Thanks! Will be interested to see photos. I’m just curious about the condition of the other trails on much higher ground and if they were impacted much and if not, why the horseback riders can’t at least have access to those back?
I took my tour of McIntosh yesterday and it was not as bad as expected. Darryl, the park manager, said that the park looked worse before it started to green up. The damage is contained to the lower section of the park.
The big field was covered in water during the flood and even had carp swimming in it. It is now covered in weeds and filled with trash and branches. The river trail has severe erosion and is unsafe in several areas. In fact, if you are standing looking at the river, and go to the left on the river trail, once you cross the bridge you loose the trail and it is just a large sandy beach. All the brush that was along the river is now gone and the river itself is wider.
Darryl said there were some areas where the water reached 20feet high and many trees showed the signs of mud and water marks. There will be some volunteer days in May to help clean up the park. I will post it here so everyone can help.
The best news is that if all goes as planned horses can come back on Memorial Day!!! We may have to stick to the upper areas of the park but we will be able to ride more than half of it!!! YAY!!!
That is good news. Near the river just past that bridge always did worry me a bit with the erosion it had then. I’d love to be able to see a slide show of it from flood time to now.
BTW has anyone been to Boundary Waters since the flood?
Pnally I am going today to Boundary and I will let you know how it is.
So glad to hear we just might get to re-christen the horse trails Memorial Day Weekend.
Will be awaiting the report from Boundary.
Boundary was great! There were no issues on the part FatCat and I were on. We stayed on the red trail. I may go again tomorrow with John and will let ya’ll know how the rest of the park is is we go.
That is GOOD News!
Boundary Waters is awesome. It’s free and there’s tons of trailer parking. Management is very friendly and the trails are well maintained. We haven’t even missed McIntosh being closed, we’d rather go to Boundary any day. We went last week and stayed all day even had a cookout. There’s even an indoor swim park right next door if you want to go swimming to cool off between rides. Whenever we’ve been there’s never been more than 1 or 2 walkers on on the trails and maybe 1 or 2 other groups of riders. Quiet and the ride by the Chattahoochee is so pretty. Can’t say enough good things about BW.
We enjoy BW too. But with the bridge on 166 out, there was no easy way for us to get there. I’m glad to hear the trails are good to ride on after the flood.
pnalley are you talking about the bridge on 166 in Douglas County? It has re-opened. That is one reason I stayed away from Boundary for so long. All bridges are now fixed.
I had heard the bridge on 166 was fixed. I was just waiting on a report that the trails were good. This weekend we are going down to Mule Days. I have been told it’s a private farm with loads of pretty trails. Possibly we can get their (BW) sometime next week
