not individual sites. Bathroom and private showers are new, clean, free and hot. Park has excellent mountain bike course and is linked to the paved Gitchie-gumi bike trail and the Superior Hiking Trail

We stayed at the newly opened Shipwreck Creek campground for three nights in a hardside pop up. This campground is A+. All sites are unique and well spread out. Some sites in the inner loop have views of Lake Superior. Only negative is no dump station, we used the one at Gooseberry on our way in and out. Great home base for beautiful hikes!

We got site 13 and it was an absolutely beautiful view with access to Lake Superior and a view of the lighthouse. Due to snow and mud we were unable to use the carts to haul our gear. Site was very large with fire pit and bear box. It was very private as well.

We camped in a cart-in site, with privacy and a beautiful view of Lake Superior. It is a splendid place for tent camping.

The MN Historical Society runs the tours and manages a visitor center for the lighthouse. Go up in the lighthouse and look around the lighthouse keepers home from a hundred years ago.

This is one of my favorites not only from growing up but also nowadays, and we will enjoy it each year to come! We stayed in a cart-in site and the cart worked well, the trail was in good shape, the restrooms were well kept, and the site was beautiful. The sites have plenty of trees/plants between them so it feels private. There is plenty to do because of the lighthouse tour, visitor center, trails, and water.

We booked the last site available on a whim and it ended up being the best view of the light house!

What an amazing experience. This is a place to go to get away form it all. The camping here is very different depending on what you want. If you want to hike in a little further there are some great views from your sites. The sites are big, great tree coverage, and some amazing views. Each site is a little different. All the sites are pretty private which was great. Even though they are all hike in sites it is pretty easy to get away from your neighbors. The people where super great when we went. We just stayed for 1 night but plan to come back soon. 

We spent some time hiking around the lighthouse but also took some of the trails down to the beach. The beach was fun for the kids to skip rocks for a while. We were able to enjoy the beach all to ourselves. Id encourage you to go all the way to site 19 as it was for us by far and away the best on and worth the longer hike with our gear.

We LOVE Split Rock State Park, and try to go at least one a year. This spring we backpacked in a bit to the first backpack site, BP1, just about a mile in from the parking lot. 

The cart in sites are definitely amazing, but the backpack ones are the best! This one is on an overlook with pretty much your own private lagoon right next to the site. Stats for this site: 

- mostly shaded at the site

- wood chips for the tent area

- bear box

-picnic table

- rustic latrine (bring own TP)

- fire pit.

There are trails down to the private beach area and to the public one to the north. You could totally access this via kayak or canoe.

Take the hike back to the main parking lot/camp entrance for use of nice showers and bathrooms. Also a little public bay with great views of an island and the lighthouse. Also has a great public use building with an outside sheltered fire pit and electricity. We hung out a bit there to charge phones and use the tables.

All sites are quite private, even more than most state parks. Various access points to Lake Superior throughout the campground, and the park is close to Two Harbors for supplies, etc.

One of my favorite parks, up on the cliff with amazing views and great trails that wind you through the woods to high bluffs and lookouts. Just awesome.

My friend and I went camping here from October 19th-21st (which happened to be during an unseasonable cold snap- I'm talking 20 degrees at night with a bit of snow, but that's neither here nor there). The first night we lucked out and though it was cold, there was virtually no wind.

We chose one of the campsites nearest to the parking lot since we had a lot of cold weather gear to lug and my friend was new to camping. Even though it was close to the lot and there weren't really leaves on the trees anymore to offer privacy, the park was quiet and we only heard people when they would walk directly past our campsite.

The proximity to Lake Superior and the view was absolutely gorgeous. We gasped when we got to the site because it was so beautiful! In combination with how quiet it was, it really made for a worthwhile stay.

The tent pad was flat and covered with woodchips. Tent pad was elevated, with a wooden bench built in. The site was cart-in, which made loading in and out a breeze. Going uphill to the parking lot was a bit of a pain, but it was a short enough distance that it was just fine. There was a sizeable metal bear box for food. The vault toilet was a short jaunt up the hill and had plenty of toilet paper in stock.

Because it was off-season, the campground building with flush toilets/showers was closed, and there was no running water for the campground. (During the regular season, water is close by at the parking lot.) There was water available on the side of the Trail Center Picnic Shelter.

I am looking forward to returning to camp here in a bit warmer weather!

We stayed in site #7 the first weekend of October - perfect timing for the leaves! The site is private and isn't visible from the main paths and parking lots and you can't see into any other campsites. Occasionally the sound from the parking lot (especially people slamming the lid on the dumpster) would travel into the campsite, but overall it was very quiet. The site is up on a small bluff overlooking the parking lot, but you'd really need to get close to the edge to see the cars. The view was great (first 3 pictures below), and the stars were beautiful at night! The path to the site is definitely uphill and has some rocks, and the carts are heavy, so keep that in mind when you're packing. We also looked at site #8 when it was empty (fourth picture below) and it has a panoramic view and was a really nice site, too. The sites closest to the showers (#5, #11) were pretty exposed to the path. You can hear some of the road traffic on hwy 61, but it'd be hard to avoid in most sites and got much quieter at night. We could still hear the lake at night, which was great! I feel really lucky to have grabbed this site and can't wait to camp here again!

Always our favorite. October 7-9. Trails are groomed and you can take the Gitchi-Gimi to get there also. It has a pit toilet with a privacy barrier, bear box, Fire pit with grate, tent pad, and half picnic table. It is beach front as well. The water is so fresh and clean. High 60s during the day and low 40s to mid 30s at night. The lake keeps this area warmer later than inland. You can hear highway traffic but the view is stunning. The site drops down from the trail but is visible. This site is pretty open to the elements, but you can see the site. We always bring a tarp for the rain and sun. The main office has wood for sale, but it’s too far to hike it in. Great for cart in sites. The main bathrooms are closed this time of year, but they have showers. There is a trail bathroom that is open year round at the beginning of the SplitRock campground parking. In the winter, you will want to use the Pebbles Beach Parking lot because they do not plow the campground parking if it snows.

Minnesota state parks are very clean. Friendly staff. Amazing views.

I’ve stayed at Site 1 twice in the winter. We did manage to hike in on a blizzard night in November of 2019, but the park office made sure we were ok. The park office has limited hours so be prepared with firewood ahead of time. They do not plow the campground parking lot in the winter, but they do plow down to the pebble beach lot. You can snowshoe, hike, or toboggan in. The back trail off Of pebble beach parking is groomed and has views of the light house and nature center. There is a dumpster and a bathroom that is open. There is another bathroom off of the campground parking lot that I was able to use, but you will need to have snow shoes. Camping at site 1 in the winter is amazing. Perfect views of the lake and lighthouse. The site is protected from the lake by a large hill that has a bench at the top. The site has a picnic table, bear box, and grate. During the summer, the site would have a lot of noise from the parking lot and hiking traffic. In the winter, there are a lot of photographers. There are coyotes in the winter.

Backpack site 3 is worth the hike. I have camped here at least 10 times ranging in all times of the year. The lake effects the weather a lot, so be prepared. In the summer there are a lot of bugs, in spring, fall, and winter beware of the winds off the lake. There are many ways to get there. You can take the side road paved trail if you are a beginner but park trails are groomed and the stairs are maintained. The hiking views are beautiful and it is a very moderate hike. The site is off off the trail, but it is also on a private bay. The site entrance drops down to the site. There is a fair amount of tree coverage. There are a few trees between the site and the beach. The beach has large rocks but is relatively flat for water access, but bring a water filter. There is not a supply for a drinking water, but this site does have a partially sheltered latrine. It has a partial picnic table and a fire pit with grate. The tent pad is relatively flat and groomed with wood chips. The views are spectacular. You are right of hwy 61. Anticipate traffic noise though about 10pm. You are allowed to collect dead and down wood from these sites and trails.

Clearly marked hikes, beautiful views of the lake, the campground is cozy, but not too crowded. Bathroom house is a plus. Great picnic areas and fishing dock.

Site 20 is the furthest from the parking lot, just under a mile with a decent hill on the way. Worth it for the privacy though. The stone steps prevent the cart from getting all the way into the main area. The site is on the top of a peninsula with steep drop down to Superior. The picture I included with the best view of the water is just about 30 feet along the ridge, on a private path separate from the actual trail. The site has two tent beds, one on a lower level. 

Site #11 was too close to the main hiking path, but did have a true lake view. 

Site #4 is very close to the showers and parking lot. It has a bench with a direct view of the lighthouse that is very nice. 

Overall you can't go wrong at Split Rock. Make sure to hike to Corundum Point, and take the extra little path off to the left for a 180 degree view of the lake.

A perfect campsite: private, stellar views, close to modern restrooms, a short cart-in from the car. It was truly perfect (although unseasonably warm and incredibly stormy)

This was our last stop after a 7 day camping trip. I'm glad we end here; it was quiet and peaceful. There are plenty of trees to cool things down and the lake is in sight of all parts of the campground. Trees for hammocks and fire pit for s'mores. We enjoyed a hike around the small park to see the dam and wildflowers. 

Site 29 was perfect - surrounded by trees and the last in the row. 

TIP: do not stay near the bathroom. We didn't end up here but walking to the bathrooms at night makes it clear how bright the lights are. It would be annoying being close by.

Breathtaking views, bay to kayak on, Split Rock Lighthouse, biking and hiking.

Camped in winter and lucked out with mild temps and clear skies. The site was just feet from the shore, and through the night we heard the soothing motion of the lake, with amazing star visibility overhead. The hike to the site was longish for a MN Park “backpack site”, particularly as I did so in the dark and with snowshoes. Except for the stairs, the terrain was fairly level.

3/6/20-3/8/20. Cart-in 4

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is situated on Lake Superior in Two Harbors. It’s a backpacker’s paradise! They are open year-round and have 20 secluded Cart-In campsites within 2000 feet of the parking lot. They have wheeled carts available to move your camping gear to your campsite - or in the winter you could sled-in like we did. Each site has a fire ring, picnic bench and a bear locker for your food or gear. They also have 4 backpack sites with their own vault toilets and are 1/2 mile to 2 mile hike from the parking lot.. The sites are all nicely spaced with some close to the water with gorgeous views of Lake Superior, some of the lighthouse and others wooded. We got to scope out almost every one of them, as only one other person was camping here this weekend. You really can’t go wrong with any site at Split Rock as they were all beautiful and have their own little something to offer. Their showers are not open in the winter but they do have vault toilets throughout

They have 12 miles of hiking trails that run along Lake Superior and double back on the Gitchi-Gami trail. The Gitchi-Gami trail is a paved trail in summer which boasts biking or hiking and unplowed hiking in the winter. In the winter the park has hiking, snowshoeing and xcountry ski trails. .

The big draw is their historic lighthouse in which they charge a separate fee to enter. For all the times I have visited Split Rock, I have honestly never been to the light house. There is also river/stream fishing and access to several rock beaches. We hiked ALL the trails during our stay. They are diverse and beautiful! We particularly enjoyed the Day Hill trail which leads up to an overlook and gives you panoramic views of Lake Superior, the lighthouse and Split Rock Point.

This state park fills up very fast and is reservable, so we opted to visit in the winter. We chose site 4 which is close to the parking lot, next to Lake Superior and has views of the lighthouse. Our site was beautiful nestled among birch and pine (which most are), with waves crashing in the background. There is a short path that leads to a private bench that provides stunning views of the lighthouse and cliff views of the lake. We had clear skies and very little wind in our campsite. Highs in the 40s - low of 15 Friday, 28 Saturday. It was perfect winter camping weather!

I highly recommend a visit to this state park!

We stayed here after visiting nearby Pipestone National Monument. With the exception of noise from the adjacent road and the occasional train thundering by, this small campground was very quiet and peaceful (we could even hear the birds twittering).  Sites are generous in size but with limited privacy from foliage. Electric and non but only one water spigot near the bathrooms. Bathrooms were clean as was the shower, however, in the women’s shower, it was necessary to hold the button continuously for water flow (not the case for the men’s shower). We did not need reservations in mid-May, however, only downside is there was not much to do in the shoulder season when we were there. In summer you can rent kayaks for the small lake.

Spent a couple of nights here recently and really enjoyed the solitude. Trails are all marked and the proximity to the lighthouse was nice. Weather was cool and varied between clear and partly cloudy with a light rain for about an hour one morning. Site is on a relatively open, low bluff that overlooks Lake Superior to the South and has fire ring with grill grate, half a picnic table, a locker for food / gear, latrine and tent area padded with wood chips. Trees on site were perfect for my hammock. Waves crashing below site were calming and put me to sleep both nights - was much like beach camping in my home state of California! I did not hike the surrounding trails much as this was more of a short reconnaissance trip for future visits. If you plan on swimming be sure to bring water shoes! Pebbles/rocks are tough on bare feet.

While there I also took the opportunity to scout backpack site 1. This site has same amenities though it is more sheltered by trees. There is a short path that leads down to the water’s edge and a little swimming cove that could be cool for shallow rock diving. Large, flat granite formations for sunning yourself as well. Either site is awesome and Split Rock I’ll definitely be back!

This is an EPIC campsite! You get your own cart (each campsite as one assigned) and it is maybe a quarter mile cart in. The campsite has a nice picnic table, with a fire grate near by, and also has a really nice woodchip bed for the tent. The best part however is the stunning view. There is a bench that is on the edge of a cliff down to Lake Superior with a phenomenal view of the lighthouse! Would highly recommend

Great during every season!

We were married on Pebble Beach at this state park several years ago.  The shoreline is breath taking.  While the actual light house can be busy at times, the campground is quiet and very peaceful.  All campsites are cart in only.  Some are very close to the parking lot but others are a bit of a hike to be prepared.  Lovely trails to hike and shoreline to explore.

Nice and quit park with big campsite. Nice clean bathrooms. Camp hosts have firewood and ice also super friendly.

Loved the whole area around Split Rock Creek State Park. The campground was clean with good facilities and I loved the organized cart in operation! We chose site 5 for it's view of Lake Superior!

Each site had a fire pit, bear locker and picnic table, and sites are reservable in advance (see photos for instructions).

There's lots of hikes around the state park -- the most notable being those that let you catch a view of Split Rock Lighthouse. Worth the visit.