Wayne National Forest

Wow! I get to go riding the day after Thanksgiving! It's been many, many moons since the Big Blue Polaris has left my 30 acres! I really can't wait to go. My brother in law is driving down, which is OK with me, but strange, because I really can't remember a time when I didn't drive or wasn't the one who did the inviting instead of being the invitee. No matter, any day of riding has got to be better than not riding.

We are going to The Wayne and leaving here at 5am, way too early to be up when you don't have to get up. I'm normally up by 4:14 am or so during the week anyway so it shouldn't be too bad, providing I don't eat too much turkey!

Apparently there have been some changes to the trails and parking lots down there, part of the Obama "spend our money on things you probably shouldn't be spending money on right now while money's kinda tight" plan. Most likely it has the big green road sign and all. I have not seen it yet, but will have a full report when I return.

I hear the temps should be in the 30's, so it shouldn't be too bad with the Carhartt's on.

Anyway I will have to scrape up the $12 for a pass and another $30 or so for gas and food, but hopefully I will have some "extra" money after the house payment!!!

Riding my Scrambler is one my favorite things to do, but with $3.00 gas, a tow vehicle with 220,000 miles and a leaky rack and pinion unit, any far away trips are kinda iffy right now. Fourwheeling is truly in my blood. I have owned at least one for the past 20 years or so and it has been an adventurous time that has taken me such places as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Read my blog and you can see what I wrote about those adventures!

Anyway happy Thanksgiving and I will post more next week!

ATV Rental and Guides at the Wayne

Hello all!

Apparently there is now a place that you can rent ATVs and have a guide show you around Wayne National Forest. I went to the website but could not find prices. They will be able to provide services to Monday Creek in Nelsonville, and Pine Creek and Hanging Rock in the Ironton area. Renting one would be nice for someone who wants to ride, but either cannot afford an ATV or just doesn't want to own one.(!!!!???)

Guided tours at Wayne, I have mixed feeling about. One thing good is that it might open up the sport to people who normally wouldn't ride. Plus more riders means more income for the Wayne and surrounding businesses. But then you have a few guides showing people around and making up stuff just to try to keep the ride interesting. "This is the cave where George Washington wrote the Declaration of Independence." Yeah, ok. Ha! Plus Wayne just isn't that big. I can see out in Utah or someplace that has hundreds of miles of trails, a guide might come in handy. Maybe I've just been there enough to know my way around. Plus you've got someone you don't know running the show and setting the pace. Although I must admit that I would love to go on one of the Polaris sponsored tours out west or in Canada, where a guide is probably a good idea. Anyway my blog, my opinion.

I will probably research this further to learn more about these services.

Here are a few lines from the press release:
"Nelsonville, Ohio (April 14, 2009) – Wayne National Forest (WNF) announces that Ohio Recreational & Rentals, Ltd. has been selected to provide commercial outfitter and guide services for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trail riding trips on Wayne’s 121-mile motorized trail system.

On April 13, 2009, the Forest issued the business a temporary outfitter-guide special use permit. The permit authorizes the business to begin renting ATVs and guiding riders on the Monday Creek, Pine Creek, and Hanging Rock ATV trail system."

Wayne

Well the Wayne website is back up and running.

Wayne's website

I'm not sure what is wrong with it, but Wayne National Forest's website is not working still today. I know it hasn't worked for a couple of days.
This is what I've been getting:

Forest Service Website Is Currently Unavailable

The Forest Service Web server is currently undergoing routine maintenance or has encountered an unexpected problem. We are working to bring the Web server back online as swiftly as possible.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this downtime may have caused..

Riding areas are open.

The Ohio ATV riding areas should all be open soon. Perry State Forest and the other State Forests should all be open by now and The Wayne should open April 15th. It has been rainy, snowy and cold, although I am sure someone was there to ride opening day. This weekend will probably be a busy time to ride at Wayne, as Friday and Saturday are both looking like 70 degrees or more and sunny. I can't wait to take a trip down there to ride. I just wish that it was not so far away for me although at least for now, gas prices are not the issue that they were last year, when I wanted to go but couldn't. My goal is to at least go riding at the Wayne and at Perry. Only two rides a year is sad, I know, but that would be better than zero, like last summer. Unfortunately, money is an issue more so than it used to be. Well, hope everyone has a great spring, summer and fall of riding, and hopefully soon I will have riding stories to post.


MTD, Yard Machines, Yard Man, Troybilt, Cub Cadet

Hocking Hills State Park Cottages

While riding at The Wayne on our annual November trip, we stay at the cottages in Hocking Hills State Park. They work out nice for us as opposed to tent camping in November. Coming back to a nice, warm cottage with a hot shower is very nice and it's not any more than a nice motel room. The cottages are dated, with paneling and such, but they are still comfy. They have two bedrooms, one with a double bed and one with two single beds. Also a sleeper sofa in the living room, so I think it will sleep 6 people or so. They have a kitchen with full size fridge and a bath with a shower only(no tub). They have limited cable TV, no phone(my Tracfone works there though) and a gas fireplace. Also a screened in back porch overlooks the woods behind the cottage. Cookware, dinnerware and linens are all provided. It cost us $90 a night, but the price is now $95 a night. Still not too bad for two bedrooms. There is a charcoal grill and a picnic table outside.
The road is winding and it probably takes about 20 minutes or so to get to the ride area from there but I think it's worth it. The closest town is probably Logan. There is a Walmart, various restaurants and a gas station at the exit ramp for Rt 664 off of US 33. Also this motel, Baymont Inn and Suites ,on S.R. 664, sells passes 24 hours a day and is at this exit.

Here is the link to Hocking Hills State Park.

Monday Creek

First, I would like to thank all who voted in my poll and also thanks to everyone who has and is reading my blog. Please don't be shy about leaving comments. I turned off the crazy word verification, so it should be easier now.

Since all but one vote was for Wayne in Nelsonville, I thought I would have a poll on what part of it you liked riding the most. We usually only have one day to ride, so we have been parking at the #5 White Oak lot in the Dorr Run Loop area. It has a ramp you can back your truck up to and unload your ATV.
Anyway I enjoy all the bridges and stuff in this area, and where the large rock is and the trail is narrow.

I have ridden Long Ridge, however it's been many years ago. I think it was even connected to the rest of the trail system so you didn't have to trailer there. If anyone has ridden here lately, I would like to hear how it is. Just click on comments below.

The Main Corridor is a long ride if you park in New Straitsville and ride all the way to Dorr Run. If I rode those two areas from New Straitsville, I would have to carry extra gas with me.

I know last time I rode the New Straitsville Loop, it was very smooth and easy. It may have changed since then, however.

If you want to ride the whole system(minus Long Ridge), I would park at the Monday Creek parking lot. It's about in the middle. You can ride up to New Straitsville from there, then come back, gas up, eat or what ever and then ride Dorr Run. The Monday Creek Lot has an outdoor toilet, and every time I've been there, a food vendor of some kind. It does tend to be more crowded, though, so you might want to get there early.

My advice to you all.............Save up some money for gas(currently $3.79 here), get a season pass to the Wayne, get a map and go riding!

Wayne National Forest

The Wayne opens for ATV riding Tuesday April 15!

Wayne National Forest Ride Pictures

A somewhat blurry picture of the three of us when we stopped for a beef jerky and Mt Dew break.
We did have a good time over the weekend riding and eating!

Oh and here once again is the link to Wayne National Forest!

Wayne National Forest Ride Pictures

Having fun in the mud and on a large rock.

Wayne National Forest Ride Pictures

Our food supply and splashing through the water.

Wayne National Forest Ride Pictures

The weekend of Nov 17 we went to the Wayne to ride. The weather was very good for riding, about 50 or so.
This picture is me riding through some fairly deep water.

My only picture of the four wheelers!

Matt took pictures of our day riding with his camera, so I need to get them from him so I can post those!

More pictures

My Steak!!!!! And our buffet table.

Our Cabin while four wheeling in Wayne.

Hocking Hills State Park

Wayne National Forest ATV Trails

Since this blog was made to talk mostly about ATV riding, I will talk about it.

Wayne National Forest is raising the fees on many of the recreation activities at the forest, including ATV riding. Currently it is $5.00 a day to ride and a season pass costs $25.oo, a bargain I think. The new fee, starting Jan 1, 2008, will be $12.oo a day, $45.oo for a season pass and $24.00 for a three day pass. It is currently $10.00 for a two day pass, and it will be no longer available. So I guess if you will be riding for two days, you will buy the three day pass, which will be like getting one day "free" which I imagine a lot of people won't be able to use the 3rd day anyway.

Overall, I am fine with paying to ride, as long as the money is used for upkeep of the trails and stays in the Wayne. But raising the day rate from $5 to $12? I know that it hasn't been raised for 10 years, but it probably would have been better to raise it $1 or so every other year.

Anyway, I will probably still go, since I only make it once or so a year anyway. I just hope that they use this money wisely. Last time I was there, the trails were pretty good, but a few years ago they were nothing but deep ruts full of muddy water, with some of the trails impassable even with a 4X4.

Click here for the Wayne's website for the details.

Monday Creek at Wayne National Forest

Today is the day that Wayne opens for ATV riding.
Click here for Monday Creek's page.

Wayne National Forest

Black bears are something you could see in Wayne National Forest.
Click here for Wayne's homepage.

Wayne National Forest

These pictures were all taken in Wayne National Forest near Nelsonville, Ohio.
I can't wait to go back hopefully in the spring or summer! It opens April 15th and is open until December 15 every year. It's a good place to ride.

Matt getting read to ride.