Sibley State Park Management Plan
Comments from Open House
October 18, 2011
Comments recorded by staff:
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Support for Glacial Lakes State Trail connection to park (multiple comments) – support for horse
use of trail
Horseback riders want to use more of the existing trails, especially the snowmobile trails
More horse trails needed (multiple comments).
o Suggest 5 – 10 miles of additional trails. Could be located in ‘open areas’
Add ADA mounting block or just a bench or picnic table for mounting horses
The horse camp middle grass area has sharp fence posts protecting trees; are a hazard to horses
especially when mounting. Please remove steel “T” posts from that area.
Add pit toilets or small portables along horse trails
Bicyclists need to be educated to talk in normal voices when approaching a horse rider. Install
signage to encourage.
Start a Grant-In-Aid program for horses to expand beyond park trails
Please provide electric hookups for the horse camp – this will bring many more folks to Sibley.
Trail riders are willing to contribute. (multiple comments)
Continue working with the snowmobile organization to keep snowmobile trails in the Park
Maintain and repair existing trails, erosion is getting bad in some places
Provide canoe camping opportunity. Also complete loop for canoe route; expand the boundary
to make this happen.
Explore options for a water trail portage between County Highway 5 and Norway Lake (outside
statutory boundary)
Consider expansion in Southeast corner of park (DeLong property). This would allow a trail
connection from the Highway 40 corridor.
Comment Cards:
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More horse trails – 9 comments
Electric hookups in horse camp – 5 comments
Get horse riders to help with planning of horse use areas. Lack of knowledge of what horse
riders need or want among those who don’t own horses.
Trail to Mount Tom – add hitching posts and mounting blocks – several comments
Love the Park and the people
Don’t mind hikers and they generally like to see horses; bikes are too quiet and scare horses;
consider 10 foot separation between bike and horse trails
More trails will generate more camping and improvements to campground; more revenue. Right
now Sibley is more a day rider, not an overnight destination
Adopt-a-Trail program to help clean up trails
Contact area landowners to ask if horse trails could be extended
Improvements to horse camp:
10/24/11
Sibley State Park Management Plan
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o Widen road to horse camp – to accommodate larger trailers
o Firewood box
o More hookups with running water
o Showers would be awesome
o Box stalls would be nice
o Remove dangerous metal fence posts
Trail signs needed for hikers and horse riders
Day use horse trail parking
Start a horse vehicle sticker pass, instead of individual passes
Identify and prioritize options for access and multiple use of Western half of park; make bike
and hiking trail connections to County Park 7.
Boundary adjustments to protect south shore of Middle Lake, expand boundary at SE corner of
park to tie in with Glacial Lakes State Trail connection (DeLong property)
Recreational use expansion (electrical outlets in campground)
Intensify resource management/prairie restoration, exotic species management, oak savanna
restoration
Establish ecological protection zone in SW area between Swan and Middle Lakes – old growth
forest area
Horse Riders’ Priorities List
A list of 40 horse riders/households and their “top 3” priorities was provided at the meeting. In addition
to the “more trails” and “electric hookups” comments, their priorities included the following:
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Trail maintenance
Widen Eastern trail
Widen entry road
Bring road in from west and self-register
Wider, less rocky trails
More hitching posts
More camping spots
Open up ski-snowmobile trails
Day use parking
Better signs
More toilet facilities
Sandrolls (???)
10/24/11