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Inspiration Peak offers view of four counties
Published 12:00 p.m., June 28, 2007
Photo by Tom Hintgen
Rich and Carmen Kruzel and their children Dylan, 10, Erika, 7, and Levi, 1, of Vergas enjoyed a picnic lunch at the base of Inspiration Peak Sunday afternoon. Click to enlarge.
The late Sauk Centre native and Nobel Prize-winning author, Sinclair Lewis, would be pleased to know that many area residents still trek up the hill to what was one of his most favorite places in Minnesota — Inspiration Peak in southeastern Otter Tail County near Urbank
“I formerly lived here in Leaf Mountain Township and Inspiration Peak is a big part of my life,” Deer Creek resident Jeff Fleck said late Sunday afternoon after starting to head down the hill with his son Wyatt, 12. “It’s really is a splendid view from atop the hill.”
Lewis, best known for his book, “Main Street,” enjoyed coming many times to crest of the hill.
Writing about Inspiration Peak, Lewis said, “There’s a glorious 20-mile circle of some 50 lakes scattered among fields and pastures, like sequins fallen on an old paisley shawl."
With warm temperatures and a nice breeze on Sunday, Rich and Carmen Kruzel came with their three children from Vergas to enjoy a picnic lunch at Inspiration Peak State Wayside Park.
“It doesn’t get much nicer than this,” Jeff said while sitting on a blanket with his wife, Carmen, and their children Dylan, 10, Erika, 7, and Levi, 1. “We’ve heard a lot of good things about Inspiration Peak, and we aren’t disappointed.”
The Kruzel family planned to take a different route home, heading west along Highway 38 and then north along Highway 78 to Eagle Lake, Battle Lake, to the south side of Otter Tail Lake and then to Perham.
The quarter-mile hike to the top of Inspiration Peak can be a workout, but there are benches along the way if hikers want to stop and rest. The view from the top is impressive during any of the four seasons of the year.
On a clear day you can see 20 to 30 miles. Inspiration Peak rises 1,700 feet above sea level, making it one of the highest points in Minnesota. It’s a vantage that affords a view of four counties — Otter Tail, Douglas, Grant and Todd.
A large paved lot provides plenty of room for parking, and there's a wooded park with picnic tables and restrooms.
“I’ll be back here again with my wife and kids,” Rich Kruzel said. “Coming here (to Inspiration Peak) has been a lot of fun.”
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