Friends of Shimek State Forest Equestrian Trails, Inc.

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Friends of Shimek State Forest Equestrian Trails, Inc.

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The purpose of the Friends of Shimek State Forest (FOS) is to help DNR develop and maintain the Shim (There is a small fee for camping.)

The equestrian trails and campgrounds at Shimek serve several thousand riders each year. This is the largest area facility with public equestrian trails where use of the trails or the horse shelters does not have a fee. These facilities contribute to the quality of life and recreational opportunities for our community. For those riders/campers from outside the area, Shimek is one of only three state forests with equestrian trails in Iowa and as such it is a major attraction. The twenty-five plus miles of equestrian trails at Shimek are the first priority of the FOS. Forester John Byrd worked with FOS supporters, and granting agencies as well as using his very limited DNR budget to to develop over six miles of graveled Wet Weather Trails to use in wet weather and thus protect the dirt trials without having to close the trails altogether. Trail maintenance is a never ending process, so there is a need for many more loads of road rock and lime chips and help with trail work. For the past twelve years, FOS has also worked with Forester John Byrd, DNR Shimek staff, the community and donors to help raise funds and build three new stall buildings for horses, improve the Wet Weather Trails and maintain the campgrounds.

10/09/2026

SCOOT BOOT LOST AND FOUND! DID YOU LOSE A SCOOT BOOT????? A camper from out of state has found a lost Scoot Boot size 6 on the trail shown here on the map. She will be there until Sunday. Reply here in a comment if you have lost it so she can get in touch with you. Now we have a different LOST Scoot Boot--size 6 Slim. Can you help find it? It was lost on the trail in map 2. Post a comment here or give it to DNR Tech Patrick Thomas if you find. Thanks all for helping get the boots found and/or to their owners. Note: Until Sunday morning 10/11, see camper in space 33 Lower Campground about either one.

10/08/2026

DNR Technician Patrick Thomas announced that at ALL Shimek Forest Lick Creek Riding Trails are open as of noon 10/8/26. Some areas on the dirt trails will still be soft and/or slick, especially at crossings.

10/01/2026

Shimek DNR Technician Patrick Thomas wanted you to know that DNR just announced a 20% discount code for certain online forests and parks campground overnight camping fees. Enter promo code FallColor during online checkout. The promo code can be used for online campsite reservations at Shimek State Forest for now through October 31, 2026. ADDED NOTE: Since there seems to be some misunderstanding based on comments at the FOS site --- neither Shimek's DNR staff nor Friends of Shimek Board members make decisions regarding long term campground closures, costs of camping, nor reservation methods available. FOS, like you, voice our opinions. Local DNR personnel may close campgrounds short term for emergencies such as flooding or road damage. Trails open or closed is a separate issue. The Shimek Forester closes and open trails for riding based on weather and trail conditions. Wet Weather Trails are kept open almost all the time since they have a gravel base but Dirt Trails can be damaged long term if used when muddy so are closed during wet periods until they become dry enough to use without long term damage.

09/25/2026

All dirt trails in the Lick Creek Unit of Shimek Forest are closed to riding as of 9/25 at 9:30 AM . The Wet Weather Trails are still open at this time. Forester Byrd tried to hold off on closing trails, but it continues to rain and the current forecast is predicting still more rain. The Shimek Forest office phone has a message on it regarding trail status at anytime also -- call 319-878-3811 and wait for the message. You can also check trail status anytime at https://programs.iowadnr.gov/parkforms/pages/ViewParkAlerts?_gl=1*1srvvqc*_gcl_au*ODcwNTI1NzEzLjE3OTAzNDY0MzQ

09/23/2026

Announcing: Shimek Forest Campgrounds WILL BE OPEN 12 months - every day of the year - effective now!

Iowa DNR Headquarters has just advised Shimek DNR staff and DNR has updated the reservation system to reflect that all Shimek campgrounds will be open for camping every day of the year effective now. That has been the case in all prior years except this past year when it was most unexpectedly closed for five months!!! Thanks to all who wrote to DNR leadership in January urging that they be kept open all 12 months when we learned that DNR expected to do that again in the future. We hope that such closings will not re-occur. If it does, you will hear from us asking for help on it again. However, you are reminded that ALL reservations must go through the reservations system and no cash payment can be accepted by local DNR staff. Please do not give our Shimek DNR staff a hard time about this—they did not make the reservation and payment rules nor set the fees. Those are standardized state wide and are available at the Iowa DNR Parks and Reservations site: https://www.iowadnr.gov/places-go/state-parks/make-reservation (Special note: If you use a VPN, the site may give you a "forbidden 403 error." If that happens you will have to turn off your VPN to access the reservation site.) The notes pasted below are taken from the DNR reservation site.

08/26/2026

Join Shimek State Forest and Lee County Extension for a great program! To register, call the Lee County Extension at 319-835-5116 by September 28, 2026 or email as noted below. Directions to Wilson Lake Park: From Hwy 2 turn on to Golden Road; Turn left on 220th Street; Turn right into Wilson Lake Park and go left around the park.

08/07/2026

THE WORKDAY HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026

Can you lend a helping hand? The Friends of Shimek along with the DNR staff have scheduled a workday for Wednesday, August 19, 2026 @8:30 am in the Lick Creek Unit. If you are available, please meet in the lower campground for further instructions. In the event of rain, this workday will be rescheduled. Please check this page or call the DNR office (319-878-3811.)

Thank you in advance for your help.

07/02/2026

Shimek Equestrian Trails Open! DNR Technician Patrick Thomas announced that as of 10:00 AM today 7/2/26 the Equestrian Trails in the Lick Creek Unit at Shimek will ALL be open for the July 4th Holiday. There are chances of rain over the weekend so if that occurs, do take care and avoid any soft areas of which you are aware.

06/29/2026

****Headstall and crupper found---Saddle pad still missing****Anyone in the Lick Creek Unit at Shimek Sunday 6/28/26 or since: Keith Miller is trying to locate his gear. "On Sunday June 28 I had a mule get away from me at upper camp. He went back to river valley but when he arrived he had lost his crupper and headstall which was over the saddle horn. And his saddle pad had came off from under saddle. We back tracked and did not find it." If anyone finds this gear, let us know and we will give you his phone number so it can be returned to him. ****Headstall and crupper found---Saddle pad still missing****

06/24/2026

Shimek Forest Technician Patrick Thomas is reminding you of this money saving opportunity for this summer's camping: You can get $2.50 off per night camping for up to 4 nights at Shimek through August 21 using Promo Code: USA250
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
DNR'S Announcement: It's USA's 250th birthday -- celebrate AND save this camping season!
Make a reservation at any Iowa state park or forest this summer, and save $2.50 per night of your reservation, up to four nights!

Simply enter Promo Code: USA250 at checkout.
Reserve with Promo Code: USA250 link to park reservation page

Promo Code USA250 is good for reservations through August 31, 2026. Offer is good for $2.50 per night up to four nights. If staying four nights or more, total discount will be $10.00. Does not apply to cabins or youth group sites. Maximum use is one per customer.

Address

1176 Highway 2 (for Location Not Mail Delivery)
Farmington, IA
52626

Website

http://friendsofshimek.blogspot.com/

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