Planning Horse Vacation in PA

[chicamuxen1]

A good friend and I have been talking about spending a week in PA horse camping and trail riding. Prefer Central or N. Central PA. We are distance riders so we want to camp in a location with MILES of trails. Will need to find a commercial or public campground that allows horse camping. I’ve crossed Michaux and Weiser SFs off the list as we’ve ridden those forests already.

Anyone have suggestions? Anyone done riding in Tiadaghton or Tuscarora? Might also consider going further towards the NW of PA.

Bonnie

[kasjordan]

http://www.visitpa.com/big-elk-lick-campground

TONS and TONS and TONS of really cool riding. Nice campground, super friendly owner.

[chicamuxen1]

I’ve been to endurance rides in that area and it is beautiful. Is the access to trails directly from the campground good? Did you trailer out to other trailheads? What time of the year did you ride there?

Bonnie

[kasjordan]

I’ve ridden there in the summer and in the fall. If you stay at Big Elk Lick, you can leave right from there and ride different trails every day- there is just huge amounts of riding.

[jessewills]

To make your time stress-free and pleasurable as possible, research a lot and study each pro and con before your upcoming adventure. You must sure about your riding ability, and if you don’t, ask your instructor. Good luck!

[chicamuxen1]

Thanks for the replies. I think we’ll probably go to Big Elk Lick. It is a really nice area with little development. I did my very first 50 mile ride near there.

I am an experienced rider/camper and my horses are experienced at camping. I prefer more primitive camping and am good at new trails. I am going to have to strip search my trailer to locate my GPS unit. I haven’t used it since last summer. I wanted it last week and couldn’t remember where I put it. I sure hope I haven’t lost it!!!

Bonnie

[lawndart]

There are TONS of trails by me Chicamuzen1. You need the Central PA shared use trail map. You can get a copy by contacting the Laurelton Office, or send me a PM with your address, and I’ll give you one of mine. They just put in a really nice camping area on Route 477, near Livonia. It says it is for snowmobiles, but the guys I talked to while they were working on it, said it is for horses too http://www.visitpa.com/bald-eagle-state-forest

I’m hoping to get to Elk County myself this year, for at least a couple of days.