Hiking Club Route

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fishing · Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Don't get this small park confused with Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, a much larger one up north on the shore of Lake Superior.

Split Rock Lake is the only (and largest) lake in Pipestone County but it is not natural. It was created when Split Rock Creek was dammed by the Works Progress Administration in 1935. The resulting lake, and a surrounding area of almost 2,000 acres (810 ha), were established as a state park in 1937. The Hiking Club route at Split Rock is a 2.6 mile (4.2 km) loop along the west side of the lake, with an additional little loop across the dam and Split Rock Creek.

From the parking lot just south of the campground, the trail goes north along Split Rock Lake, then turns south and climbs to the Historic Water Tower from where you get a good view out over the lake. The trail then continues south, past another parking lot, and over the dam constructed of red Sioux quartzite. Past the dam, the trail makes a small loop that returns you to the dam. Once across, bear right (east) to follow the trail along the lake back to where you parked.

Lake and prairie animals inhabit the park. Meadowlarks, beavers, and waterfowl can be seen along the lakeshore. The southern, wooded part of the park is home to woodpeckers, fox squirrels, and other woodland animals.