Perched on a 130-foot cliff above Lake Superior in Beaver Bay Township, Minnesota, Split Rock Lighthouse was built in 1910 following a devastating series of shipwrecks during a 1905 storm. The lighthouse guided ore carriers along the treacherous North Shore until it was decommissioned in 1969. Now managed by the Minnesota Historical Society, the site is a State Historic Site but is currently closed to public visits. The dramatic cliff-top setting makes it one of the most photographed lighthouses in America. Golden hour and autumn, when the surrounding birch forests turn vivid yellow, offer the best photography conditions. Nearby, visitors can explore Gooseberry Falls State Park, Tettegouche State Park, and the Superior Hiking Trail.
Explore Nearby
- Gitchi-Gami State Trail — State Park in Minnesota
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park — State Park in Minnesota
- Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway — Scenic Byway in Wisconsin
- North Shore Road — Scenic Byway in Nevada
- Superior National Forest — National Forest in Minnesota
