Spring flowers are a special reward to spring hiking as the fall colors are to autumn hiking. Good hiking can occur during summer but daytime temperatures and humidity are usually high with nights not offering much relief. Winter offers many good days for hiking as temperatures can be mild. Extended backpacking trips, however, may run the risk of encountering foul weather as winter weather can change frequently. All trails in the forest are open to foot travel.
Most trails are open for horse and foot travel.
There are 1,250 miles of paved, gravel, dirt and grass surfaces in the forest road system. Foot travelers are welcome to use them with due care. Some roads are always closed to motorized use, and other roads and trails are closed seasonally. Lakes and Ponds Bring your fishing boat, canoe, sailboard or sailboat. There are many lakes and ponds in or near the forest, ranging from small pools to lakes larger than 2,700 acres.