Black Hills National Forest Travel Management Plan

 

The below comments along with the numbered maps and areas are being submitted by the 4WD contingency of SDOHVC, most of these comments are to 4wd rock crawlers in specific, We commend the FS efforts in developing this DEIS. Please note that we are accepting that all trails on Alternative C will be considered and that these recommendations are additions, which we feel need to be added to Alternative C for a better trail system
 
The following additions and qualifications have been assembled by the club members of:
The Black Hills 4 Wheelers
The Dakota Territory Cruisers
The Black Hills Jeeps
 
All these groups have been working diligently and cooperatively with each other and other OHV enthusiast in the area through the South Dakota Off Highway Vehicle coalition.
 
  
  1. Should be a trail open to all vehicles, it is not challengeing enough to advertise as a rated trail, although it is definitely a high clearance vehicle trail, 4Wd required. Map attached
  1. specialty Rock Crawler trails are missing, due to lack of accuracy “Surprise Canyon” &”U-Bolt” trails are missing, drawn in on map turned in by Dakota Territory Cruisers and SDOHVC . Area should not be seasonal. Both of these trails are Rock crawling trails that are popular for added challenge to the adjacent trails Map attached
  1. Trail 3.9 missing, this trail starts from an established trail head, and ends at a popular mid-level challenge seasonal all vehicle road. It is easily accessed and does not encroach upon sensitive areas. Map attached
 
  1. Trail “Apple Jacks” is missing, connect trails in Stagebarn Canyon area. This established trail is very popular with hard core rock crawlers, at one time it was a designated 4WD trail on BHFS maps. It offers easy access and is also connected by an open to all vehicles FS road and an all vehicle trail. Inclusion of this trail will help enhance the multiuse opportunities in this area. 
 
  1. Trail “Buzzworm” trail exists in this area, and should be considered and saved as a special use permit trail. The trail Buzzworm is a historic 4WD trail that offers a challenge in an easily accessible area. This trail has been offered at many of the 4WD events that are held each year by the Black Hills 4 Wheelers, Dakota Territory Cruisers and the Black Hills Jeeps, I has been a destination that has been passed over several times due to the fickleness of the creek that runs over this hard rock bed, The water completely disappears for years on end, This trail has only been run during those dry spells, mother nature herself dictates when this very fun and unique trail can be run. A favorite of local and tourists alike. Map attached 
 
  1. This trail is mislabeled on the map, it is listed as open to vehicles 50” or less but it is a rock crawling trail. That has trails open to all vehicles on both sides. Restricting this trail to 50” or less creates two dead ends that would strand a full size vehicle. It would make for a better trail experience to keep the trail consistent in it’s designation for its full length. 2 trails run parallel 1 is ATV, 1 is open to all. Map attached
 
  1. Rock crawl trail “Sidewall” goes through a draw next to fs road 529. The trail runs on the north side of the road. The road is marked as a trail yet the trail runs adjacent, both roads are need for the experience. 
 
  1. 2 rock crawl trails in this area are important, please consider for future development. 
 
  1. Trail is designated as 50” or less yet it is the access road for part of the Rock crawl trail that is designated in this area, we need to be able to get to the beginning of the trail in order to run it legally the road in question is FS road 201.1I. We recommend it be changed to a trail open to all.
 
 
  1. Rock crawl trail needs to go all the way through to road as it does now. /Dead end trail makes routes difficult for more than one vehicle as turning around and going back against trail traffic is very difficult and creates large turnarounds & widens the trail as vehicles try to pass alongside3 each other. 
 
  1. rock crawl trail exists, it was submitted but is not on the map 
 
  1. should be trail open to all vehicles
 
  1. Road from castle peak campground over divide road should be a trail open to all vehicles similar to Alternative B, but with the added ATV trails from alternative C 
 
  1. Add loop and connection 
 
  1. Add trails from Alternative B to help make Alternative C better 
 
  1.  road 264.1A has been a historical 4WD trail, on many maps printed by the BHNF, This road should be included in the trails map as it was one of the only trails ever designated as a 4WD trail in the Black Hills, It currently is a border road to a sensitive study area but does not ever encroach on the study area. This trail should be designated as a Trail open to all, it creates a very enjoyable experience climbing up the spine of a wild west type hill, It ends at Summit peak and the return ride back down road 264 Boles canyon makes for an enjoyable off road experience.
  1. Gillette Canyon is also one of the only 4WD trails ever designated by the BHNF, currently the trail is impassable due to leftover Jasper fire debree, We would like it put into inventory as a possible Rock crawl trail in the future. The local 4WD clubs would be happy to volunteer in a cleanup effort to see this as a 4WD trail in the future.
  1. on map # 18 there is a small draw that the only thing it would need to be a premier rock crawling experience is the permission to drive up the draw, There are no trees and only the fast growing after fire vegetation in the way. I begins at the bottom on road 281 and climbs up the draw to road 281.1W and both of these roads are roads open to all vehicles.
  1. There are several Rock crawling roads in this area, the local 4WD enthusiasts have been in contact with the new ranger of the Hell Canyon district and they have gone out and toured these trails when they were left off the alternative maps. The new Ranger sees some benefit to the 4wd community in these trails, The state of South Dakota has deemed this area as unremarkable in its attributes. We believe that the past Ranger for this district did not want any trails in his area and therefore just left them off the map. 
  1.  There is a rock quarry at the end of 135.2m that is a perfect place for the multi- use OHV area. This area is accessible and a completely existing man made area.
 
  1. road number 186.2 at Maurice needs to be added as a trail open to all vehicles 

 

 

Black Hills National Forest DEIS info Comments due May 4, 2009

 

BHNF Travel Management Plan

Draft Enviromental Impact Statement

Comment Due date is May 4, 2009

Lead Agency:

USDA Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest

 

Responsible Official:

Craig Bobzien, Forest Supervisor

1019 N 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730

 

For information Contact:

Tom Willems, Travel management Planner

605-673-9217

 

Send Comments to:

BHNF Travel Mgmt Plan DEIS

P.O. Box 162909

Sacramento, CA 95816-2909

 

e-mail: BHNFcomments@fscomments.org

Fax to: 916-456-6724

 

Comments due May 18, 2009

 

I have attached  below the BHNF Travel Management maps Alternatives B,C, they are in high resolution