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'Giddyap' Horseback riders find happy trails at Illinois state parks.
STORY BY JOHN ALLEN
In this age of increased development and less open space, where can horseback riding enthusiasts go to pursue their sport?
Private property is an option, but it's hardly practical for the estimated 350,000 Illinoisans, many from urban areas, who ride on a regular basis. That leaves public property, but a thundering herd of 219,000 horses with free rein could do incalculable damage to the state's natural resources.
"Equestrian use on state-owned sites is very popular, and we work hard to provide this recreational opportunity in a resource-compatible manner," said Mike McCulley of the Department of Natural Resources Office of Land Management and Education, which regulates usage of state parks.
To that end, DNR seeks input from equestrian user groups such as the Horsemen's Council of Illinois, which is in the process of updating the 1997 statistics cited above, and the Illinois Trail Riders Association, a regular participant in Conservation Congress.
The Department's own statistics, put forth in a new equestrian use, development and operations policy in February of this year, show that Illinois' horse-related industry (spending on horses, trailers and campers, tack equipment and travel) ranks fifth nationally and that about 10 percent of the state's adults participate in the sport.
DNR statistics also reveal that the 720 miles of horseback riding trails at 46 state parks and recreation areas represent 44 percent of the total miles available to equestrians in Illinois.
Trails of varying lengths and terrain are located in each of the Department's five regions. Twenty-nine sites also contain horse campgrounds, and nine offer horse and equipment rental.
Ranging from the 3-mile trails at Kickapoo State Park near Oakwood and Stephen A. Forbes State Park near Kinmundy to the 63-miler at Hennepin Canal Parkway State
Red Hills State Park has the oldest
chartered horse arena in Illinois.
July 2001 5
Park, trails can be level, slightly rolling, gently rolling and hilly, or rugged and rough. Some traverse open fields, while others cut through prairies or grasslands, agricultural areas, wildlife food plots or timbered areas. Many sites offer trails that combine various elements. Following are examples of trails offered at state sites by region:
REGION I
•Jubilee College State Park, Brimfield, offers 25 miles of trails originating from its 60-unit Class C horse campground. The park's topography of flat ridges, deep ravines and floodplains translates into trails that are level, gently rolling or rugged and run through both prairie and timbered areas. Trails are open from April 15 to Oct. 31
•Matthiessen State Park near Utica is the only one in the region that offers horse rentals. There are nine miles of relatively flat trails north of the park's Dells Area, and a 25-unit Class C equestrian campground with water access. The trails are open year-round, except when extremely wet and at certain times during dove hunting season, Sept. 1-30. The Starved Rock Stables' horse rental is located just outside the park's northern boundary and is open Thursday through Monday from May to October, and weekends in April and November. Other parks in the region offering equestrian facilities are: Rock Cut State Park, Loves Park; Lowden-Miller State Forest, Oregon; Franklin Creek State Natural Area, Franklin Grove; Morrison-Rockwood State Park, Morrison; Green River State Wildlife Area, Harmon; Putnam County Conservation Area, DePue; Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park, Sheffield; Big River State Forest, Keithsburg; and Argyle Lake State Park, Colchester. 6 OutdoorIllinois
REGION II
• Chain O'Lakes State Park near Spring Grove has horse rentals, but no equestrian camping. Its three looped trails total eight miles across gently rolling terrain. The trails are open from May 1 to Oct. 31.
Only two other parks in the region are open to horseback riding: Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area, Yorkville, and the DesPlaines Conservation Area, Wilmington. Neither offers horse campgrounds or rentals.
REGION III
• Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area, Oakwood, has a 50-unit Class C campground with water access to go with 35 miles of trails that range from level to rugged. Several are loops of varying sizes, while the longest follows the Middle Fork branch of the Vermilion River nearly the entire length of the park. The trails are closed only during firearm deer season, and are shared with cross-country skiers and snowmobiles when winter conditions allow those uses. There is no horse rental, though horses can be rented at nearby Kickapoo State Park for exclusive use on that park's 3-mile trail.
• Moraine View State Park, LeRoy, and Fox Ridge State Park, Charleston, also offer trails for equestrians.
REGION IV
"It gets very little use, and not many people know about it," Perina said of this 52-unit equestrian campground and the 26 miles of trails leading from it. The camp is Class A with showers ($ll/night), and the trails include the moderately difficult, 9-mile Governor's Trail, which features four scenic overlooks. Trails are open only from April 1 to Oct. 31, and horse rentals are not available.
• Sand Ridge State Forest, Forest City, also has a large campground 7 OutdoorIllinois
(40 Class C units with water access), and 40 miles of gently rolling terrain through oak-hickory woods and across sprawling grasslands. It's closed only during firearm deer season, but does not offer rentals. • Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, is the only one of the 10 in this region to offer horse rentals, although these are guided group rides only. There is no campground for equestrians, but there is a trailer parking area leading to 12 miles of trails. The gate to the trailhead is locked year-round, and a visit to the site office is required to open it.
The other equestrian facilities in Region IV include Weinberg-King State Park, Augusta; Siloam Springs State Park, Clayton; Sangchris Lake State Park, Rochester; Horseshoe Lake State Park, Granite City; Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area, Baldwin; and Randolph State Fish and Wildlife Area and Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area, Chester. REGION V • A scenic ride through the rugged terrain of Giant City State Park, Makanda, starts at the 25-unit Class A campground. A 12-mile trail crosses creeks, forests and rock bluffs. A nearby horse rental offers guided rides from May 1 to Nov. 1, coinciding with the park's open equestrian trail dates. • Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park, Whittington, is the only other park in Region V that offers horse rentals. Its 9-mile trail circles the field trial area and is closed for field trial events and hunting seasons from Sept. 15 to April 15. The 10-unit Class C campground offers water access. • Red Hills State Park, Sumner, is the site of the oldest chartered horse arena in Illinois, as well as a 13-unit Class C campground and a looped 5-mile trail that passes through prairies, woods and open fields. The trail is closed only when extremely wet and during upland game season.
• Saline County Conservation Area, Equality, and Ferne Clyffe State Park, Goreville, offer access to the River-to-River Trail between the Ohio and Mississippi, as well as scenic intrapark trails and Class C campgrounds.
Other Region V parks with horse trails are: Ramsey Lake State Park, Ramsey; Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife Area, Hutsonville; Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area and Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Newton; Stephen A. Forbes State Park and Sam Dale Conservation Area, Johnsonville; Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Bonnie; Hamilton County Conservation Area, McLeansboro; Pyramid State Park, Pinckneyville; and Trail of Tears State Forest, Jonesboro. Statewide Trail Rules Regardless of which park equestrians choose, there are certain rules that must be followed: • Groups of 25 or more must register in advance with the site office, and at least one adult must accompany each group of 15 minors.
• Riders must stay on designated trails and cannot make new trails.
• Horses may not be tied directly to trees, but can be tethered to a rope suspended between two trees.
• Campers must use the designated camping areas and must deposit manure in designated composting facilities at the campground.
• On multi-use trails, bikers and hikers must yield to horses.
• Equestrians are not permitted in any area listed on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory. Although it's not required, it's a good idea to phone ahead to make sure equestrian facilities are available at any particular site.
Information about equestrian opportunities, including site phone numbers and addresses, is contained in the Illinois Horseback Riding Guide brochure available from the DNR Clearinghouse, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701. Phone (217) 782-7454 or (312) 814-2070, or by emailing: clearing@dnrmail. state.il.us.
Information about the Horsemen's Council of Illinois is available at its website: www.horse menscouncil.org. Information about the Illinois Trail Riders and other riding clubs is available at www.illinoishorse.com.
As Roy Rogers used to say: "Happy trails to you!" 8 OutdoorIllinois
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