SUNDANCE - About 50 people attended the first of a series of meetings concerning a proposed off-roading trail system for Black Hills National Forest on Monday evening.

The meeting, which was held in Sundance, featured community members interested in discussing the proposed trail system for off-highway vehicle trails in Black Hills National Forest.

Members of the Bear Lodge Ranger District were also in attendance and available for answering questions.

A decision will be made on the trail system in December of 2008. The new system would be opposite of the current system, in which all trails are open unless marked closed. The proposal would stipulate that all trails would be closed unless marked open.

Eric Hunt, a member of the Lawrence County Recreation Advisory Committee, said his committee would like to compare the proposed map with another map of existing trails and roads.

He said he liked the Forest Service concept of having loops off main artery roads instead of having dead-end trails that go off into nowhere.

Hunt said that the proposed trail system would provide a more uniform system.

"Once we get this, it will be standardized, and that will be a lot better," he said, explaining that riders would be clearer on where to ride.

Meetings will be held this week in Rapid City, Spearfish and Custer.

Public comments, which are due Nov. 13, will be taken during meetings. Or they can be mailed to travel management planner Tom Willems of the Black Hills National Forest, 1019 North 5th St, Custer, South Dakota, 57730.

Meetings to explain Black Hills trail system

The Rapid City public meeting to discuss the proposed off-roading trail system for Black Hills National Forest is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at the the Best Western Ramkota Hotel (Rushmore Room) at 2111 North La Crosse St., Rapid City.

The two remaining meetings, also 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. are:

n Wednesday, Sept. 12, at the Wilbur S. Tretheway Pavilion, 115 South Canyon St., Spearfish.

n Thursday, Sept. 13, Crazy Horse Memorial (Mountain View Room), north of Custer.

Public comments, due by Nov. 13, also will be taken during the meetings. For more information, call Black Hills National Forest Headquarters in Custer at 673-9200.