Black Hills National Forest

US Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest
1019 N. 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
605-673-9227

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest

Contact: Tony Balistreri (605) 642-4622, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

OFF-ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER WITH BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST TO CLEAN UP CENTENNAIL TRAIL

RAPID CITY, SD: JULY 16, 2008

The Off–Road Riders Association (ORA) volunteered with the Black Hills National Forest last Saturday to repair a damaged area of the motorized section of the Centennial Trail. The trail damage was caused by heavy precipitation and excessive off-road travel.

“This has been a problem area for years, and this is the worst it’s gotten in all the years that I’ve been on this district,” said Tony Balistreri, Recreation Specialist on the Northern Hills Ranger District.

The ORA club members worked with the U.S. Forest Service to help plan the project and carry out the repairs. Gravel was hauled onto the trail using motorized vehicles to help fill in the ruts to prevent further damage.

Troy Hall, president of the ORA, said the 12 mile stretch of trail from Dalton Lake to Pilot Knob on the Centennial Trail is important to them because it is the only trail in the Black Hills that is currently authorized for off-road travel. “We feel like it’s kind of our responsibility to make sure that this piece of trail stays open, and one of the ways we can do that is to perform projects like this,” stated Hall.

Balistreri said having the ORA’s help in the project sped up the amount of time it took to get the job done. “We are going to get this done in one day, whereas me and my two people…it would take us weeks to do this,” said Balistreri.

Both Hall and Balistreri said riders need to be responsible and remember to tread lightly. If they run into a muddy section of trail they should turn around and find another route.

Hall said that the ORA stands for safe and responsible use on the trail system in the Black Hills and elsewhere. The ORA website at www.offroadriders.org provides information on safe and responsible riding.

For more information contact the U.S. Forest Service at (605) 673 – 9216 or visit our website at www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills.