LAST UPDATED: 1/28/24 – Split Rock Lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls State Parks Guide
I am originally from Minnesota, so the state definitely has a special place in my heart. As do the Great Lakes of the United States, as I spent a lot of my childhood vacations exploring their shores and surrounding forests.
The Great Lakes region doesn’t get the notoriety for beauty that the American West or the Atlantic and Pacific coastal regions do, but there are some incredibly beautiful areas in the Great Lakes region.
A few of my absolute favorite areas in the Great Lakes region are Split Rock Lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls State Parks in Minnesota. Both state parks are located near the coast of Lake Superior in Northern Minnesota, and both state parks are absolutely gorgeous. Even better, they are both in very close proximity to one another, so it is very easy to see them both in one trip.
In my Split Rock Lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls Guide, I will provide you will all of the information that you will need to plan a fun and memorable trip to visit the parks.
I explain the best way for travelers to get to the parks from outside the state or outside the country and outline the best times to visit the park. With this information in hand, it will be easy to plan a trip to Split Rock Lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls that you will remember for a lifetime.
Split Rock and Gooseberry Falls Guide Navigation Menu
How to Get to Minnesota’s North Shore
The closest large city to the Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse State Parks is Duluth, Minnesota. The parks are approximately 41 miles, or a 45-minute drive, from the Duluth area.
If you would like to stay in a large city with a large airport, the closest city would be the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area. The parks are approximately 200 miles, or a 3 hour and 15-minute drive, from the Minneapolis and St. Paul International Airport.
| City\Destination | Distance | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mackinac Island, MI | 460 miles | 8hrs 15min |
| Door County, WI | 424 miles | 6hrs 30min |
| Apostle Islands, WI | 131 miles | 2hrs 30min |
| Milwaukee, WI | 447 miles | 6hrs 50min |
| Turnip Rock, MI | 881 miles | 15hrs 5min |
| Detroit, MI | 804 miles | 12hrs 20min |
| Chicago, IL | 519 miles | 8hrs |
| Minneapolis, MN | 201 miles | 3hrs 10min |
| Superior, WI | 55 miles | 1hr |
| Winnipeg, MB | 410 miles | 7hrs 15min |
| Green Bay, WI | 380 miles | 6hrs |
Directions
If you are planning on visiting the Apostle Islands from either Duluth, Superior, or Minneapolis, I have provided some directions to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park below for you to follow.
Directions from Minneapolis, MN
Directions from Minneapolis, MN to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park:
- Take Highway 35W North for 156 miles towards Duluth
- Take exit 259 to merge onto MN-61 North/London Rd toward North Shore
- Follow MN-61 North for 44.5 miles
- Turn right onto Split Rock Lighthouse Rd
Directions from Duluth, MN
Directions from Duluth, MN to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park:
- Take Highway 35W North for 2.1 miles
- Take exit 259 to merge onto MN-61 North/London Rd toward North Shore
- Follow MN-61 North for 44.5 miles
- Turn right onto Split Rock Lighthouse Rd
Directions from Superior, WI
Directions from Superior, WI to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park:
- Cross the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge/U.S. Rte 2 into Duluth, MN
- Use the right lane to take the ramp onto Highway 35 North
- Stay on Highway 35W North for 6.5 miles
- Take exit 259 to merge onto MN-61 North/London Rd toward North Shore
- Follow MN-61 North for 44.5 miles
- Turn right onto Split Rock Lighthouse Rd
Top Things to Do in the Area
There are a lot of great things to do on the North Shore, as the shores of Lake Superior in Northern Minnesota are called locally. Duluth is a fantastic and beautiful city that is full of surprises, and the coast of Lake Superior and the state parks near its shores are a blast to explore.
There are also several incredible things to see along the shoreline of Lake Superior across the border in Wisconsin. One of my favorite spots just over the border is the Apostle Islands.
This is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the entire American Great Lakes region. It is popular amongst hikers and kayakers. For more information on the Apostle Islands, please check out my Apostle Islands Guide linked below.
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| Apostle Islands Visitor Guide |
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
Along with the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse near Acadia National Park in Maine and the Heceta Head Lighthouse on the coast of Oregon, I believe the Split Rock Lighthouse on the shores of Lake Superior in Minnesota is among the most beautiful lighthouses in the United States. It is absolutely stunning.
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| Heceta Head Lighthouse Visitor Guide |
The park also includes plenty of trails that you can use for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. With some fantastic views of Lake Superior, the trails are some of the most beautiful I have seen in the Great Lakes Region.
UPDATE: The Split Rock Lighthouse State Park no longer supports self-payment options. If you are planning to visit the park, you will need to pay your park fees electronically. For more information on paying your park fees, please see the Minnesota State Parks and Recreation Areas website.
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park – Maps
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park – Trails
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park – Recreational Facilities
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park – TripAdvisor Reviews
Split Rock Lighthouse Summer Park Map
Split Rock Lighthouse Winter Map
Gooseberry Falls State Park
With an equally spectacular Lake Superior coastline as the Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, the Gooseberry Falls State Park is another gem of the Minnesota state park system. Aside from its beautiful coastline, the Gooseberry Falls State Park is also known for its amazing waterfalls, beautiful river gorge, and fantastic forests.
The Gooseberry Falls are a collection of 3 sets of waterfalls, known as the Upper Falls, the Middle Falls, and the Lower Falls. And for those who aren’t afraid of a little adventure, a hike or snowshoe along a trail upstream will lead you to the beautiful falls known as the Fifth Falls.
For those who love to be active outdoors, there are a lot of fantastic trails in the park for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. In fact, you can take the trails right to the bottom of the Middle and Lower Falls to get some fantastic pictures. Just make sure you watch your step as the rocks can get very slippery.
UPDATE: The Gooseberry Falls State Park no longer supports self-payment options. If you are planning to visit the park, you will need to pay your park fees electronically. For more information on paying your park fees, please see the Minnesota State Parks and Recreation Areas website.
- Gooseberry Falls State Park – Maps
- Gooseberry Falls State Park – Trails
- Gooseberry Falls State Park – Recreation Facilities
- Gooseberry Falls State Park – TripAdvisor Reviews
Gooseberry Falls State Park Summer Map
Gooseberry Falls State Park Winter Map
Visit Duluth
Duluth is a fascinating city in that in some ways it feels like a big city (it has a population just shy of 90,000 people), but in many other ways feels very much like a small town. Duluth is also remarkable in that it is much like San Francisco as it was built upon coastal bluffs that make the city very hilly. Trust me, you don’t want to be driving a stick shift in Duluth during the slippery winter months.
Fun Things to Do in Duluth
If you decide to visit the North Shore to see the beautiful Lake Superior coastline and gorgeous state parks, we highly recommend a stop in Duluth for some sightseeing. Below is a list of some of our favorite things to do and see in Duluth, Minnesota.
- The Lift Bridge
- The Duluth Ship Canal
- Canal Park
- Lake Superior Shoreline
- Spirit Mountain Skiing
- Great Lakes Aquarium
- North Shore Scenic Railroad
If you are looking for a really great place to eat in Duluth, we would highly recommend checking out Grandma’s Saloon and Grill. Minnesota is known for its wild rice soup, and Grandma’s has some of the best around. It’s also located in a very fun area of Duluth and has a pretty fun atmosphere at the restaurant. Nothing like some great food and a hot drink after exploring the North Shore!
If you are interested in stopping in Duluth during your visit to explore, I have included some resources below to help you plan your visit.
Best Time to Visit Minnesota’s North Shore
Whether you decide to visit the Split Rock Lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls in Northern Minnesota will largely depend on what you want to see and do during your visit.
Summer (June through August)
During the summer, the falls are absolutely breathtaking, and it is really fun to camp out around the state parks. There are also a lot of trails for hiking in the area that you can take advantage of. However, you don’t really have a place to yourself during the summer months.
Winter (November through March)
During the winter, the falls are a completely different type of beautiful with the snowfall and ice. The trails that you can hike on during the summer months are also great for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter months, which is just as much fun. However, you obviously aren’t able to get out on the water or in the water during the winter months.
Spring (April through May) and Autumn (September through October)
The spring and autumn months may be my favorite times to visit the area as the temperatures during the daytime are much warmer than during the winter. However, it is still very cold in early spring and late autumn, so you should plan on dressing in layers and have a warm jacket with you for early morning and in the evening.
For an idea of what to expect in terms of temperatures and precipitation levels throughout the year, I have provided some charts for the average temperatures and precipitation for Duluth, Minnesota for you to review below.
Average Temperature (°F)
Average Precipitation (Inches)
Where to Stay in the Duluth Area
Campgrounds
When visiting the national parks, monuments, and other areas of interest in the United States, it is a really neat experience to camp out during your visit. Some of the best campgrounds in America can be found inside the country’s national parks, monuments, recreation areas, and state parks like Split Rock and Gooseberry Falls.
This is especially true in Northern Minnesota. The remoteness and ruggedness of this area make it a wonderful place to go camping. If you are interested in camping out during your visit, I have included a map and a list of some recommended campgrounds for you to review below.
Hotels
If camping is not your speed, you need not worry as there are a variety of good hotels for you to choose from in the area as well. In fact, the city of Duluth is fairly close to the parks and is a great place to tour when you aren’t exploring the falls and the lighthouse.
If you are in the process of planning your trip to Northern Minnesota to see the Split Rock Lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls, then you are in luck. I have included a map and list of recommended hotels in Duluth, Minnesota, and nearby Superior, Wisconsin for you to review below.
Recommended Tours and Activities
The north shore of Minnesota is one of the most breathtaking areas in North America. However, it isn’t just beautiful. There is also a wealth of amazing things to do on Lake Superior, in the city of Duluth, and in the surrounding area. If you are starting to plan your trip and would like some ideas on activities to enjoy, I have linked to some suggestions for you to review below.
Split Rock and Gooseberry Falls Photo Gallery
In case you are interested in seeing more of this fantastic area, below is a gallery of some of the other amazing pictures we were able to take while visiting. With the beauty in this area, the pictures practically take themselves.
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Reblogged this on Vietnam Travel & Trade Portal.
We really enjoyed Duluth and the North Shore when we were on our way to and from the Boundary Waters last September. Highly impressed with Duluth, in fact. Don’t think I’d like the winter there, though.
Thanks for the comment Eilene! Duluth really is a fun city.
Next year we are hoping to ride the Mississippi River Trail. Your photos make me think we had better arrive a little earlier and explore a little more. Thanks, Mel
Glad you found this helpful! Your trip sounds amazing! Thanks for reading!
So many people who live in Minnesota don’t know the value of the beauty that surrounds them. Growing up there I never knew until I lived in other parts of the world. This was a great post to highlight the gems we have in Northern Minnesota.
Thank you so much for the kind words, and for reading!
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park looks and sounds AH-MAZING! WOW! I was just in Minnesota this past summer exploring Voyageur National Park – I absolutely fell in love with it there. This place is on my list next time I’m in the state <3
It is beautiful! Thank you so much for reading!
My daughter and I visited both sites last fall riding bike between them and camping there as well. She loved it so much she wants to go back to see more, so we are planning on seeing Bean and Bear lake this year!
Awesome! It is such a gorgeous area. Have fun and safe travels!
Thanks for the tour! I don’t know this part of the world at all 🙂 🙂
You are very welcome! Thank you so much for reading!!