Camping
Drive-in Sites46 electric sites in Shipwreck Creek Campground
Open seasonally, May - October. Most site parking pads are at least 70 feet long. This park does NOT have a dump station or water fill station!

Wheelchair Accessible SitesFive sites
Two sites in the cart-in campground and three sites in the Shipwreck Creek Campground. 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 - no grass.

Backpack Sites4 sites
These sites range from 1/2 to 2 miles from the campground parking lot. Two of the sites are accessible from Lake Superior for use by kayakers.

Cart-in Sites20 sites
These beautiful sites are all within 2,000 feet of the parking lot. Wheeled carts are available to haul gear and supplies to your campsite. These are secluded sites.

Carts are not available in the winter. A backpack or sled is recommended to haul gear during the winter months. Please call park office with questions.

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Campground

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!

Beautiful park, well-maintained campsites

I love this campground as it's right on Lake Superior and a short jaunt to one of MN's iconic historic buildings. One of my favorite sites are the hike-in sights that are within about a mile's hike of the entrance.  They are right on the lake and there's nobody around for at least a 1/4 mile. Well worth the hike. 

Hike-in is the way to go

Two of my roommates and myself ventured up to the North shore of Lake Superior to camp, hammock, hike, take in the fresh air and grand views. Memorial day weekend proved as busy as expected and we were fortunate enough to reserve the last site available in the North shore state parks. I may venture to say the cart-in campsite #8 had the best view of Split Rock Lighthouse I have seen in my lifetime (which has included nearly annual trips to the area). 
The park was a great facility to provide my roommate her first camping experience: there are bathroom/shower facilities, but the cart-in sites provide the solitude sought for in a nature camping experience. The site was up the hill from the lake and the cart itself provided fun experiences of hauling the tents, sleeping bags and food up to our site. An animal proof metal "cupboard" and fresh wood-shavings for under the tent greeted us when we arrived, and like I said previously, we could not get over the view; we set up a tent and then our hammocks in the many birch trees surrounding our site and relaxed for a while before exploring the visitor area surrounding the lighthouse. 
The grounds and trails were marked with signs pointing out the compelling history of the Lighthouse and people who lived there. We did a shorter hike up one of my favorite little trails on the grounds to the Day Hill trail that brought us to the top of a giant rock face overlooking the lake far below; an island off the shore to our right and a bay tucked away to our left. Late May proved an excellent time for a lucky warm spell and absolutely no mosquitos.
The next day we enjoyed oatmeal and coffee over the fire before heading out on the Split Rock River trail in the State Park. What a beautiful hike along the river, though the trail got a bit muddy in places from recent rains. It's not a hike for the faint of heart as the terrain has ups and downs, steep banks and varying turf underfoot. It was very rewarding however, and we thoroughly enjoyed the overlook views above the pines to the lake. 
Overall I would absolutely recommend this site to the adventurous, new or experienced, and all those who enjoy a grand view.

Spectacular Vistas Await

This is one of my all time favorite campgrounds. The views of Lake Superior throughout the campground and the state park are phenomenal. The campsites are private and large. There are carts available to hike your items into your campsite. The staff is always friendly and ready to answer any questions you may have. The shower and bathroom house has always been clean. Make sure to take in all that the superior hiking trail offers you through this state park. Do not hesitate to book your campsite today!

Stunning and Peaceful

Bring your hiking shoes because, while the State Park itself is pretty touristy (don't tour the lighthouse - not worth it), there is fantastic hiking right out of the park on the Superior Hiking Trail! Do either a loop or out-and-back and be treated to some amazing views! 

Touristy, but Great Hiking

This park seems a lot busier than it really is, because of all of the traffic from folks visiting the lighthouse.  In reality, once you sneak in past the crowds to the campsites, the park is quiet and filled with really great hiking trails, both along the shore of Lake Superior and connecting further inland to the Superior Hiking Trail.  One our most recent camping trip at Split Rock we stayed in one of the backpacking cabins.  Very secluded.  Right on the cliffs overlooking the lake.  It was a bit cold and windy (we were camping in April, afterall), but watching the sun rise over the lake with the lighthouse framing the image, was worth the hike.  100% go there, people.

Split Rock and Roll!

I am originally from MN, but now live in Utah.  I try to make it back to the North Shore whenever possible and this has been one of my favorite areas to camp.  Close to several state parks, and easy access to both the lighthouse and Superior Hiking trail. It does get busy during the peak season, but weekdays are usually a little easier on the crowds.  I am also a geologist, so I thoroughly enjoy poking around the volcanics in the region (the lighthouse sits on a rhyolite plug).  

Love this area

What can I say, Tettagouche and Gooseberry Falls are impressive, but they don't compare to Split Rock.  The campsites are walk-ins, and the majority of the sites are close enough to the parking lot that you can use one of the provided carts to get your tent and gear into the campsite.

We stayed in one of the sites at the back of the park that you can either backpack 2 miles or you can kayak to it.  We backpacked.

The camp site was awesome.  it was right next to the shore and the trees and space was beautiful.  We pitched our Marmot and just relaxed in that beautiful setting.  The boys plated on the rocks at the beach while I read a book and napped.  It was one of the best experiences relaxing and watching the sunrise on the lake.  We even saw a beaver swimming right by our camp.

This is the best campground on the North Shore, but don't take my word for it, take your family and check it out for yourself.

Split Rock is the BEST campground on the North Shore of Lake Superior

You can't go wrong with this park.  The hiking is fantastic and can find something for all abilities and the camping is one of my favorite in the state.  The hiking club trail is one of the longer one and does involve stairs, but the varied views are beautiful.  All sites are Cart-In, what is great it each site has its own cart which doesn't happen at all parks.  Some of the sites take more effort as they are up hill so a loaded cart will take a couple strong people to get up to (site 8) but the views are worth the pay off.  

Perfect North Shore Experience

We love this campground for many reasons.  First, the cart in sites are just far enough away from the parking lot that there is very little noise, but close enough you can get to your car easily (1/4 mile maybe). Our favorite site has a big, huge rock next to it and a raised tent pad. All the sites are secluded.  Many, many trees to separate the sites from one another.  Near the parking area is a bathroom and shower combo, but there are outhouse type of bathrooms scattered closer to the cart in sites. Very close to Lake Superior (easy walk) and bear boxes are at every site (strong metal boxes with shelves and locks for your food). Just beware of the black flies in the summertime.  They are ruthless!!  Don't take your dog if you want them to be comfortable.  For some reason, the black flies love to land on dogs, particularly black ones, and there isn't a bug spray that will shoo them away.  We actually left 30 min after arrival (not even camping one night) last July because they were so bad.  By the time we reached the car, there were at least 30 on my dog's back.  

Bottom line, avoid black fly season and this is a spectacular campground!  We are repeat customers!

Cart in sites are beautiful!

A few friends and I wanted to get a camping weekend in early in the season in a beautiful cart-in campsite. The view from the site was perfect but due to the early season weather our stay was a bit rough. We had 30/40 mph gusts and sleet one evening and the site was very exposed to the wind coming off the lake. Won't take points away from the stay for the weather though. Would highly recommend. Just beware that you aren't very protected from bad weather with most of the cart-in sites.

Fury of the Lake

The sites are well worth any trekking that needs to be done to get to them! My site had a gorgeous overlook across a small bay. The site is up a short stone staircase, with one tent pad about halfway up to the main campsite (two pads more than accommodated my party of one!) and there is also a bench overlooking the bay in the site itself. There's also a picnic table, a fire ring, and a food locker.

Quiet solitude

Set at the end of a path, atop of a 100 foot cliff, this site has a commanding view overlooking Lake Superior. The noise is minimal, and dominated by the sound of waves crashing on the shore below.

Fantastic trails and an historic light house give this park plenty to explore

Very secluded!

First of all, the park is BEAUTIFUL! There are many sights to see beyond the lighthouse. We enjoyed geocaching, hiking and pebble beach (the kids FAVORITE!). The sites are hike in only, with pit toilets, which was a little harder with small children but definitely worth the extra hassle for families. Hike out the lake by the pump house to see the lighthouse from the lake without paying to go in it (you can't get anywhere near the lighthouse without a separate fee). That is about as much of the lighthouse my kids cared to see anyways. They would have spend all day at pebble beach throwing the large smooth stones into the lake while enjoying the view of Ellingsen Island. This park is a must hit at least once!

Beautiful Views, Hike in Only

I brought my mom up here for mothers day! We started in Duluth with lunch, stopped in two harbors to see the little lighthouse and came here to see the big one!

Mothers Day

We visit here every year. We were married on Pebble Beach 6 years ago and visit it every year on our honeymoon. All campsites are cart in only. Some are close to the parking lot and you are able to keep some items in your care for safekeeping. Most sites are quite a hike, uphill so it's difficult to go back to your care as you would at a drive in site. Our favorite site is #1 as it is very secluded and has a beautiful view of the lighthouse. It's a very roomy site and sites also have food lockers.

One of My Favorite State Parks

We stayed (me, my wife, and our toddler) at what was accidentally the first snow of the year! Oops! Thankfully, the wood purchased from the park was the best wood I have _ever_ purchased from a park, in terms of speediness of lighting - by the time my wife and toddler got back from the walk to the bathroom at the crack of dawn through the light dusting of snow, I already had a roaring fire going!

We camped near to the parking area since we were with our toddler, though we might as well could have been further away, with all the hiking we did in the morning! It's nice that they provided carts to carry your gear from the car to the campsite. We hit up many trails, viewing the beautiful yellow autumn foliage through the melting/newly melted snow. And of course had a great time with the geocahing...the Official MN State Park Geocache series are always great, and this was no exception, especially as a family activity: a hike in the woods, with a hidden treasure to find along the way!!

We had a really great time at this really beautiful park!

Oct 3 2009: First Snow of the Year

The reservations were made online with ease. We were booked for November 5th of 2017\. Parking lot was convenient, but the restrooms were closed. We did have a mouse in the car when we returned eating a bag of popcorn I had left. There were an adequate amount of carts for the cart in sites. The trails are groomed regularly. There were latrines houses along the way. The backpack in hike in to site 2 is all of 1.25 miles I believe. There is a stairway leading down to the beach that is in great condition. Campsite 2 is a large site on the most south side of the property. It is on a hill above the water. There are a few trees at the edge of your hill cliff area for a bit of a wind break, but not much. The view is amazing. Down the hill to the very rock water front you have access to an abundance of clean water. The waves can come crashing in on you. In most of the seasons this is very doable. When the rocks begin to freeze in November you will slip into the cold water. There is not an easy way to go about it. A pole attachment for your water bucket could work. There is a bear box, but I would warn you of the mice. The latrine is guarded on three sides and has a well build pedestal. There is a pad for your tent and trees for your hammock. There is no hiding from the wind in this large clearing of a campsite. There is a half wood bench with table top. This is very convenient. The fire pit has a metal grate to swing over the top with a few large logs for seating. The hike is easy and the view is amazing. It is mostly tall grass around you, but there is plenty of firewood in the surrounding area.

Site 2 @ Split Rock in November

We had switched our reservations during our stay using the website. This was done easily with the cell phone service available. We found backpack site 1 during a hike while staying at backpack site 2\. The reason we chose to move was that it was a particularly cold and windy week in November. This was making it hard to obtain water for filtering at the rocky water front at backpack site 2\. The hike is easy as the trails are groomed. Site backpack 1 is right off the beach. Obtaining water is easy in all of the seasons. There is a water break to prevent the waves. Site 1 is considerable more sheltered with trees. This was great for fire wood and places to put up the tarp for wind break. There is a convenient half bench and table top. There is log seating and a fire ring with a swinging grate. There is a cleared path to the latrine. It is guarded on three sides with a well built pedestal. The view is amazing. There is a small path that takes you to a clearing on the rock cliff to over see the beach bay area. Passing hikers will invade your site if you do not clip up your reservation sheet. There is not a place to do so for this site so I recommend you bring a rubber binder or something to adhere it to the post. During the summer months I can imagine there is a lot of traffic with this site being so close to the beach. We went the first week of November. A lot of the hiking trails were being used for hunting. We didn't see the post until we were there. Hiking was limited to the campgrounds.

Backpack site 1 Split Rock in Novembe 

Nicely kept. Very convenient. The lighthouse is a classic photo opportunity.

Lighthouse

This campground was gorgeous! It was so nice waking up to breathtaking views of Lake Superior. We really appreciate privacy while camping, and these sites were spaced pretty far apart with forest in between. This place books up fast, so be sure to make reservations 6 months to a year in advance. Also I'd recommend packing light, as you need to park your car in the lot and cart in all your camping equipment. Each site gets a cart to help lug everything. It also gets cold at night, so bring some warm clothes! A lot of beautiful hikes in the area. This campground is hands down a place my husband and I will try to book every year. Five stars!

Lovely private getaway!

When driving the North Shore it's always a treat to stop and stretch those legs at the Lighthouse. There is a wonderful re-creation of what it was like during the time the Lighthouse was active, pending the time of year, volunteers are in character telling tales and wandering around the site. There are also some lovely trails that are easy hiking even for little ones! I have been in the spring, summer and fall - every season brings it's own beauty and grace!

Lighthouse 

I love Split Rock lighthouse state park. Of all of the North Shore campgrounds, I think that this one has the best campsites. Sure if you have a lake view you are on a cliff and can't readily access the lake from your site, but the views are amazing. I believe that we had cart-in site 18 and it was a site worth remembering. The trail to the campsites was a little more strenuous than a few other cart-in campground that I've been to, but it wasn't a deterrent at all to visiting again. In addition to the great view the other amazing aspect of this site was how private it felt. We couldn't see or hear our neighbors at all. A few of the cart-in sites are definitely on display though. Overall experience was worth dealing with pit toilets being the only nearby option.

We spent two nights here in late October and froze at night. I would recommend a cold temp sleeping bag for sure if you are here in the fall. Also make sure to note that your state park pass does not get you access to the light house, there is an additional fee to go past a secured boundary. Make sure to make your reservations ASAP because this campground fills up FAST.

Stellar

Or at least on the day I was there. Stayed overnight on a trip toward Minneapolis. I made this a stop so that I could collect a couple of geocaches in the State's Aquatic Challenge. I cached here and one other SP in the vicinity. I was in this park a year ago but, did not camp. It is a beautiful park, near water and generally quiet during the week. Electric sites, water and dump station available at entrance/exit.

Site 20

Small, but quiet

-the lighthouse is a must-see, but if you’re done with the history and the rock piles, you can wade out to the island to the right (the south) of the lighthouse! Go to the point of the rock beach that sticks out towards the island and be careful in the middle - it gets slippery. It’s easier in the fall but can be done in the summer!

-would not recommend the wade for children

Hidden Gems Next To The Lighthouse

we had a great weekend at this park! Great hiking trails and water activities!

Fun weekend!

**Campground Review**

[**Campsite video**](https://youtu.be/3U7ODJdfqbQ)

I absolutely love the Minnesota North Shore of Lake Superior. For the last six years we have driven up there approximately twice a year, and we have yet to run out of new places to explore or grow bored of the places that we have already been. My absolutely favorite place to camp so far has been Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. I’ve reviewed cart-in site 19 on The Dyrt previously, this time I’m reviewing cart-in site 9\. The best part of camping here is that every campsite is unique, and most of them offer more privacy than you would get at a drive-in campground. You definitely get less road noise the closer you are to the lake.

There is a parking lot designated for cart-in campers. The carts themselves are kind of hidden behind a row of trees, just walk towards the bathroom structure in order to find them. Grab the cart with your campsite number on it and keep it at your site until you are ready to pack out. Keep in mind that MOST of the campsites require pushing the cart up or down a hill, so maybe take multiple trips or have extra people help carry some of the mid-weight items.

The obvious draw to this park is the lighthouse- it is run by the Minnesota Historical Society and you have to pay to even get up close to it. We have yet to cough up the fee to enter this area, but there are numerous places on the edge of the cliffs that offer great views of the lighthouse (the most Instagrammable spots are definitely outside of this special fee zone). The trail system is relatively extensive thanks to some regional trails cutting through the park. The Superior Hiking trail and paved Gitchi-Gami trails are some options, and one of the hiking trails is open to mountain bikers as well.

We actually tend to just hang out at our campsite when we camp here, but we did go on the Day Hill trail and went up to the observation point. It was unexpectedly beautiful and also featured a random fireplace that is apparently a great spot for a fire.

Camgpround: 5/5 stars

**Product Review**

[**_Product video_**](https://youtu.be/gOsFwsXr0Ms)

As a Dyrt Ranger I was offered the opportunity to review the RōM Pack from RōM Outdoors. It is a 3-in-1 engineered feat that offers you the ability to use it as a hiking pack, a poncho, or a blanket. I have to admit that I was skeptical when I first received it. This thing is made out of heavy duty materials and weighs in at 4.6 pounds, is wider than me, and when it was empty it really didn’t form to my body at all. I was really pleased that I wound up loving it!

What I really loved about it is that the wide straps really distribute the weight well on your body. I was nervous about how heavy it was already when it was empty, and for our major day hike I had probably between 15-20 pounds extra in it. This probably doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but in addition to having a generally achy back I’ve had a LOT of stress-induced tightness in my neck and upper back. Despite this, I wound up carrying the pack for most of our moderately-difficult ~5 hour hike on the Superior Hiking Trail to Bean and Bear lake.

I never felt any soreness from this pack at all, and in fact the only reason I asked my husband to carry it for the last stretch was because my glutes were giving out (fitness tracker said we climbed 121 flights of stairs!!). I was thrilled that when I took off the pack that all of my recent stiffness was reduced by about 90%!!! The weight of the pack combined with all of my movement must have stretched my muscles out in a therapeutic way. Some of the stiffness has creeped back, and I’m tempted to cancel all of my appointments that I scheduled last week for it and just go for another hike with this pack instead!

I got to try out the poncho feature at Tettegouche state park on my last North Shore day- it was ~45 degrees and was constantly raining. I was able to figure out how to convert the pack into a poncho quite easily, but I will definitely need a tutorial to convert it back into a pack. The thickness of the material was perfect for keeping me warm in this temperature- it might be too heavy for a hot weather rain. I felt a little self-conscious because of the backpack straps hanging off the front. You can either keep your hands inside of the poncho or use the snap buttons to close up the edges into sleeves.

Opportunities for improvements

Snap button strength- I only wore the rompack as a poncho for a 1.5 mile hike. I used the snaps to create “sleeves” and most of the snaps came undone with basic movements.

Waist straps- I only used the chest load balance strap since I found that the waist strap wasn’t terribly comfortable. I definitely would have preferred a waist strap that features padding like the Journey pack.

Chest strap tightness- I had this load balance strap as tight as it would go- and there is definitely an opportunity to make the non-adjustable side of the straps adjustable.

Poncho hood coverage- My head is big- women’s hats generally don’t fit me. I thought that the hood could be slightly larger or feature a bill that pops out to prevent rain from getting on my face/glasses.

Shoulder strap placement- When you are wearing this product as a poncho the straps kind of just hang down the front. I’m not a backpack/poncho engineer, but it seemed like you could easily rotate the hood opening 180 degrees and have the straps go down your back instead. It also seems like there is an opportunity to put snaps on the shoulder pads to keep them flat against the poncho.

Bottle holders- the pack features two mesh pockets for water bottles or other things that you want to keep handy. They aren’t stretchy, which means that wider water bottles might not be able to be stored here.

Colors- Hopefully as RōM Outdoors grows they could expand their color selection.

Ranger Review: RōM pack at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

This campground has 18 sites, that are cart-in only. You park in the paved parking lot, and use the provided carts to haul your equipment to your site. They are between 200 and 1800 feet away, on hilly gravel trails. Each site is private, some are are hidden from the trail. Some are on the cliff edge, overlooking Lake Superior.

There is a nice shower and bathroom facility at the trail head. Water is available as well.

The Park requires a State Park permit, and a daily camping fee applies.

The area has many hiking trails, and the very popular and legendary Split Rock Lighthouse.

Easy Cart-in to beautiful sites

Every year, on the November anniversary of the sinking if the Edmund Fitzgerald, there is a special day of activities at Split Rock Lighthouse, capped by a memorial service that includes the lighting of the lighthouse lamp at sundown. This is such a popular event that even though there had been cold and snow along the Shore for weeks, most campsites at Split Rock were taken for the weekend and some folks lingered into the next week. Intrepid campers we Minnesotans! Water is shut off in the campground bathhouse at this time if year, but if you are a hardy winter camper, and you dont mind using outhouses, then camping here in winter is do-able. The campsites are pretty much all walkin sites, but there are carts available. There are regular bathrooms in the visitor center but that is a long way from the campground! However, if you are prepared to rough it and know how to stay warm in the off season, it is possible to camp here, and the quiet winter season, the special light of the short winter days, and the amazing wild moods of Lake Superior in winter, make it worthwhile to try the experience! Probably best not to take the campsites close to shore though as waves crash way up onto land when the winter storms pick up

Serious Split Rock camping

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.

Cart- in Camping with Lake Superior Views

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

Nice park

A Landmark

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

EPIC!

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!

Backpacking Site 2

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.

Nice quiet park

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!

A backpacker’s paradise

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

Beautiful 

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.

Perfect getaway park

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)

The best campsite in Minnesota

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.

North Shore, Popular

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. 

Crazy Bay  backpack site 3

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. 

Winter Camping!

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

North shore gem

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. 

Backpack site 3

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!

Beautiful, private sites

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.

So clear & Clean and such views! 

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.

What a great location! Right on the water and peaceful.

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

Lucky!

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.

Top 3

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.

Iconic views of Split Rock Lighthouse

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. 

Beautiful View

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! 

Shipwreck Creek Campground 

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 

New MN State Park campground 

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. 