Visitors Encouraged to Horse Around in Missouri
Bucks and Spurs Guest Ranch
Jefferson City, Mo. -
One of the best ways to experience the tranquility and natural beauty of Missouri’s great outdoors is from the back of a horse, and the Show-Me State offers a number of equestrian adventures to suit riders of all skill levels.
For children and beginning riders, learning how to command a horse builds confidence and is a way to get some great outdoor exercise at the same time.
Whether you’re a city slicker looking to play cowboy without heading too far out of town, or an experienced trail rider seeking an authentic wilderness adventure, Missouri encourages you to horse around on a trail ride, at an equestrian camp or one of our many dude ranches.
You may not be able to buy your child a real pony, but riding lessons at summer camp are often the next best thing (and you don’t have to feed, stable or clean stalls first-thing in the morning!) Check out the Meritage Farms, www.meritage-farms.com/lessons.html, in Robertsville, which offers riding lessons for children ages seven and up. Castlewood Stables, www.castlewoodstables.com/, is a state of the art facility located in West St. Louis County, adjacent to Castlewood State Park. Lessons are available for equestrian enthusiasts at all levels, and Great Griffin Farm, www.greatgriffinfarm.com/, in Wentzville, provides summer day camps for all ages. Drew Training Stables, www.drewtrainingstables.com/Lessons.html, in Troy gives lessons to students of all ages and experience levels.
Ballwin’s Castlewood State Park, www.mostateparks.com/castlewood.htm, and Route 66 State Park, www.mostateparks.com/route66.htm, in Eureka, both on the outskirts of St. Louis, offer visitors a view of the natural beauty of the Meramec River, offering a serene in-town escape from urban life. Castlewood and Route 66 are two of the 16 Missouri State Parks offering horseback riding trails.
Many Missouri Parks offer miles of trails
Other Missouri State Parks offering horseback riding include Crowder State Park, www.mostateparks.com/crowder.htm, in Trenton, with eight miles of equestrian trails; Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, www.mostateparks.com/babler.htm, in Wildwood, covering 2,400 acres of heavily wooded terrain; Sam A. Baker State Park, www.mostateparks.com/baker.htm, in Patterson, which features a challenging 12-mile trail through the Mudlick Mountain Wild Area; Cuivre River State Park, www.mostateparks.com/cuivre.htm, in Troy; Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, www.mostateparks.com/jshutins.htm, in Middlebrook, which includes the 10-mile Goggins Mountain Equestrian Trail and Knob Noster State Park, www.mostateparks.com/knobnoster.htm, in Knob Noster. (Note: McAdoo Trail, which is the only trail open to equestrians, is scheduled to re-open this summer. Call ahead 660-563-2463), Lake of the Ozarks State Park, www.mostateparks.com/lakeozark.htm, in Kaiser, Lake Wappapello State Park, www.mostateparks.com/lakewappapello.htm, in Williamsville, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge.htm, in Columbia, St. Francois State Park, www.mostateparks.com/stfrancois.htm, in Bonne Terre, featuring the 11-mile Pike Run Trail, St. Joe State Park, www.mostateparks.com/stjoe.htm, in Park Hills, Trail of Tears State Park, www.mostateparks.com/trailoftears.htm, in Jackson, and Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site, www.mostateparks.com/wwmill/, in Lawson.
Horses are permitted on the Katy Trail, www.mostateparks.com/katytrail/index.html, from the Calhoun Trailhead to Sedalia.
The Ozark Trail, www.ozarktrail.com/, is another popular destination for riders, offers more than 350 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails through the heart of the Ozark Mountains, all the way to the Arkansas border. A complete online trip-planner enables visitors to choose an itinerary based on their method of travel (bike, foot or horseback), skill level and location. Not all sections of the trail are open to horses, so please consult the trip planner before heading out.
Mark Twain National Forest, www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain/, offers more than 1.5 million acres spread across seven districts in 29 southern Missouri counties. More than 742 miles of trails are open for hiking, biking or horseback riding, and two equestrian outfitters, Brushy Creek Lodge and Resort, and Fourche Creek Trail Rides, are available for riders wishing to saddle up and go.
Turkey Creek Lodge and Resort offers a great family vacation with guided trail rides.
Brushy Creek Lodge and Resort, www.brushycreeklodge.com/, in Black, offers cabins and camping, one-day and overnight trail rides, horse-drawn wagon rides and the Trails Inn Restaurant. Brushy Creek Lodge and Resort is conveniently located near Johnson Shut-Ins State Park, www.mostateparks.com/jshutins.htm, Taum Sauk State Park, www.mostateparks.com/taumsauk.htm, Elephant Rocks State Park, www.mostateparks.com/elephantrock.htm, Sam A. Baker State Park, www.mostateparks.com/baker.htm, making it an ideal starting point for any family outdoor adventure.
Farther south, Fourche Creek Trail Rides near Doniphan, (800-457-3025 or 573-989-6131) offers guided trail rides through the Ozark Mountains in the Eleven Point region of the forest.
A complete list of Mark Twain National Forest hiking, biking and equestrian trails is available online at www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain/recreation/hiking/.
For people who’d rather look at horses than ride them, Shannon County is the place to be Shannon County is home to wild horses, who have roamed the open range surrounding the Ozark Scenic Riverways for more than three-quarters of a century. Today, the four herds are protected by the federal government and managed by the Missouri Wild Horse League.
Missouri Wild Horse League - Where horses roam free in the open.
The Missouri Wild Horse League was formed in 1992 to protect and maintain a small band of wild horses, approximately 20, which roam the lands surrounding the Current and Jack’s Fork Rivers in Shannon County, Missouri. The horses have been running free for more than 100 years. These horses are believed to have originated mainly from domestic animals that were freed during the Depression years due to the inability of the farmers to feed them.
If you’re looking to play cowboy, check out the ranch-style horseback trail rides on a scenic river ranch at Bucks and Spurs Guest Ranch, www.bucksandspurs.com, located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. Turkey Creek Ranch, www.turkeycreekranch.com, in Theodosia offers a family vacation place with guided trail rides and lake activities like fishing, boating, skiing, etc. Enjoy the dude ranch, guest ranch, trail Rides and cabin vacations at RS Ranch, http://rsranchtrailrides.com/index.htm, in Bourbon.
No matter what kind of horsing around you’re looking for, Missouri has an equestrian adventure for you. For more information or to order a free copy of the Official 2010 Missouri Travel Guide, log on to www.VisitMO.com, or call 800-519-4800.
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Contact:
Sarah Luebbert
Missouri Division of Tourism
573-522-5501
Sarah.Luebbert@ded.mo.gov
