While passing by the location of Woodruff Park today, my wife and I wondered what had become of the Park. The sign is no longer up and a gate bars access. We did not check to see if it was locked in any manner. Perhaps Levi can give us an explanation.

I haven't been there for a while, but the times I was before the gate was always unlocked. The sign has been gone for a long time.

Bill: Woodruff was always a favorite spot of Mom's. She loved going there in the Spring to see the crocus starting to peak thru the snow.

The gate is "locked" but I am sure you can figure it out. If you do go there it's best to STAY ON THE ROAD. The last time I was there - I got Mom's pickup stuck in the mud and had to call our neighbor to pull us out!!! It was just thru the entry way, but the ruts were bad so I went a little left when I should have stayed straight ahead.

When going thru the gate stay to the road on the right... It eventually loops around and comes back to the entry way where the sign used to be. There are a still a few picnic tables. Some awesome views of the Pine Hills.

I used to love to go up there. It was so pretty. The wind blowing through the trees, it was always so quiet. They may have locked the gates due to hunters.

The last time we were there the gate was only latched... not padlocked. If you know anything about opening a gate, you'll be able to figure it out. Remember to jump on the bottom rail when you swing the gate open - it's a lot of FUN!

I think the gate and latch were installed that way to deter vandals -who aren't very smart in the first place.

So its the hunters that destroy stuff up there now?? Its sad to see that the HUNTERS are the cause for a park to be blocked off.

I missed the part where the HUNTERS were blamed for destroying anything.

First off...I don't even live in Miles anymore, but I still know that the park is open. The gate is there to keep the livestock in when they are on the land. I'd assume that the city (who owns it) leases out the land periodically for some revenue???? Hunting is not allowed...never has been. There is a great old frisbee golf (folf) course out there that the bigdrybug and company built some time ago. Someone should put some metal posts in place of the old painted trees...it would be world class.

I seem to recall a cattleguard in place of the current gate. Perhaps I'm remembering wrong. Seems a simple solution to encouraging access to a "park".

And I dont recall the gates being locked because of hunters. True hunting has never been allowed there as far back as I can remember.

The gate to the park is not locked unless there is high fire danger. It is there to keep our cattle in as the park is located about a 1/2 mile off the highway. There was a cattle guard there at one time but it was never cleaned out so it was replaced. The county is in charge of the park however there hasn't been anything done to the park in years. I can't say that we really miss the sign. I am sure that the responsible people that would use the park (if the sign were there) out number the others, however it only takes one!

There was hunting allowed at the park some years ago. I was born and raised and lived in Miles for 49 years. Went on many hunting trips. Just to make sure my memory was correct I contacted the FWP, this is what they had to say:

Woodruff Park used to be owned by the BLM but has now been turned over to Custer County. We believe hunting is still allowed there but it would be best to check with the county for sure since they are the property owners now. You can reach the Custer County Commissioners at 874-3350. There is some private property that you must cross in order to get to Woodruff Park, which of course you must have permission from the landowner to do so. The landowner also has cattle on the property and a gate has been installed at the entrance to Woodruff to keep the cows out. As far as we know, the county has not locked this gate. If hunting is still allowed in the park, we don't think it would probaby be the best idea due to the cattle being in such close proximity and the relative small area of the park.
Please contact Custer County for additional information.
Thanks,Erin O'Connor

and the second e-mail

If it helps you further, I visited with our Information Officer and the ranger at the BLM here and they both said as far as they knew you were able to hunt in the park before. They both agreed that as far as they knew hunting is still allowed at the park, but that it ultimately was up to the county. Long story short hunting definitely WAS allowed at the park in the past.

Thanks,
Tootz

Thanks TOOTZ there is good info in there