Halsey Update

By Dan Nitzel

          First off, I would like to thank the great work the Halsey Trails Club is doing at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey.  They have been doing a great job of keeping the trail cattle guards cleaned out and performing general trail maintenance.  They are even trying some new methods of protecting the cattle guards from filling in with sand using old rubber tracks from skid loaders, compliments of Nebraska Machinery.  Additionally, they are providing assistance to the Forest Service as needed.  If something needs to be done, all the Forest Service has to do is give the Halsey Trails Club president Chuck McCarty a call, and volunteers show up to get the job done!  If you would like to become involved with the Halsey Trails Chapter or volunteer some time to help maintain trails at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey, contact one of the following people:

Chuck and Vicki McCarty, Halsey Trails Club in North Platte at (308) 534-9553

U.S. Forest Service at 308-533-2257 and ask for Dan Frodsham.

          Several important events are going to occur at the Nebraska National Forest that people should know about. 

New this year there year will be the complete closure of the Nebraska National Forest at Halsey and the McKelvie National Forest near Valentine to ATVs during deer rifle season.  Deer rifle season occurs in Nebraska from November 10^th through the 18^th.   The Forest Service will be issuing an order to prohibit recreational ATV riding on U.S. Forest Service lands at Halsey and McKelvie during this time except to get closer to their hunting location area and back or to recover game.  Remember, Stage II Fire Orders are in effect, and all motorized vehicles will stay on existing trails and roads. (for more info on the restrictions, see: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/nebraska/publications/administration/special_orders/index.shtml ). People will not be allowed to “ride around” in the Forest during this time.  This includes hunters and recreational riders.  The reason for the new rule involves protecting the area from people traveling off of the trails and to address the safety of ATV riders during the season.

          In a different matter, as usual, from the first of September through November 30, the large area inside the Circle Road loop, except 212 road, aka Natick Rd., will close to all motorized traffic.  This will not effect the Dismal River trail and the trails that radiate from the Dismal River trail.  Forest Service Rd. 201, inside Circle Rd., will be inaccessible to motorized vehicles. The seasonal closure has occurred for years and serves to improve the hunting experience of those who hunt on foot and horse.    

          The last item that riders should be aware of is that the Scenic Road will close for improvements for a short time this fall.  The Scenic Road is the bumpy and pot-holed black oiled road from the main campground to the Dismal River Trail trailhead and will be closed for a couple of weeks some time after Labor Day weekend in September.  The road is going to be rebuilt by the Forest Service.  The black oil surface will be removed and replaced with a one lane gravel surface.  During the closure riders will have to travel to a different area to access ATV and dirtbike trails.  The best place to get access to the trails would be to travel down the Circle Road 203 about three miles to the south of the Lookout Tower and unload at the 201 intersection, but space is limited.  Riders will not be allowed to ride to the trails from the main camp ground when the Scenic trail is temporally closed.  Anyone who is camped in the main campground during this time will have to “trailer” their machines to a location where they can get on to the trails.  As of this writing the exact dates are not known.  NOHVA members on the NOHVA email list will be informed of the exact dates or can call the U.S. Forest Service office at Halsey at 308-533-2257.

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This page was updated on Sunday, March 01, 2009