Mammoth Cave Horse Camp, near Mammoth Cave, KY
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Mammoth Cave Horse Camp is a really nice, first class facility and we plan to return. The stalls are large (10X10), airy, and well bedded. For a small extra charge they will even clean your stalls for you - you can't beat that! We stayed at the bunkhouse, which was clean, dry, and cozy (there was a nice little "faux fireplace" heater and also an air conditioning unit). The bunk house had sturdy double bed sized bunk beds - so you can sleep up to four. The camp sites were also very nice - well placed on the top of a hill. Shower facilities were very clean with plenty of hot water. Kevin and Brandon were super nice and very helpful and accomodating. There are more trails to explore here than any other place we have ridden and we were very pleased with them, but some of the trails are in need of drainage work in places, which is why I only rated the trails with four stars. The Wet Prong Trail is beautiful, but crosses a number of mountain spring/seep areas which are very wet and the horse traffic is really tearing up the terrain in those places. We did not venture onto the First Creek Trail, but we were told by other riders that this trail was even wetter. The state appears to be in the process of reinforcing those areas with gravel...hopefully this work continues. With gravel and drainage pipe placed in a few strategic areas, the trails will be much more enjoyable for both horses and riders. We also rode the Sal Hollow Trail, Blair Springs Trail and a few others which were dry and a very pleasant ride. All the trails are very well marked and the maps are accurate and easy to read. There are also numerous places to stop for a picnic lunch, with posts to cross tie your horse too. |
| Reviewed by emwhite on 10/17/2015 4:28:54 PM |
Experience: Intermediate |
Ride Date: 10/13/2015 |
Hometown: Kirtland, OH |
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Hell Creek Ranch, near Ann Arbor, Mi
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This is officially our favorite place to horse camp and ride! The managers are wonderful folks - very kind and accomodating. The campground is immaculately clean, there is a very nice shower house and even a pool. The horse sites have plenty of shade and sturdy trees to picket from. You must bring your own picket line, but if this worries you, look online for the "Savvy Horse Highline Kits" and buy one - the high line kit is GREAT and I promise you, you will be set up in just a few minutes. The trails are very easy and straightforward with gently rolling hills and a few flat sections. The scenery is nice and the footing is wonderful; it is sandy, but the sand is not overly deep. Trails are well marked, and maps can be downloaded online (Pinckney Recreation Area). The trails make many interconnecting loops, and they connect with a very long stretch of all purpose trail called the Lakelands Trail (a "rails to trails" trail). The only drawback about the trails is that there are only about 20 miles total, although the Lakelands Trail adds an additional 26 miles. |
| Reviewed by emwhite on 6/7/2015 6:41:06 AM |
Experience: Not Specified |
Ride Date: 6/2/2015 |
Hometown: Kirtland, OH |
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Elkins Creek Horsecamp & Tack Shop, LLC, near Ironton, Oh
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The trails are VERY well maintained and in excellent condition, with a variety of options for both short and long rides. Trail maps are provided, and the trails are well marked. The footing was very good for the most part, with mud being a problem on only one section of one trail. The scenery was very enjoyable too...my favorite trail followed a long section of ridge on the top of a large hill. On a clear day you can see all the way into the state of Virginia from this ridge. The campground was well maintained too...bathrooms, showers and the cabin we stayed in were all very clean. Campsites are all level, and the campground has nice wide driveways to make maneuvering larger rigs easier. I can't say enough nice things about the owners, Rick and Jill. They were so helpful and accomadating, and really made us feel like family! |
| Reviewed by emwhite on 5/23/2014 5:01:24 AM |
Experience: Expert |
Ride Date: 5/20/2014 |
Hometown: Kirtland, OH |
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South Chagrin Reservation - Cleveland Metroparks, near Moreland Hills, OH
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South Chagrin Reservation is easily the most BEAUTIFUL of all the Cleveland Metroparks bridle trails (and I have ridden them all, many times). The trail winds through lovely old growth beech, sugar maple and hemlock forests, and meanders along the Chagrin River for a nice long stretch. There are several creek crossings, but all of them are straightfoward and easy for even an inexperienced horse to negotiate. There are some gently rolling hills, but no steep inclines, so again a novice horse or rider should feel very comfortable here. The only challenging aspect is that the trail travels underneath two very busy roads and some horses get unnerved by the rattle of cars zooming across the overhead bridge (although our horses have not had any trouble). You can easily make a trip to South Chargin an all-day ride, because the trail extends all the way to Bedford Reservation (through suburbia in places - which has some busy road crossings but is interesting to ride through). The only major drawback is that there are limited options as far as loop trails, and the loops are all fairly short. If you want to truly experience all that this park has to offer, you have to ride out and back. The northernmost trailhead (by the polo field) has ample, level parking and port-o-pots. There is a HUGE crushed limestone riding arena here that is open to the public. A second trail head just a little to the south is at Miles Road and in this area there are picnic tables and more port-o-pots. Like all of the Cleveland Metroparks bridle trails, South Chagrin Reservation's trails are exceptionally well maintained, with solid, all-weather (though sometimes rocky) footing. Trail maps are available on-line. Overnight accomodations for horses can be found at Brecksville Stables, which is approximately a 40 minute drive from South Chagrin Reservation. |
| Reviewed by emwhite on 6/22/2014 6:34:49 AM |
Experience: Intermediate |
Ride Date: 5/25/2014 |
Hometown: Kirtland, OH |
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