WNF Shutdown

OMTA received the following letter from Wayne National Forest this morning:

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Dear participating vendors,
...
Due to the lapse in government funding, the Wayne National Forest will be closing its offices today. In addition, we have been asked to inform all participating vendors to stop selling all trail products including trail permits, passes, and gift certificates, effective immediately. When government funding is restored, the Wayne National Forest office will reopen. We will then notify you when you may resume selling trail permits.

Also, effective today, all Wayne National Forest trails, campgrounds, and recreation areas will be closed until further notice. Please inform your customers so they can make alternate recreation plans.

Thank you,
CHAD WILBERGER
Forest Recreation Program Manager
Wayne National Forest
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I bought and paid for my trail pass,
I am part of the general public ,
WE own those trails - anyway , who's going to be watching if they don't go to work?
Time for a night ride !

It's called public land for a reason
what our government is doing
is tantamount to treason!

It's time to revolt
even to overthrow
the bunch in D.C
all have to go!

Whether you're on the left or right I would think voters would realize its time for everyone to wake up and clean house and take over America again

Wayne is free this weekend - no permit needed ( even though I already have my yearly )

NELSONVILLE, Ohio (Nov. 5, 2013) – The Wayne National Forest in Ohio is waiving its trail fees over the Veterans Day holiday weekend, Nov. 9-11. The fee waivers – the fourth this year – are offered in cooperation with other federal agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
"We wholeheartedly salute the men and women who represent the nearly 22 million American veterans who have served their country in the military," said U.S. Forest Service Eastern Regional Forester Kathleen Atkinson. "As we do throughout the year, we encourage veterans and their families to take advantage of their national forests and grasslands to enjoy all the benefits the outdoors provide."
The Wayne National Forest has over 360 miles of multiple-use trails, which include horse, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), off-highway motorcycle (OHM), mountain bike, and hiking trails that are open from April 15 through December 15. Hiking is allowed on all trails year-round.

Never rode there. where is the trail head? so I can ride there and not pay anything this weekend? Anyone going this weekend that I could meet up with and have you show me around.

It's in Mr. Ed's back door, I'am sure you could get him to ride for a day.  

Rode there Sunday with some friends from work. My BF, 400ex, and 250 dirt bike. None of us had been there before. Got in 40 miles some of which was back tracking. The map there is useless due to the lack of signage. Loved the tight trails. The trails and conditions were great and not too many people either for it being a free weekend. What a work out though. I'm out of shape after riding SxSs for the last 5 years. I does feel good to be back on a quad again though. A lot more fun on the water diversions. The old BF is exactly that.  Punisher I heard you know your way around down there pretty well. How often do you make a run down there? I'm interested in getting a pass next year if i can find someone to show me the lay of the land and/or ride with regularly. Like stated the signage is almost non-existent and I hate not knowing where I'm going. That and I don't want to get fined for being somewhere I'm not supposed to be because I made a wrong turn at an intersection with no damn sign. Looks like a great place to ride otherwise.

Glad you got to ride and you are so right about the signs or lack of. BTW, Farmer, granddaughter was a no show

Missed this post somehow , I go fairly often, try to at least omce a month ,a lot by myself since a lot of the time its just pack and go with little notice , I wouldn't mind showing you around .
I'm changing jobs soon so I will have every Thursday , Friday and Saturday off starting in January.
I learned the place before maps , was lost a few times all day .
Most of the miles there are a lot harder work than WV.
I know all the legal trails and a fair amount of Bonus trails. Ed does , too.
It's worth getting a pass .
Several trailheads and a few campgrounds there also ,
Begleys , Camp Ohio , Camp Williams charge & are private .
Trailhead camping is free since its Federal land
Gotta work this Saturday but its supposed to be pushing 60 sat and Sunday .
Night riding is allowed & is a lot of fun

Some pics from the "Baja" UDT trail close to Snake Hollow & the Monday Creek trailhead.
( I also posted these pics in pic of the day )

Pipeline trail





BigFoot is trapped in here


The "Punish" tree


Old collapsed coal mine enterance

Oh didn't know you could ride after dark. I always liked night riding. Just adds a different level of challenges. I usually have Saturdays and always Sundays off. Last minute thing is what I usually end up doing to. I really liked it but the never knowing where I was going was getting to me. My friends kept asking where to go and mid day we said hell with it and just rode. I think I will get a pass next year. I got the state plate the other day. Yeah we'll have to get together sometime.

Sorry to hear that ED. You could have came and helped show us around.

Maybe next time. BTW they sell a 1 day pass

Saturday is looking pretty promising for a closing weekend ride in the snow !
Trails close Sunday I believe .

Is there still a shut down or will it open back up in the spring?

Way e Trails close for the winter every year from 12:01 am dec 16 thru April 14. Open @ 12:01 am April 15, I guess so the Indiana Bat can rest for the winter .