Thinking of riding Gettysburg on a weekday morning. We’re about an hour away. Any tips, tricks, advice? What’s a typical length of time for a good “loop”? Is there water/hydrant near parking area(s)? I assume it’s mostly flat? I’ve toured Gettysburg/walked it a few times but it’s been a while. I just remember expansive fields, meadows and lots of monuments. Thx!
I have only been to Gettysburg twice. On a nice weekend, the horse parking seemed to fill quickly in the am. A group of reenactors was firing cannons not far from the trail. My horse was fine with it, but I practically jumped out of my skin when I heard the first cannon. We enjoyed our ride, despite the chaos. When we went back on a weekday, our parking and our trail ride were totally easy and peaceful.
We rode Gettysburg yesterday! It was LOVELY. A few tips - I can see how the parking would get filled quickly on a weekend. We were fine on weekday but there were several huge trailers for group rides/tours parked there. By 1 pm they were clearing out though. Some of the trails are rocky - like smaller rocks/get stuck in your shoes rocks 
I’d recommend shoes or hoof boots. The trails were lovely. The non-wooded ones were green-eye fly havens so that was BAD. The horses were getting crazy bothered. Recommend COATING your horse in fly spray esp. their bellies/udder/sheath area that you can’t reach with whip. I killed about 15 with my hand on the upper parts while riding. We eventually turned back to the wooded trails because of the greenhead flies. Just the time of year and climate this year for sure but just a heads up. COAT them!!
The trails keep you somewhat sheltered from the tourists but you will still cross a few roads where they park. Love that the trails are NO BIKES! We only came across a few walkers and other horses.
Passed a few large tours on horseback and they were polite, well behaved horses with a guide and everyone had little ear buds to listen to the tour. Pretty neat. Had a friend do that tour once (non horse person) and said it was “life changing” to see the war story unfold from horseback.
We trotted several areas and could have cantered too but decided to just W/T. Scenery and views were absolutely beautiful. Will try to upload pics later.
Gettysburg is indeed a great ride… I’ve done it a number of times. I’m sad that it’s no longer a true “loop” since the closure of the section by the Round Tops, but if you park at McMillans Woods (the scout camp), you have two roughly-equal-length “out and back” options to ride.
I’ve also ridden it from Artillery Ridge Campground (where you’d have to park if McMillans Woods is full, and you have to pay $10/horse), and IMO the riding is better from McMillans Woods-- you’re closer to the better trails from McMillans Woods. From Artillery Ridge, it takes longer to get to the good stuff.
I don’t recall if water is available at McMillans Woods, but there are porta-potties there from spring to mid-autumn. Paying the $10 at Artillery Ridge gives you the benefit of water, flush toilets, and corrals to turn your horse loose for a bit after your ride, if they’re empty. (At least that’s what some fellow riders did, the day we rode out of there.)
I’ve done the trails there several times while camping at Artillery Ridge. I will tell you the best guided ride I every did was with the owner of Artillery Ridge as the guide. He is a retired police officer and does a SPECTACULAR guide tour with tons of information. You can tell he is passionate about Civil War history. I think if you call Artillery Ridge you can hire him as a guide.
I think you may be talking about Jim. He is wonderful. We have hired him twice. The word last year that the trail near Roundtop may reopen, at least during the week. I think it is on the trail map that can be downloaded from Artillery Ridge website
Thanks all - I had friends do the Artillery Ridge ride with that man I believe - they were on a scout trip, not horsey and said it was “life changing” to see the war play out on horseback the way our soldiers did, and to hear it from him as a guide.
I’ve also gone twice on a guided ride with Jim … can’t say enough good things about him. For our second ride, our original group had dwindled to 4, and 2 of those turned back within 5 or 10 minutes because of skittish horses, so my friend and I had Jim to ourselves for the next couple of hours … best guided tour ever. He reads a letter written by a soldier to his sweetheart, chokes me up every time!
I’m hoping to go again soon, if I can round up some ride buddies to go with me.
That sounds great! I hate trail riding, but THIS I would totally do.
I love living history like that.
