Minnesota Hiking Club #45 - Split Rock Creek State Park

 

Minnesota Hiking Club

#45 - Split Rock Creek State Park

Date Hiked: February 11th, 2025

Other Hikes That Day: Blue Mound State Park

Wanderloon Ranking System Score: 2.67

This certainly didn't go as planned. 

It would be impossible to tell the story of this hike without giving it the proper context, and that's beyond just the logistics. My plan for the day was to finish out the southwest corner of the state, starting with Split Rock Creek, going through Blue Mound, and concluding with Kilen Woods on the way back. Despite the temperature that day being a balmy -17, I got an early start and knocked off a few Adventure Labs on the way.

Then, approaching the small town of Tyler, I felt a bump. Shortly thereafter, the tire pressure light came on. I pulled off around the corner in Tyler, and saw that my front driver's side tire was flat. I'm no automotive expert, but I do know how to change a tire. Or, at least I do when I can get the wrench to move anything even slightly.

As I'm nearly jumping on the wrench trying to get it to budge, I see a pair of Uggs next to my door. When I look up, there is this delightful blonde woman holding a cup of coffee who offers me help. She was the pastor at the Danebod church, in front of which I'd stopped. While we couldn't get the wrench to work, she walked me over to the local car shop and introduced me. They didn't have a tire that fit, but they did drive over with a power tool to help me get the flat off and the spare on. Not being from Minnesota, I haven't experienced as much of that genuine Minnesota Nice as many have, and even being a non-religious person, I made a donation to the Danebod church because of the kindness I was shown. 

That said, the limitations of running on a spare gave me two options: Try to make the 15-minute drive to the first park, and at least finish Blue Mound before a slow drive home, or turn back to Marshall, get a new tire, and try this 3-plus hour drive again another day. 

I opted for the former. Perhaps it wasn't the smartest decision, but it was a decision. Plus, I had a trusted car person near home who would take care of it for me the following day. 

Split Rock Creek was frozen, windy, and cold, if the aforementioned temperature didn't tip you off. Its unfortunate similar name will always have it as the little brother trying to keep up with the big brother's lighthouse and scenic North Shore hiking trails. With a lot of snow on the ground, AllTrails was a huge help to follow the path, as the signs didn't make it totally clear where the oddly-shaped loop trail would turn. 

I didn't make it to Kilen Woods that day, and driving home from Luverne doing 50 on a spare was abjectly terrifying, but I couldn't have done it without the kindness I experienced in nearby Tyler, where a total stranger went above and beyond.