REVISED - Dirt Trails are now OPEN 6-18-22

New UPDATE

The dirt trails have been opened as of 

3:00 pm TODAY

6/18/22 AS OF 3PM TODAY ALL TRAILS IN SHIMEK LICK CREEK WILL OPEN! Forester Byrd said: "At 3pm today, Saturday, the trails will open. They might be damp in a few places but the next several days look to be dry. At this point I have to try to find every opportunity to open when I can since it has been a challenging spring."

Enjoy the rest of the weekend on the trails but do watch out for soggy places for despite the sun and heat, the shade keeps some spots soggy long after dust is up elsewhere.

Revised

RAIN and more RAIN

 6/17/22 MORE RAIN ...SHIMEK FOREST LICK CREEK DIRT TRAILS STAY CLOSED!

Message from Forester John Byrd as of 9 AM: "Shimek had 4 tenths to an inch more rain. Branches and sticks down all over the roads, etc. Cleared a few bigger trees off the roads. Lick Creek road has a couple of minor washes and it is rough in some spots. I was really hoping to get the dirt trails open but it seems like mother nature won't give me a chance, so they stay closed.

Thank you for staying off those trails this weekend."

Wet Weather Trails remain open.

The pesky horse flies have made their appearance with week. Please protect your animal accordingly.

The extreme heat is also showing its ugly side. Please use caution when riding in these excessive temperatures. Remember to hydrate your animal as well as yourself. A water hydrant is located in the upper and lower campground. They are available for anyone to use. You will need to provide a bucket to water your animal.

A post will be made on our Facebook page as well as this blog page when the dirt trails will be open for use.

Be Safe and Stay cool!

Kathy

Editor

Dirt Trails are now closed 6-8-22

 

The weather keeps interrupting using all the Shimek Forest trails.

Shimek Forest's Lick Creek Unit DIRT TRAILS ARE CLOSED. Shimek has had more rain. Forester John Byrd sent the following message: "The trails are closed for now. WWT is OPEN. Chance of rain remains today and there is a 70% chance on Friday.  It's Friday.  There was a significant amount of rain again to add more water to the already very wet slippery trails.

Lick Creek is flowing pretty strong so be careful when crossing it. When the trails dry, they will be opened."

As a gentle reminder - Please stay off the dirt trails until the foresters reopen the trails.  Riding the muddy trails can be dangerous to the animal and possibly the rider.  It makes the trails harder to dry with the deep pockets of water that fill up from the animal's hoof prints. We are fortunate to have two very well-maintained Wet Weather Trails to enjoy in the meantime. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

May your troubles be less, your blessing more, and may nothing but happiness come through your door (BG)

Kathy

Editor

All Trails are open 6-3-22

 

Shimek State Forest's Lick Creek Unit - All trails are open

Added note from riders today 6-3-22: Dirt trails still very muddy and slick. Bad water crossings. Most left them and returned to Wet Weather Trail- they did not feel the trails were safe for their horses right now.

Good news for trail riders at Shimek State Forest's Lick Creek Unit: All Trails are open as of 6/3/22. Please be aware that there are still a few soft places on the dirt trails. There could be some downed trees on the dirt trails as the crew has not had time since it has dried some to check nor remove them. 

Ticks are very thick.  There is some itch weed present in some of the lower areas near the creeks.  Please check yourself and your animals thoroughly when you are done riding or hiking.

Trail status can be checked anytime at the DNR Trails CLOSURE site. When not listed, trails are open. 

https://www.iowadnr.gov/.../State-Parks/Alerts-and-Closures 

Enjoy your ride.

Kathy

Editor