Chris Izworski
North Shore field guide Superior Hiking Trail

The loop is open.
The bridge isn't.

Split Rock River is one of those hikes where the trail map alone can mislead you. Both reconstructed banks are open—but the former bridge crossing at the upstream end of the loop is still missing. Here's how to choose a hike that doesn't depend on a river ford.

East side: reopened 2025West side: reopened 2026Former river bridge: absent
Actual Highway 61 pedestrian underpass near the Split Rock River mouth, photographed in 2022. Not a map of the upper river bridge.
Actual Highway 61 underpass near the river mouth — not the missing upper crossing. Photograph: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 ↗
Official trail notice · October 5, 2026Read current status ↗

01 / Understand the junctions

What the map doesn't show at first glance

The usual loop shape meets the river at the former upper bridge site. Because that connection is unbridged, the Superior Hiking Trail Association gives an alternate using wayside spur trails, a paved route and a Highway 61 underpass. This sketch deliberately shows connections, not distances or navigable GPS geometry.

Signed alternate UPSTREAMNO BRIDGEWest sideEast sideHighway 61 crossing contextNOT A NAVIGATION MAP

Conceptual route connections only. Find actual junctions and direction of travel in the official SHTA map and on trail signs.

Open river-side sectionsMissing bridge / no crossing clearanceOfficial paved underpass context
Do not substitute this diagram for trail navigation. The upper river crossing is not certified safe. Do not improvise a river ford. We do not infer ford safety from weather or river gauges.

02 / Choose your actual outing

Build a route, not a forecast

Tell the planner what kind of day you want. It'll show the specific connections to verify and the option that avoids relying on the unbridged crossing.

Which walk do you want?
SOURCE-BASED ROUTE

Use the official signed alternate

Your route will be based on the selected hike.

Both rebuilt sides are open; the upper river connection is unbridged.

Your next moves

    Open latest trail notice ↗Official trail map ↗

    Rules last checked October 12, 2026. Changes are not automatically detected; always confirm with SHTA.

    The decision point

    The open trail is not an open ford.

    At the former bridge location, the temptation is to treat the two trails as one uninterrupted circuit. There is still no bridge. The association identifies an alternate connection and warns that the unbridged river can be impassable. That difference should decide the route before you leave the trailhead.

    Arriving

    Start at the right wayside.

    The Split Rock River Wayside is near milepost 43.5 on Highway 61. Overnight parking is not allowed at that trailhead. Check the signed spur before committing to the east or west side; a trail map is essential for a through-hike.

    Actual West Branch Split Rock River waterfall, shown as regional context rather than an image of the unbridged upper crossing.

    What to notice

    A gorge, not a pavement loop.

    Expect river and forest terrain rather than a paved park stroll. This photograph is of the nearby west branch, not the missing bridge or the hike's current condition.

    Photo: McGhiever / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗

    Officially grounded answers

    Before you step onto the trail

    Is the Split Rock River Loop open in 2026?

    Both renewed segments are reported open: the east side reopened June 16, 2025, and west side July 10, 2026. That does not mean the original upstream river crossing is bridged. SHTA publishes an alternate near Highway 61. Verify the latest SHTA notice ↗

    Where is the actual detour?

    It is based on signed spur trails, a paved trail and the underpass near Highway 61. Exact junction directions differ northbound versus southbound. Use SHTA's route instructions and map; this tool will not turn a schematic into unverified walking directions.

    How long does the loop take?

    SHTA describes the original loop as roughly 5 miles including its access spur, but that figure is not a measured detour route or a reliable duration. With a short window, choose a partial out-and-back that turns before the unbridged crossing.