One of the great things about the Forest are all the bugs. They feed the birds and frogs we love so well. Are you convinced yet??
To be honest - depending on the weather, area and time of year - the bugs can get pretty bad sometimes. Usually the invasions start in late June and things don't really get better until late August. HOWEVER, some years - like 2006 - it was so dry there never were any bugs.
SO the Friends have decided to keep you posted as well as we can about the bug situation. Check this page when you are planning a trip.
YOU CAN ALSO HELP YOU FELLOW RIDERS BY CONTACTING US IF YOU HAVE A BUG REPORT. Send your report to: lisadoerr@northernlakefarm.com
September 16, 2011 - Well folks, we may be through the worst of it! After two nights below freezing and several cool days, the gnats and flies seem to be at bay. While a string of warm days and nights could get things going a it in the campground, the trails seem to be real good. This is the time of year we all live for so get out there and ride, ride, ride!
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September 8, 2011 - Good news! The cool evenings have really helped slow down the gnats and flies. Mosquitoes are still around at sunset so be ready! If we get more nights in the 40s and low 50s things should not be bad BUT if the days are back into the 80s and evenings stay warm you will still need protection. The campground is usually harder hit and the trails are actually pretty good!
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September 1 - Sorry to say but the bug season is still in full swing. On a positive note the deer flies have tappered off a bit but there is a very large mosquito hatch and the gnats are still out in force. BRING BUG SPRAY AND MASKS!
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July 5 - Deer fly and gnat season have begun - especially in
the low lying areas. Bring bug spray and masks.
However, the higher ground isn't too bad and the camp ground
was just fine. For example, bad areas would include the south side of the Red
Trail, the Brown Trail as it runs east west on the south end.
The Black trail isn't bad as it runs high above the
Trade River.
June 14 - Gnats were pretty bad at the Trade River Day Camp but once you get out on the trail it wasn't bad at all. Of course, it was a cool, windy day.
June 4th, four of us Horse Goofs rode the Black Trail & part
of the Brown Trail at the Barrens. We parked in the day use area. We were
pleasantly surprised by how manageable the bug situation was & we had a
terrific ride. There are gnats in the parking area, but few other bugs. We saw
only a few deer flies at this point. As soon as we parked we sprayed ourselves
& our horses with bug spray & we weren't bothered at all after that by
any bugs while we tacked up for the ride. Shortly before we set off on our
ride, we gave one more coating of bug spray to all of us & we weren't
annoyed by any other bugs for the rest of the afternoon.
June 4, 2011 - Some folks riding out from the Northwest parking lot on 290th Avenue and 340th Street reported that the gnats were pretty thick but manageable.
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