Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Valentine, Nebraska

Gaston Road is a scenic trail that runs primarily north-south near the western border of the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest and Grassland (near Halsey, NE). Although there are occasional reminders that the surface was once asphalt, the road surface varies between sand, gravel...
Learn more about Gaston Road - NFR 259

Typical of several national forest roads in the Bessey Ranger District, this trail serves primarily to provide access to water sources for livestock being maintained on the property. Care should be taken to avoid startling any cattle while driving the trail. The trail itself is a two-track sand and ...
Learn more about Sandhills Mills (NFR 261)

This is an out-and-back trail. The trail does continue past the turnaround point, but it enters private property at the tracked trail's end. There is a gate indicating where the private property trail begins. This is primarily a 2 track trail that has a mix of soft and deep sand. The trail has sever...
Learn more about Forest Road 211 - Camp 2 Road

This is a main trail that will be accessed by many from the Bessey Recreation Center. The trail is short but caution should be used by those with a rooftop tent or a top-heavy vehicle as this trail will put you off-camber. The trail is very narrow with soft and deep sand. The trail also has a few ar...
Learn more about Forest Road 223 - Scenic

Horseshoe Bar runs east-west across the middle portion of the northern half of the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest and Grassland (near Halsey, NE). The trail has a seasonal restriction - it is closed to motor vehicle traffic from September 1 through November 30. The trail is t...
Learn more about Horseshoe Bar

Three Camps (West) runs east-west across the middle portion of the northern half of the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest and Grassland (near Halsey, NE). The trail has a seasonal restriction - it is closed to motor vehicle traffic from September 1 through November 30. The trail...
Learn more about Three Camps (West) - NFR 201-2

This is a main trail in the Nebraska National Forest. It will allow access to many other trails in the forest network along with access, via offshoot trails, to Natick Campground and Whitetail Campground. The trail is mainly comprised of hard pack and medium to soft sand. There are areas of washboar...
Learn more about Forest Road 203 - Circle

This is mainly a wide trail that has a mix of soft sand, hard-pack sand and hard-pack dirt. The trail will lead you through some great views of the area's dunes, and prairies, and into a small forestry tree area. There are minor ruts and washouts along the trail. There are ample areas to pass and th...
Learn more about Forest Road 203A - Circle Trail

This is a short connecting trail that will lead you to other trails in the network of forest trails. The trail surface is primarily sand, with dirt and grass. The trail runs through a few spots of dense forest where pin striping is possible. Washouts and rutted areas are present. There may be tree d...
Learn more about Forest Road 201-1

Tree Line is very near the center of the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands (near Halsey, Nebraska). The trail connects with South Natick Road on the west, and Circle Road on the east. The trail surface is primarily sand with grass. The western third of the trail i...
Learn more about Tree Line

Three Camps (East) is one of the few trails in the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest and Grassland (near Halsey, NE) that stays in the forested area for its entirety. Both ends of the trail connect to the eastern segment of Circle Road - the main loop around the 90,000-acre fore...
Learn more about Three Camps (East)

This is mainly a sandy 2-track trail that is overgrown in many areas with minor washouts and ruts. The trail is comprised of medium-packed sand and loose semi-deep sand. The tracks are difficult to follow in some areas of the trail, so caution is advised. There are cattle gates that must be opened a...
Learn more about Pine Strip - Forest Road 202

This is an out-and-back trail. There is a large area at the end of the trail to turn around. The trail is mainly comprised of soft sand that can be deep in some areas. It also has areas of soft sand and hard pack. The trail is primarily a 2 track and the tracks can become difficult to see and follow...
Learn more about Forest Road 228 - Figard Trail

This is a main trail that will be accessed by many from the Bessey Recreation Center. The trail is short but caution should be used by those with a rooftop tent or a top-heavy vehicle as this trail will put you off-camber. The trail is very narrow with soft and deep sand. The trail also has a few ar...
Learn more about Forest Road 223 - Scenic

This is a main trail in the Nebraska National Forest. It will allow access to many other trails in the forest network along with access, via offshoot trails, to Natick Campground and Whitetail Campground. The trail is mainly comprised of hard pack and medium to soft sand. There are areas of washboar...
Learn more about Forest Road 203 - Circle

This is mainly a wide trail that has a mix of soft sand, hard-pack sand and hard-pack dirt. The trail will lead you through some great views of the area's dunes, and prairies, and into a small forestry tree area. There are minor ruts and washouts along the trail. There are ample areas to pass and th...
Learn more about Forest Road 203A - Circle Trail

This is an out-and-back trail. The trail does continue past the turnaround point, but it enters private property at the tracked trail's end. There is a gate indicating where the private property trail begins. This is primarily a 2 track trail that has a mix of soft and deep sand. The trail has sever...
Learn more about Forest Road 211 - Camp 2 Road

This is a main trail that will be accessed by many from the Bessey Recreation Center. The trail is short but caution should be used by those with a rooftop tent or a top-heavy vehicle as this trail will put you off-camber. The trail is very narrow with soft and deep sand. The trail also has a few ar...
Learn more about Forest Road 223 - Scenic

This is a main trail in the Nebraska National Forest. It will allow access to many other trails in the forest network along with access, via offshoot trails, to Natick Campground and Whitetail Campground. The trail is mainly comprised of hard pack and medium to soft sand. There are areas of washboar...
Learn more about Forest Road 203 - Circle

This is mainly a wide trail that has a mix of soft sand, hard-pack sand and hard-pack dirt. The trail will lead you through some great views of the area's dunes, and prairies, and into a small forestry tree area. There are minor ruts and washouts along the trail. There are ample areas to pass and th...
Learn more about Forest Road 203A - Circle Trail