Bessey OHV Trail System

Area Status: Open

The Bessey OHV Trail System is one of the few motorized trail riding areas in Nebraska open to the public. Designated trails are open to vehicles 64 inches or less in width. The system has about 36 miles of trails for OHVs that wind through the forest and across grasslands. The trails are sandy and contain a mixture of straight-aways and tight curves. The trail system includes two open areas, the Hill Climb and the Dismal.

The trail system can be accessed from the main parking lot of the Bessey Recreation Complex, the Dismal Trailhead at the end of the Scenic road, Whitetail Campground, or the Powerline Trailhead.

At a Glance

Operational Hours:	Trails are open all the time. Quiet hours in the campgrounds are from 10 pm to 7 am.
Reservations:	None required to ride the trails.
Rentals & Guides:	No ATV or side-by-side rentals are available in the near vicinity.
Area Amenities:	Interpretive Site, Accessible, Tent camping, Camping trailer, Fee charged for some activities, Picnic tables, Toilets, Drinking water, Parking
Fees:	It costs $5.00 per vehicle to park in the main lot. For example, it is $5.00 to park a pickup truck hauling a trailer with three ATVs. If camping at Whitetail or the Main Campground, no additional fee is required to ride the trails. No fee is charged at the Powerline or Dismal Trailheads. Annual passes are available for $20 at the main office.
Usage:	Medium-Heavy
Busiest Season:	Weekends, May through October
Restrictions:	OHVs must stay on roads, trails, and areas designated on the motor vehicle use map. Vehicles must be 64 inches wide or less (total width, not just the wheel base) in order to use the trails.
Closest Towns:	Halsey (1 mile east); Dunning (10 miles east); and Thedford (17 miles west)
Water:	At Bessey Recreation Complex and Whitetail Campground
Restroom:	At Bessey Recreation Complex and Whitetail Campground
Operated By:	Forest Service

Activities

OHV Camping

The group campground filled to the brim with RVs.

A typical weekend at the Bessey Group Campground, which is a great home base from which to enjoy the district's OHV trail system.

Status:	Open
Fees:	$15.00 per night for non-electric sites; $20.00 per night for electric sites
Reservation info:	About half the campsites in the Bessey Campground are reservable. Camping at Whitetail is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hours of Operation:	Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 7 am.
Difficulty Level:	Easy

OHV Open Area Riding

ATV riders at the hill climb on a sunny day.

Two designated areas for OHV riding are available, the Hill Climb (shown) and the area near Whitetail campground.

Difficulty Level:	Intermediate

OHV Trail Riding

General Info:

Accessibility

The Bessey OHV Trail System is handicap-accessible to all who can operate ATVs and side-by-sides.

Directions

From I-80 at North Platte, Nebraska, take Highway 83 north for 65 miles to Thedford. At Thedford, go east on Highway 2 for 17 miles. At the national forest sign, turn south (right). Cross the railroad tracks, the Middle Loup River, and continue straight to the main parking area at the Bessey Recreation Complex.

Parking

Bessey Recreation Complex, Scenic Trailhead, Whitetail Campground, and Powerline Trailhead

Amenities

Interpretive Site:	Discovery Loup Arboretum next to the main parking lot
Camping trailer:	At the main complex and Whitetail Campground
Picnic tables:	At the recreation complex next to the main parking area
Tent camping:	At the main complex and Whitetail Campground
Fee charged for some activities:	$5.00 to park in the main lot
Toilets:	At the main parking area and Whitetail Campground
Parking:	At the main lot near the office
Accessible:	The trails are accessible to people who can ride ATVs and side-by-sides
Drinking water:	At the main recreation complex and Whitetail Campground