Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Minnesota

On the north shore of Lake Superior, about 20 miles (32 km) north of Two Harbors, Minnesota, the Split Rock Lighthouse State Park area affords outdoor enthusiasts opportunities for camping, and hiking as well as diving. Underwater rock formations and shallow rock reefs attract divers, and offer one of the most popular shipwrecks off the Minnesota coast: The Madeira, a 436-foot steel hull ship that ran into Gold Rock during a 1905 storm. It now lies in 20-110 feet (6-33 m) of water and is marked with buoys a few miles north of Split Rock Lighthouse. A parking lot is set aside for divers wishing to reach the Madeira. For more details, visit www.glsps.org/Madeira_access_information.htm.
Depths to: 110 feet (33 m).
Visibility: Lake Superior water
averages 27 feet (8 m).
Water temperature:
Averages 40 degrees Fahrenheit
(5 degrees Celsius).
Aquatic life: Include trout,
salmon, bass.
Fees: A state park permit of $5 per day or $25 per year is required.
On-site amenities: Dining, lodging, and multiple services are available in Two Harbors and other surrounding communities.
More info: Call the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at (218) 226-6377, the Split Rock Lighthouse State Park visitors center at (218) 226-6372, Two Harbors Chamber of Commerce at (800) 777-7384 or visit www.twoharborschamber.com.
Open: The park is open year-around but visitors will find more amenities available from May 15 to October 15.
Getting there: From Duluth, Minnesota, take Minnesota Highway 61 north and follow the signs to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. Gold Rock is on the northeast end of the park.