Today we decided to hike the trail around Split Rock State Park rather than the Superior Hiking Trail. The views throughout the day were amazing, thus we made a good choice. We started about 7:45 am and the temperature was about 64 degrees. Our first leg was the Little Harbor Trail to the lighthouse. It was two miles out and back. Unfortunately, we arrived before the visitor center opened.
We did a little exploring around the lighthouse, including a long staircase down to the water. It was the site of a tram that serviced the lighthouse from 1916 to 1934. Then we headed towards the Day Trail. Along the way we stopped at Pebble Beach on the shores of Lake Superior. From Pebble Beach we hiked to another set of stairs called “Bob’s Stairs” that took us back down to the beach.
From the second beach we hiked to the Corundum Point Overlook. In 1906 a prospector, named Ed Lewis, thought he found a mineral, called corundrum, which was used in sandpaper. Three mining companies started operations there only to discover that Mr. Lewis was wrong. It was a softer mineral called anothorsite. All operations closed in 1908. The only remnants we saw were some cement pilings.
Next in the hike was to a Split Rock Mystery site where a large stone fireplace stood. Folklore has it that a Dutchman built it as the beginning of a home for his love, only to have her call off the wedding. We ate our lunch at the site.
After lunch we hiked back to the lighthouse so we could go inside. It was an interesting short tour. In total we hiked 7.5 miles. Some of them were easy miles to/from the lighthouse.
As a side note, it is great to be in a state park, however the running water restrooms were a .25 mile hike. I added 1.5 miles that day just going back and forth to the flush toilets!
Thursday’s sunrise over Lake Superior was as beautiful as Wednesday’s moonrise.
Light pack day hiking on the way to the lighthouse.
Stairs along the old tramway near the lighthouse.
Great repurposing of an old mailbox.
Down “Bob’s Stairs” to the beach.
Lake Superior “beach.”
The hike to Corundum Point.
Lunch stop at the mystery fireplace.
Stairway in the lighthouse.
Inside the workings of the lighthouse.
The foghorns on the lighthouse property.
Split Rock Lighthouse up close.