Fort Valley Ranch, near Fort Valley, VA
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We had a wonderful time at Fort Valley Ranch in October. Bill and Laura were as wonderful as always and went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable. The trees were beautiful and the views from the mountain tops just gorgeous. We even tried a trail we had not been on before when at Fort Valley Ranch, and after going up over the mountain, we descended down to the Shenandoah River---just beautiful! We love Fort Valley Ranch Horse Campground and can't wait until the Spring and our next camping trip there! |
| Reviewed by C. Ann on 1/15/2014 1:10:17 PM |
Experience: Not Specified |
Ride Date: 10/12/2013 |
Hometown: Shenandoah, Va |
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The campground is wonderful with lots of shade and corral pens for your horse close to your camping site, including some covered. Bill and Laura, the owners, are so warm and friendly and do all they can to make your stay a good one. There are even a few paddocks available unless previously spoken for. There are miles and miles of trails with some on the property and most in the National Forest. There are many to choose from with different levels of difficulty and amount of rocks and if someone complains saying "the trails are rocky", they have been on the wrong trails or else they expect MOUNTAIN TRAILS to be like the sandy beach trails in flat low areas. The idea is to ask Bill beforehand and take the trail you want depending on degree of difficulty and/or rocky terrain. Many of the trails have great views (Kennedy Peak trail is one)and as long as you have shoes on your horse all around and you and your horse have ridden more than just flat, sandy trail riding, you should have no problem. (The trails seen on "Best of America By Horseback" are THE actual trails on campground property, but the previous reviewer makes no sense to expect all 80+ miles of trail (most in the National Forest) to be exactly the same as those shown!) Great people, great place and highly recommended! |
| Reviewed by C. Ann on 7/28/2013 9:55:37 AM |
Experience: Intermediate |
Ride Date: 7/1/2013 |
Hometown: Shenandoah, Va |
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Iron Mountain Horse Camp, near Cripple Creek , Va
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This was our 4th time at Iron Mountain Horse Camp since last summer, camping 7 to 8 days each time we come. We really like this campground! Everyone here, from the owners, (Sheila and Danny), to those helping run the horse camp (Susan and Davey) to the permanent campers who lease by the year, right on down to the majority of horse campers like us who do not have "a permanent campsite", are really friendly, helpful and go out of their way to make your stay a great one. There is a relaxed and welcoming feeling in this horse camp and the people there that we like and have felt every time we have camped there. It is in stark contrast to some horse camps in which the camper is given a long list of rules the minute he/she drives in and must obey or the "strong arm of management will hit them like a brick"! However, don't be mislead into thinking the camp is not well cared for and run------it is. It is very pretty with lovely landscaping and lots of grassy areas cut frequently. There is an area down by the creek for the campers pulling their rigs in who are not permanent campers which is pretty and shady and convenient to the barn designated for the non-yearly lease people. Those people with the yearly leases are in designated places and are very attractive with the same kind of shelter with porches over their campers. The whole campground is very attractive and well cared for. As far as the trails, they are really wonderful, leave right from camp and a person could ride for days and still not take the same trail loop. It is hard to imagine serious trail riders not liking Iron Mountain Horse Camp! |
| Reviewed by C. Ann on 8/17/2014 11:16:44 AM |
Experience: Intermediate |
Ride Date: 7/4/2014 |
Hometown: Shenandoah, Va |
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