Riding at Liberty Resivoir and Pretty Boy

[gypsymare]

Finally the skies parted!! I get a beautiful ride in yesterday at Liberty Reservoir. I had no idea where I was going other than a vague notion that I should be parking near power lines on Deer Park Rd.

The first time I went there I parked on Deer Park Rd just on the west side of the bridge and I found a few nice trails through trial and error but the one I found yesterday was GORGEOUS. The loop running around the south side of this track was amazing. It was narrow and goat like on the western side but with a beautiful view following the contours of the lake. Very peaceful! There was another good parking area just about 200 yards farther south on Deer Park without the cackling of the lines overhead.

http://www.mapmytracks.com/explore/activity/1421946

Does anyone have any decent trail maps or other self made tracks? I found one map but it had a lot of short, dead end trails not that great for horses.

[gypsymare]

Edited to add, I could use trail maps at Pretty Boy, too. I found on fire road out and back so far but not much else yet.

[chicamux]

I used to ride regularly at Liberty reservoir. There is a great out and back trail, mainly on the fire rd that circles the reservoir. If you park at the power lines you want to start out down the power line, south side of Deer Park. At bottom of hill bear left into the trees. You can then take the first right which will take you across a creek or continue straight for a while then take a turn to the right and cross that creek. All the creeks feed into the reservoir. You want to work your way towards the reservoir then keep it on your left. This lets you work your way westward towards Rt 32. You can cross 32 and continue onwards. I’ve ridden as far as Rt 29 befoe tirning around and heading back. There are a couple of long arms oe peninsulas out into the lake with minor trails out and around them.

It looks like you got stuck on one small arm of land. You can park down there but must bear toward the right and cross that first creek then keep the reservoir on your left.

If you come to the MD horse expo next weekend do stop by the OD/ECTRA booth to visit. I am there to Fri and Sun.

Chicamuxen (Bonnie Snodgrass)

[gypsymare]

Thanks for the directions, I’ll give that a try next time!

I didn’t even know the MD Expo was this weekend… thanks for the heads up on that, too. I’ll try to get there Friday afternoon if I can!

[gypsymare]

I followed the directions yesterday and had a nice hack. It’s icy but we had studs so no problem. The big problem was the number of trees across the trail. Some of them were really hard to go around because of the thick vines, prickers and slope of the surrounding area. By the 4th tricky detour I was ready to turn back. I also accidentally ended up in someone’s side yard. Oops.

http://www.mapmytracks.com/explore/activity/1448682

Who maintains the trails at Liberty? I would like to lend a hand if there’s a trail clearing day.

[Bank_of_Dad]

The trails at Liberty Reservoir are maintained by Baltimore City, as it is a city reservoir. They are pretty good about clearing the trails once the weather improves. There is a riding stable–Liberty Stables-- that if it is still in business, helps clear the trails.

The wider trails are the fireroads the city clears. The smaller trails are just maintained by the trail riders who ride/board near there.

Looking at your path on your map, you should be able to make a turn where you seem to have circled back around and head towards Rt. 32. On a good day, you can cross Rt. 32 and go west a few hundred yards, cross 32 into a smaller parking area, then ride as far as Klee Mill Road.

PM me and I will give you the email of someone who regularly rides those trails.

[chicamux]

Looking at your track I think you trird to head out onthat long peninsula. I didn’t think to tell you to just skip the peninsula road/trails. Most of the year that area is cleared and it does have an out and seperate back route but you obviously found it blocked. Since it’s a peninsula you can only go so far. When you get to that area there are several intersections od road/trail. At the first choice (trail to left goes out to peninsula) bear right and go up a short hill. You will be on the main fire road. You will see another trail on the left (2nd peninsula trail) and also one onthe right. Just stay straight ahead. Lovely road covered with pine needles, heads downhill. THISis the main fire road that will head you to 32. I always cross 32. As you come out of the woods you are on a wide shoulder where people park. Don’t cross yet, go to the right for about 75’ and directly acoss the road is a narrow cut in the trees that lets you onto the fire road on the other side of 32. Cross the road here, turn right on the old road which has a little pavement on it and ride uphill until you see the fire road off to your left. Turn left onto it. You can now ride a really long ways.

If you make it that far you can really ride. There is a creek you can get down into to water yiur horse, then after a steep hill you will come to power lines again. Turn left and follow the trail dowhill to creek crossing, then a big creek crossing, etc. Do try to hook up with someone who knows the trails at least once and it will be easy to find after that.

My horse is to out of shape for a long ride just yet but in a couple more months I’ll go out with you.

Bonnie

[gypsymare]

I saw the long trail heading toward 32 but by the time I made it down there I had already been out for an hour and I wanted ample time to get back to the trailer before it started getting dark. I was also dreading bush whacking back around those trees again! So many thorns!.

We had an amusing encounter with a German Short haired pointer and his handler. Poor pup didn’t know what to make of a horse crashing his training session and my field hunter stood placidly staring at him with curiosity. I imagine he was hoping the hound would take off on a game trail and we’d have a chase!

When it’s less icy I’m going to try Morgan Run out. I haven’t been there yet and am not sure what their parking area is like. I knew I’d be able to get out of the area by the power lines at Liberty so I played it safe.

[tabula_rashah]

I’ve always wanted to ride at both of those places esp Liberty Reservoir. I’ve actually made plans with a couple fellow COTHers to show me around but the weather has never cooperated. So if anyone is going and wouldn’t mind a tag along, please let me know.

[gypsymare]

Once I figure it out myself, I’d be happy to. I don’t mind getting a bit lost in the process of plotting them out.

[Mango20]

Morgan Run is nice and the parking area is good. It’s a very large area with gravel on at least half of it. There are lots of nice soft grassy trails, and some trails in the woods with the normal amount of rocks for around here. Trail maps are available from the Carroll County Equestrian Council, but it’s not hard to figure them out on your own, either.

[Flash44]

I’m chiming in late! Check out TROT, they are an active trail riding group and have some maps on their website. You can also buy maps from the Maryland DNR - order online and I think it’s about $1 a map. I am still under snow and need to rotate the tires on my trailer. Please pm me if you want my email/phone info - I love to trail ride and would be happy to meet you somewhere or have you up to my place to hit the trails. I am in the Hereford/North Balto County area.

[baylady7]

Morgan Run is nice but footing can be “greasy” during freeze/thaw cycles and if wet. It is part of Patapsco and the park requests you do not ride there the day of or day after rain/precipitation

[rttigrl]

I’m coming late to the party, too, but would echo Bonnie/chicamux and Flash 44–as it warms up, I’d love to meet anyone out there who wants to go for a ride (too bad of a sense of direction to try it alone)…any interest in setting up a small email list of potential trail buddies? I’d be happy to coordinate…

[tabula_rashah]

[QUOTE=rttigrl;7475894]
I’m coming late to the party, too, but would echo Bonnie/chicamux and Flash 44–as it warms up, I’d love to meet anyone out there who wants to go for a ride (too bad of a sense of direction to try it alone)…any interest in setting up a small email list of potential trail buddies? I’d be happy to coordinate…[/QUOTE]
I’d definitely be up for it

[tabula_rashah]

Finally got to ride at Liberty- went yesterday with a TROT ride. Super fun, beautiful trails and a great group of ladies. I think I’m actually going to head back this weekend coming up and do some exploring on my own

[Flash44]

TROT is wonderful, unfortunately I’ve been crazy busy and not able to get back out with them recently!!

[Bank_of_Dad]

Unfortunately the parking at Liberty Reservoir on Deer Park Road has been changed for the worse. Large towers and steel barriers have been placed one one side of the street. This leaves very limited parking on the side closest to the trail access.

[Bank_of_Dad]

This is near the power lines.

[chicamux]

You can park further down the road, heading towards the reservoir, still on the right. There is another pull-over area on the right and a trail head there that will connect you to the same, main fire road trail that continues around the reservoir…

chicamuxen