Why Visit Sibley State Park, Minnesota?

The scenic wooded prairies of Sibley State Park make it worth a visit, especially with the vista from the top of Mt. Tom.  This popular west-central Minnesota park includes hilly forested areas, woodland prairies, miles of hiking trails, Lake Andrew, a lakeside campground and other camping areas including a horse campground area.  Lake Andrew has beautifully clear water.  The swimming beach within the park boasts of a large sandy beach, few weeds, great water clarity, and a vast shallow area perfect for young swimmers.    

Experience the View from Mt. Tom

If you aren’t sure of what Mt. Tom is, you are about to find out.  And if you get a chance to visit, you are in for a treat.  You can hike or drive about a mile north of the interpretive center to a parking lot that is the start of the paved trail to the top of Mt. Tom.  It is a short 5 minute or so hike from there that nearly anyone can do if they are okay hiking (or being pushed) uphill.  Wagons, strollers, or wheelchairs have no trouble navigating from the parking lot to the top.  Once at the top you are on the highest point for about 50 miles, and you can see for about 15 miles on a clear day.  A short single story traipse up wide steps gets you to the top of the stout overlook, further expanding your vista. (This is not accessible but easy to climb if you are able.)     

Sibley is one of many Minnesota State Parks throughout the state.  This article describes the advantages of visiting the park and some of the reasons new tourists come to this gem and why perennial visitors return.

Location – near New London, MN

Sibley State Park is centrally-located within Central Minnesota. This locational advantage helps many come from areas near and far. 

Proximity to Willmar

Willmar, Minnesota is near Sibley State Park, just 15 miles south of the park.  If you are looking for the advantages of a medium-sized city, you can find many different shops and amenities in this hub of central Minnesota.

Distance to Belgrade

Belgrade is the closest community to the North. It is a farming community with a charming downtown and a great hamburger stand, the Red Onion.

Distances to St. Cloud and the Twin Cities

Sibley State Park is easily within a day’s driving distance of larger metropolitan areas such as St. Cloud and the Twin Cities.  Beyond Willmar, St. Cloud, Minnesota is only about 60 miles away and just over an hour travel time.  In addition, even the Twin Cities is close enough to not be too far away.  From Minneapolis, Minnesota the distance to the park is only about double as visitors coming from St. Cloud, Minnesota, namely 110 miles or two hours. 

Easy to Get To

This park makes it easy for many Minnesotans from central and southern Minnesota to visit the park.  They could take a half day of travel and still have ample hours to enjoy a daily hike or extend their stay in a park campground.

Sibley State Park Campground 

Sibley State Park includes two popular campgrounds, Lakeview Campground and Oakridge Campground.  They also have group camping and a horse camp.  During the summertime, these are busy places.  Its popularity is easy to understand as there is a lot to do in and near the campgrounds. 

Campsite Overview

Camping at Sibley State Park provides a lot of variety in the campsites.  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in referencing Sibley State Park Campground Options notes 132 drive-in sites, 87 electric sites (53 in Lakeview Campground and 34 in Oakridge Campground), two wheelchair-accessible sites and nine sites in a horse camp.  Other lodging options include a group camp and four all-season Camper Cabins.  

Campsites

The campsites are fairly spacious.  Each site has a picnic table and fire circle.  There are a combination of drive in sites and drive through sites (not requiring backing up to enter the site).  Most sites have a fair amount of flat grassy area for tent camping.  The bathrooms are generally clean and well lit.  

Our Campsite

We stayed in site 36 in the Lakeveiw Campground.  It was an easy-to-navigate site as it was a drive-through site.  This was super helpful for our first time camping with a travel trailer.  Honestly though, almost any site in the Lakeview Campground would work well for most people. 

The campground is big enough without feeling very big, which is nice.  And in case you are wondering, there are two bathrooms with plumbing although only one with showers.  There is another bathroom near the beach.     

Kids Love the Sibley Campground

The kids loved that the campground “streets” are paved but still relatively quiet.  There were lots of kids out driving around on their bikes and little scooters.  We felt comfortable letting our pre-teen boys navigate the campground circle on their own on their skooters and letting our 2 and 4 year old play on the “road” in front of our campsite while we watched from the site.   

The kids also enjoyed the swim beach, the sand box (note – next time we are bringing sand box toys!)  They really enjoyed the campground and were sad to go.     

Hiking

Sibley State Park offers pleasant easy hikes as well as rustic hikes for the seasoned enthusiast looking for serious hikes. 

Many families visit the park.  Most people just drive to the parking area at the top of Mount Tom and hike the easy short and paved uphill slope to the peak.  Once there, you will be rewarded with an impressive vista.  Burr Oaks, area lakes, and near and distant towns as far as 15 miles away are visible on a clear day from the viewing tower.

The easygoing hike to the top of Mount Tom is accessible to all – children and grandparents alike.  Those looking for more serious hiking opportunities can hike the long route up a rustic but well maintained trail that loops from near the park office and visitor’s center up to Mount Tom and back down to the other side of the visitors center.

Hiking Club

The Hiking Club is a Minnesota State Parks program designed to encourage walking in woods and other landscapes while collecting stamps from individual parks.  For only $14.95 (at time of posting) you can get a spiral book for tracking your miles hiked and earn up to two free nights of camping. 

Mount Tom’s “Gentle” Hike from the Parking lot to the Peak

While not part of the Hiking Club, if you want an easy hike to see Mount Tom, drive about a mile north of the visitor’s center following the Mt. Tom signs.  Park in the lot and a short 5 minute walk gets you to the scenic overlook.  It has breathtaking views that extend about 15 miles on a clear day.  You can see multiple towns and lakes on the horizon.  

Even if you are not yet a hiker, or want to someday be a hiker, you can handle the gentle and paved walk to the top of Mt. Tom from the nearby parking lot.

Mt. Tom’s “Rustic” Hiking Club Hike

If you are in the mood for some real hiking, park at the Visitor’s Center (or campground or beach and make your way back to the Visitor’s Center (along the paved trail).  The Mt. Tom rustic Hiking Club hike is a looped trail about 3.1 miles long. 

Up the West Side, Down the East Side

The jumping-off point for this hike is on the main road a short distance west of the visitor’s center.  We headed up the west side and down the east side. 

The western side was generally a little more undulating up and down it seemed, and had a few appealing side jaunts.  The east side was generally more open and more downhill with less up and down elements.  There were a few areas that were quite steep to navigate and one or two areas on the east side that we almost fell on due to rolling rocks on the path.  But everyone survived without injury. 

Our preteen boys enjoyed zooming ahead on the rustic parts of the trails near Mt. Tom.  Of course they kindly didn’t go too far ahead before doubling back to connect back up with their slower adult companions.  A consistent somewhat brisk pace was plenty fast enough given the frequent incline and downward slopes to hike.   

Hiking Route Overview   

The route in the Park takes trekkers across undulating glacial hills as they make their way toward Mount Tom.  Hikers can take the paved path from the campground back toward the main Park road and then connect up with the trail.  Even moderately-fit hikers will find the path manageable – although there are some steep sections that require caution.

Badger Hill and Little Mout Tom

Along the western portion of the rustic hike, there are two secondary vistas, Badger Hill and Little Mount Tom, worth the short forays off the main track. 

Biking

Many families and individuals enjoy the cycling opportunities that abound in Sibley State Park.  The paved biking path connects the campground and Lake Andrew beach to the main road.  For serious adult cyclists, Sibley State Park is connected with the Glacial Lakes State Trail, a 22-mile-long bike trail connecting the Willmar Civic Center to Hawick.  Starting at Sibley State Park can be a springboard for many adventures on two wheels.

Swimming

Sibley State Park boasts a sandy swim beach on the shores of Lake Andrew.  The beach sand is groomed and void of large rocks.  For families or grandparents with children along for a visit, the shallow nature of the swim area makes it easy for little ones to get accustomed to the water.  Visitors can enjoy purchasing ice cream or park apparel in the on-site gift shop after their little swimmers get worn out.

Local Restaurants

Spicer, New London, and Willmar, Minnesota are close to Sibley State Park and offer the non-camper opportunities for a relaxing meal to cap off a day of Park fun. 

The Red Onion in Belgrade

A roadside eatery about 9 miles north of the Park entrance, is the Red Onion in Belgrade, Minnesota  They have amazing burgers – for about $5, when you order a “burger” you get a delicious and highly-seasoned burger that leaves you satisfied, yet still strangely wanting more.  (Fries are extra.)

Spicer Dining Options

If you are heading south, 10 minutes south of the park is Spicer, Minnesota.  Spicer is about 2 miles east of Highway 71.  Located on the shores of Green Lake, Spicer offers visitors a range in dining options including Dairy Queen, the Westwood Café, and O’Neils restaurant.  For visitors that prefer daytime shopping or just want a change of scenery, Willmar, Minnesota offers chain food like McDonald’s to local cafes and some specialty restaurants like the Middle Fork Café.

Why Come to Sibley State Park?

For Minnesota residents that live in central and southern Minnesota, it is worth the trip to Sibley State Park.  For those tourists new to the region or even passing through, the Park provides a good stopping point.  Guests that do stop are rewarded with ample campground spaces, attainable scenic hikes, connections to the Glacial Lakes State Trail, cooling lake waters, and regional restaurants.

So, come to a region of close-proximity solitude.  In today’s busy world, these places are getting harder to find.  Isn’t it great that Sibley State Park is within your reach today.