To make certain this State Highpoint always remains free and accessible for anyone wanting to come, Mrs. Sterler had offered to donate 1.6 acres around the highpoint to Osceola County. Osceola County then took that idea a step further, signing an agreement with Mrs. Sterler in 2007 to purchase 5 acres around the highpoint. The highpoint is still always open to the public, but the county plans to eventually have a Visitor's Center, campground, restrooms, historical display areas, and an observation tower. These are long-range plans, because funding is by donation. For more information about future plans for this highpoint, or to contribute a donation, please contact the "Hawkeye Point Committee" at (712)754-2523.
Highways 59 and 60 south of I-90 are both closed near Worthington. In places, 60 northbound doesn't even exist right now- it's been completely torn up. Construction is expected to finish in 2011 with no posted completion date. As of June, they're still a ways away from being finished.
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d7/projects/hwy60/
In Worthington, follow the 59 detour signs, and eventually, you'll get to a portion of 60 you can use. Alternatively, if traveling with a GPS, just set your destination as Sibley, IA- it'll also get you to the MN/IA state line (but you don't travel all the way to Sibley, obviously.)
We "climbed" this highpoint today. Site improvements continue. Watch for the Hawkeye Point signs to turn. Access is still free but there is a black metal donation box where you can deposit some funds. The box is not marked in any fashion.
A campsite is in progress across the street. It is big enough for trailers and has electric hookups. There is one water source. The new privvy is underway with the cement pad and rough plumbing in. The structure has not been built yet. Per night rate is $15.
Even though this was not a strenuous endeavor it was worth the trip to a very nice area.
Campground appears to still be work in progress. Very nice area but traffic noise from US60 would make it a noisy night. We camped ~30 miles east at Marble Beach State Park - Spirit Lake. Great campground, fun times, $11 tent sites. Highly recommended.
James Bednar - Oct 7, 2019 10:32 am - Hasn't voted
My 8th state highpoint.
Have visited this state highpoint a few times. My first visit was in May 2008 BEFORE the current markers, campground, and other additions./improvements. Then there was a license plate with the word "High Pt" attached to the roof of a trough and a few boulders marking the highpoint area.
Came back a few years later and the mosaic marker was set in place, information kiosk was added, some benches, post with the highpoint names/directions, and the campground was under construction.
Just like other "flat states", this highpoint is a barely perceptible lump in the Earth's surface, but the owners/county have done a great job here with the improvements. Have visited this state highpoint 3 times.
I have always came to this location from the south from the town of Sibley, IA, along Iowa Hwy 60 - which always seems to be under construction whenever I visit.
In the Overview you state "While the site is privately owned" then in the Red Tape section you say Osceola County signed an agreement with the family in 2007 to purchase 5 acres around the highpoint.
My Questions is, so has the purchase not happened yet? If is has then it's no longer correct to say it's "privately owned". In fact https://highpointers.org/access-restrictions/ doesn't list it as private.
Thanks for the note. Sorry about the confusion. I have clarified the language. The land around the site is privately owned, so just making sure people respect it.
Redwic - Jul 7, 2008 12:28 pm - Hasn't voted
New HP Owners...To make certain this State Highpoint always remains free and accessible for anyone wanting to come, Mrs. Sterler had offered to donate 1.6 acres around the highpoint to Osceola County. Osceola County then took that idea a step further, signing an agreement with Mrs. Sterler in 2007 to purchase 5 acres around the highpoint. The highpoint is still always open to the public, but the county plans to eventually have a Visitor's Center, campground, restrooms, historical display areas, and an observation tower. These are long-range plans, because funding is by donation. For more information about future plans for this highpoint, or to contribute a donation, please contact the "Hawkeye Point Committee" at (712)754-2523.
Alpinist - Jul 28, 2009 12:10 am - Voted 9/10
Newly remodeledThey recently remodeled the facilities at Hawkeye Point. It looks really nice. I added some photos to show how it looks now.
hgrapid - Jul 28, 2009 5:47 pm - Hasn't voted
ThanksI'll look through them
Cascade Scrambler - Jun 2, 2011 10:34 am - Hasn't voted
Getting there is currently incorrectHighways 59 and 60 south of I-90 are both closed near Worthington. In places, 60 northbound doesn't even exist right now- it's been completely torn up. Construction is expected to finish in 2011 with no posted completion date. As of June, they're still a ways away from being finished.
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d7/projects/hwy60/
In Worthington, follow the 59 detour signs, and eventually, you'll get to a portion of 60 you can use. Alternatively, if traveling with a GPS, just set your destination as Sibley, IA- it'll also get you to the MN/IA state line (but you don't travel all the way to Sibley, obviously.)
hgrapid - Jun 2, 2011 11:42 pm - Hasn't voted
ThanksThanks - I added your comments and attributed the update to you
mtzfamily - Jul 11, 2013 10:33 pm - Hasn't voted
Additional infoWe "climbed" this highpoint today. Site improvements continue. Watch for the Hawkeye Point signs to turn. Access is still free but there is a black metal donation box where you can deposit some funds. The box is not marked in any fashion.
A campsite is in progress across the street. It is big enough for trailers and has electric hookups. There is one water source. The new privvy is underway with the cement pad and rough plumbing in. The structure has not been built yet. Per night rate is $15.
Even though this was not a strenuous endeavor it was worth the trip to a very nice area.
Bark Eater - Sep 16, 2014 12:23 pm - Voted 10/10
CampingCampground appears to still be work in progress. Very nice area but traffic noise from US60 would make it a noisy night. We camped ~30 miles east at Marble Beach State Park - Spirit Lake. Great campground, fun times, $11 tent sites. Highly recommended.
James Bednar - Oct 7, 2019 10:32 am - Hasn't voted
My 8th state highpoint.Have visited this state highpoint a few times. My first visit was in May 2008 BEFORE the current markers, campground, and other additions./improvements. Then there was a license plate with the word "High Pt" attached to the roof of a trough and a few boulders marking the highpoint area.
Came back a few years later and the mosaic marker was set in place, information kiosk was added, some benches, post with the highpoint names/directions, and the campground was under construction.
Just like other "flat states", this highpoint is a barely perceptible lump in the Earth's surface, but the owners/county have done a great job here with the improvements. Have visited this state highpoint 3 times.
I have always came to this location from the south from the town of Sibley, IA, along Iowa Hwy 60 - which always seems to be under construction whenever I visit.
Currently have 29/50 state highpoints.
vanman798 - Oct 23, 2019 8:04 am - Hasn't voted
ConfusingIn the Overview you state "While the site is privately owned" then in the Red Tape section you say Osceola County signed an agreement with the family in 2007 to purchase 5 acres around the highpoint.
My Questions is, so has the purchase not happened yet? If is has then it's no longer correct to say it's "privately owned". In fact https://highpointers.org/access-restrictions/ doesn't list it as private.
Thanks! Have a great day!
hgrapid - Oct 23, 2019 11:31 am - Hasn't voted
Re: ConfusingThanks for the note. Sorry about the confusion. I have clarified the language. The land around the site is privately owned, so just making sure people respect it.