Lick Creek Road is open.

 

The Lick Creek Road is open!

As of this afternoon (12/30/22), the Lick Creek Road is clear of ice. So you can get in that last ride of the year. Remember, only the Wet Weather Trails are open at this time. Enjoy!
Be Safe! Enjoy your ride!
Kathy 
Editor

Dirt Trails are closed as of 12-29-22

 

One last time for 2022

The Dirt Trails are CLOSED

Eager to hit the trails at Shimek now that the temps are warming? NOT SO FAST!!! Icy Roads and closed dirt trails. This morning 12/29/22 the roads entering the Lick Creek Unit are way too icy for vehicles pulling horse trailers. See these photos provided by Patrick Thomas, DNR Technician, this morning. No, you do not want to drive on that stuff with your horses in tow--not even if someone is holding your beer. As the snow melts on the frozen ground, we get slimy, slick dirt trails and as the ground softens over the next few days, they will be soggy so the dirt trails are closed for now.

When these roads into Lick Creek clear, you can ride on the Wet Weather Trails which are open, but ALL DIRT TRAILS ARE CLOSED.

Update: Later in the day we had a report from a frequent rider who pulled in in her car. "Way to icy to drive in...even in AWD and no trailer. Backed down and no riding tomorrow either!"

 

As always, stay safe!


Kathy
Editor

First Day Hike 2023

 

Bring in the New Year with a brisk walk in the forest.

The weather looks like it will be in the 40's for the First Day Hike. If you choose to participate in the walk, please dress appropriately.

 I have attached a "suggested trail" map for you to follow.

Join the DNR First Day Hike Challenge at Shimek State Forest

Shimek State Forest invites you to participate in the 2023 First Day Hike Challenge to ring in the New Year through the digital State Park Passport.

“First Day Hikes are a popular tradition in state parks, and the Passport is a great way for people to enjoy winter hikes on their own or with their family,” said Sherry Arntzen, Bureau Chief of Parks, Forests and Preserves.

With the First Day Hike Challenge, park visitors can check into Shimek State Forest, along with more than 50 participating state parks on the passport from Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 through the end of Sunday, Jan. 2, 2023. Every check-in will qualify for a prize drawing of a 2-night stay at a cabin at Pine Lake State Park. Restrictions will apply on the cabin stay, with reservation fees and other business rules applying.Visitors can go to as many parks as they wish during the weekend -- every check-in counts as a contest entry. These are self-directed hikes.

At Shimek State Forest, staff recommend the trails near Black Oak Lake.

Suggested Trail: Start at the Black Oak parking lot area for a short .25 mile loop is around the lake. For a longer 3-mile hike, start at marker 6 then to marker 5. At marker 4 go up the long steady hill to marker 3 then out to the road and back down to the parking lot. Hikers can expect to be surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks and forests. Hikers should dress for the weather, including sturdy boots, and keep track of current weather conditions. Currently weather predictions for that day are a high of 40 degrees and chance of showers.

Attached to this post is a map of the location of Black Oak Lake.

For more details on First Day Hikes in Iowa’s State Parks and Forests, and to find links to sign up for the Parks Passport, visit www.iowadnr.gov/firstdayhikes.

Happy New Year

Kathy

Editor

Shotgun Deer Season Begins 12-3-22

 

 

 DNR has announced that over 100,000 hunters will be expected in the woods in Iowa for the upcoming Deer "Shotgun" seasons where shotguns and certain rifles can be used. 

Shotgun one is Dec. 3-7; shotgun two is Dec. 10-18.

 Hikers and Riders might prefer to schedule their visits to Shimek at other dates as Shimek State Forest is open to hunting during these seasons except very near campgrounds. Many horses can be easily spooked by people appearing by surprise by the trail as well as the sound of gun fire nearby. If you are there during these seasons for any reason,

 BE SURE TO PUT BLAZE ORANGE ON YOURSELF AND, IF RIDING, PUT BLAZE ORANGE ON YOUR HORSE ALSO.

As always, be safe when visiting the forest.

Editor

Kathy

Donations from Sara for her birthday

 

Friends of Shimek received a 

birthday fund donation.

Thank You! Sara Woosley Sara has for the past two years, used the occasion of her birthday to ask for donations through Greater Good on her Facebook page for Friends of Shimek. This year FOS received a check for $170, thanks to Sara and friends. A most generous act from a great young horsewoman. Sara is shown here with Arab gelding Toi on a ride at Shimek. 

The Board of FOS says "Thank you, ma'am."

 Anyone can use their Facebook page to create such donation for FOS --donations are always most welcome and needed for trail maintenance and other projects.

If you have any questions on how to or would like to donate, please contact any of the FOS Board members, Forester John Byrd, or DNR Patrick Thomas.  You can also leave a message on our Facebook page.  Someone will gladly answer your question.

Kathy

Editor

 

Shimek State Forest Fall Forestry Field Day

Shimek State Forest Fall Forestry Field Day

October 4, 2022

Here is the map on how to locate the White Oak Campground.

Registration and fees are listed on the above flyer.  

Enjoy your day in the forest.

Kathy

Editor

Shimek Forest Lower Camp getting some much-needed improvements.

 Please excuse our mess as we make improvements!

Shimek DNR summer staff Dave and Bill have been busy working this week so please excuse our mess in the Lower Campground as we work to make the camp pads easier to back in.

Here, Bill has been using a stump grinder to remove a few stumps from trees that had to be removed.

 Update and photo courtesy of 

Technician Patrick Thomas

Kathy

Editor

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