Overview
The Planted Pine Loop is a quiet walk through a section of the planted ponderosa pine in Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest, exploring the forest character that makes the Nebraska Sandhills national forests unique in the national forest system. The 2.5-mile loop is flat, shaded, and accessible, and it tells the same story as the more famous Bessey Division plantings to the south: a forest that exists because people planted it here a century ago on land that was originally treeless prairie.
The loop is appropriate for all experience levels and all ages. It is particularly pleasant in the heat of summer when the pine canopy provides the only shade available in the surrounding open Sandhills terrain.
No permit is required. Vault toilet available at the forest headquarters area.
The Route
The full loop (2.5 miles). Starting from the forest headquarters parking area, the loop enters the mature ponderosa stand immediately. The trees in this section date from plantings in the 1910s and 1920s, now over 80 to 100 years old with trunks 10 to 14 inches in diameter and canopies that close overhead. The needle-carpeted forest floor is soft underfoot and the light is dappled.
The loop makes a clockwise circuit through the planted stand, passing through several openings where the planted trees give way to native grassland and the contrast between the two landscapes is clearly visible. White-tailed deer use these openings heavily at dawn and dusk.
When to Hike
Year-round: The ponderosa pine provides shade and shelter in all seasons. A particularly good choice on hot summer days when open trails are uncomfortably warm.
Morning visits: Deer activity peaks in early morning at the forest-grassland edges.
What to Bring
Many hikers carry 1 liter of water for this short loop. No water on trail; fill up at the reservoir area before hiking. Comfortable walking shoes are adequate for this flat, well-maintained route.
Trailhead Access
The forest headquarters area is signed from the main forest access road near Merritt Reservoir. From Valentine, head south and follow signs to Merritt Reservoir, then continue to the headquarters.
Nearby
Combine with the Merritt Reservoir Loop for a full day at the forest. For a more extensive planted forest experience with interpretive signage, visit the Bessey Division of Nebraska National Forest at Halsey, about 90 miles south. Review Leave No Trace principles in this managed recreation area.