Gerstle River Trail
- Thread starter BR
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There are lots of trails that go off in different directions. It is also on the Gerstle River Training Area so you need to get a Recreational Access Permit (RAP) from the Army and then call before you go to make sure the area is open. It might be closed if they are in training.
AkHunter45
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I rode that trail back in '93 and we didn't need any kind of pass to ride it, when did they start making you get a pass? The trail I am talking about is just before the bridge on the right and you park near some kind of fenced in shack. You follow it through the tree's for a bit then it drops down into the river valley, i'd say it's about 5 miles or so to where the trail ends right at the river. We put our base camp there and hiked in another 5 miles to hunt sheep.
Three years ago I walked in to that area with a friend sheep hunting and they did not have a sign there. I was there a month ago and when you drive down that road to the old munitions dump site where that old building was there is now a BIG sign. That is the boundary of the area. It goes from there over to the Gerstle, up the Gerstle to about where the atv trail hits the Gerslte and then along the hills back towards delta. We were glad we found out about it because we will be walking back in there next month sheep hunting! We drew DS203. Hopefully they won't be training and have the area closed to the public!
Thanks for the info guy's. I've got the motorized permit and nine days off to use it. I think next month will be good. I heard September 15th is a date I've heard bounced around for going into exercise mode. Maybe a little earlier.
BR
BR
I have by no means inside info. I was only speculating what I had heard about there being an exercise. It might not have anything to do with the area in question. Then again, from what I've heard the last couple of closures have coincided with hunting season.
I just won't be very surprised to find the area closed when I show up. That's what made me question the access to the ATV trail. Seems like I'll need a plan "B".
I hope you guy's have a good hunt and score a big one. Let me know how it goes when you get back. I'll going in solo the the 7th thru the 15th of Sep. Hopefully I can knock a few miles off with the wheeler.
BR
I just won't be very surprised to find the area closed when I show up. That's what made me question the access to the ATV trail. Seems like I'll need a plan "B".
I hope you guy's have a good hunt and score a big one. Let me know how it goes when you get back. I'll going in solo the the 7th thru the 15th of Sep. Hopefully I can knock a few miles off with the wheeler.
BR
It has a map the the Gerstle River Training Area and says that you need a RAP to use the land. Hiking, camping, hunting, etc. like any other military land. It also says no digging and no fires and gives phone numbers for Greely and FWW for more info. It's really no big deal. You just go to the gate at FWW or Ft Rich or Greely and they give you the permit that you need for any military land. Then you have to call a number before you use the land and jump through some voice mail to inform them where you are going. If an area is going to be closed they usually post it a week ahead of time. So, yes a plan B is a good thing to have.
BR said:
Thanks, I hope we both get our rams and that you do also! Just curious, why are you waiting until Sept 7? Are you hoping to have a chance at moose on the way out? We did see a couple nice bulls there.
As far as plan b. If it is closed you can probably just go over to the gerstle and drive up the river flood plane. The boundary is at the edge of the river. Since we are walking in it saves us a lot of hiking by being able to cross this area. So our plan b would add a day or two to our trip. Might only add a couple hours to yours.
AkHunter45
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There's other places to hunt sheep other than the Gerstle that don't require permission from the military and can be accessed with a 4 wheeler.
Mainly waiting for the 7th because of my work schedule. I'm still trying to find some body to work for me a couple of days when I want to go. Getting off in August is impossible. I'm not sure how the moose pop is in there and it's not a priority, but they are not going to be over looked.
I was hoping to get a chance to go up there this summer and ride the trail, but the work thing got in the way. Hopefully by september will have more flood plain to ride. I'm trying ot get all the way to July creek and then hike in from there. Again, good luck to you guy's.
BR
I was hoping to get a chance to go up there this summer and ride the trail, but the work thing got in the way. Hopefully by september will have more flood plain to ride. I'm trying ot get all the way to July creek and then hike in from there. Again, good luck to you guy's.
BR
BR said:
Ya, the more time the better. Hope it works out for you. I have been up to July creek. You should be okay. Only thing might be if Bradford creek is high it might be tricky crossing. But with the way it dumps into the Gerstle it's kind of spread out. I know of a couple guys who had walked in several years ago and it rained a lot while they were in and had to wait a couple days for Bradford creek to go down in order to get out.
We are walking in on Aug 8th and coming out when we get rams or run out of food. I'll let you know how it is when I get back.
