Year: 2012 (Page 2 of 3)

Contributor: Amy Hesselgesser (Thank You Amy!)

Waxahachie Creek Park at Lake Bardwell

The Red Trail at Waxahachie Creek Park at Lake Bardwell.

 

Website for Information:

http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/bardwell/Recreation/Trails/Horse.asp

Contact:

Lake Bardwell COE Phone:

(972) 875-5711 or for reservations call (877) 444-6777

Address:

930 Bozek Rd., Ennis, TX 75119

GPS coordinates:  N32º17.773′ & W096º41.794′

Directions to Waxahachie Creek Park

To Waxahachie Creek Park, from Dallas head south on I-45 towards Houston.  Head 36.4 miles to exit 247, US-287 North/Congressman Joe Barton Parkway towards Waxahachie/ Ft.Worth.   Head North 4.1 miles to Kaufman/Italy exit that leads to intersection of Texas State Highway 34.  Turn Left on Highway 34 heading southwest 2.9 miles to Bozek Rd.  Turn right on Bozek Road.  Park is 1.5  miles at the end of Bozek road.

Overnight Equestrian Camping:

Allowed, fees listed on COE website

Cost:

The day riding fee is listed as $3.00

Facilities:

Multiple covered 10×10 pens at trail head, water and electric available, mounting ramp, level parking with multiple grassy sites for saddling your horse.  Hitching posts at trail head.

 

Horseshoe Bend bridge on the Blue Trail.

Mileage:

Just over 13 miles of one way trails, making a round trip of approximately 27 miles.

Terrain:

The Terrain is easy and does not require you to have shoes/boots for your horse. It is mostly flat with some hilly terrain on the offshoot trails. I was told there is water access at the head of the pink trail but we did not make it to that point.

Map:

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Plowman Creek Park, Hopewell Trail at Lake Whitney

Website:

http://www.recreation.gov/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=71359

http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/whitney/recreation/parks/corpsparks.asp

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
32.07, -97.49333
32°4’12″N, 97°29’36″W

Location: Just south of Kopperl, Texas.

Physical Address: 15188 FM 56, Kopperl, TX 76652 (This is listed as the 911 address, however, when entered into Google Maps, the wrong location is given. It is best to enter Plowman Creek Park at Lake Whitney when searching in Google Maps. See this link under Directions).

Office Address: US Army Corps of Engineers, 285 CR 3602, Clifton, TX 76634

Contact: 254/622-3332 or 254/694-3189

Email: whitneylaketx@usace.army.mil

Directions: Plowman Creek Park Google Maps Link

Plowman Creek Park is just outside of Kopperl off of HWY 56 between TX 174 and Farm Road 927. From Meridan take TX 174 north and go through Morgan. Continue on TX 174. Pass FM 56 on your left and take the second FM 56 on your right, heading east towards Kopperl. (If coming from Cleburne on TX 174 then take the first FM 56 on your left). Go through the small town of Kopperl and pass a large berm/water spill way. Look for the park signs and turn left on Plowman Creek Park Road.

From Whitney take TX 22 heading west and turn right on FM 56. Pass Farm Road 927 and continue. Look for the park sign and turn right on Plowman Park Road. If you go into the town of Kopperl you have gone too far.

Once in the park and through the gatehouse, continue forward. At the fork you will see the lake to your right and a small sign on the right which points left and states “Equestrian Area”, turn left onto the gravel road which takes you behind the bathroom/shower house and into the equestrian trailhead.

Camping: Overnight equestrian camping is allowed.

Hours of operation: The front gate for the park is opened at 6am and closes at 10pm.

Cost: $16.00 for overnight camping with electric and water hookups, $12 camping with no hookups, and $1 to ride just for the day. (Please call because rates may be subject to change).

Reservations for Camping: At this time the equestrian hookups cannot be reserved on line or by phone. The hookups and pens are on a first come first serve basis. However, once the trailhead renovations are completed this may change. Horses are not allowed outside of the Equestrian Area or trail. Campsites outside of the Equestrian area can be reserved at: http://www.recreation.gov/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=71359.

Dogs: Dogs are are allowed but must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet.

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The Trinity Trail Preservation Assn. maintains the 26 mile long Trinity Trail along Lake Lavon in Collin County, TX. Information on the trail can be found at www.trinitytrailriders.org.

There are three trailheads from south to north: East Fork, Brockdale and Highland Park. At the southern end is the East Fork day use trailhead, plus an equestrian campground which is part of the US Army Corps of Engineers East Fork Park. There are 11 pull through spaces big enough for the biggest rigs, two pens per site, water, electric, covered picnic tables, a pavilion and showers and bathrooms. 

Reservations can be made through www.recreation.gov. From East Fork to Brockdale is about ten miles. Half-way there is a small picnic area at Collin Park. Brockdale to Highland Park is about 7.5 miles and the northern loop is eight miles. At the farthest point of the northern loop is the second-largest Sycamore Tree in Texas and it is worth seeing! The trail is appropriate for beginners and the terrain varies along the way from cedars to meadows to an old hardwood forest along a large creek.

Website:

Water Tank

http://www.tarrantranch.com/

Location: Bullard, TX

Contact: Will Tarrant 903/574-1763

or james@tarrantranch.com

Mailing Address:
Tarrant Ranch
P.O. Box 286
Bullard, TX 75757

Directions: Tarrant Ranch is located between Mount Selman and Bullard.

From Tyler and coming south on HWY 69 south of Bullard turn right on 3701, you will see a cemetery sign and then take a right on 3704 (a small gravel road).  The Tarrant Ranch entrance will be about a quarter mile down on the left.

From Jacksonville on HWY 69 go left on 3701 (it will be just before you get into Bullard), watch for an old cemetery sign and then turn right on 3704 (a small gravel road).  The Tarrant Ranch entrance will be about a quarter mile down on the left.

Camping: Weekend camping overnight with your horses is allowed.

 Tickets/Passes  and waiver forms for riding and camping can be purchased at Withers Tack and Accessories located at 301 US 69, Tyler, TX 75702 #903/894-5137. Store hours M-F 9am – 6am and Saturday 9am – 2pm.  Closed on Sundays.

Fees are subject to change please call for the most current prices:

$12.00 Day rides (Friday and Saturday 7am until dark and Sunday 7am – 6pm)

$8.00 per night (Friday and Saturday nights)

$500 annual membership – seven day a week access to the ranch and camping

Hours:  Friday and Saturday 7am until dark and Sunday 7am – 6pm. Camping is on Friday and Saturday nights.

Hunting: No hunting is allowed near the trails, however, hog hunts are organized on the ranch property away from the trails.

Dogs: Dogs are allowed but do need to be kept on a leash.

Facilities: The facilities are primitive. The ranch does not have water or electric hookups. There is a water tank (blue with the ranch brand), plenty of ponds and streams, but no water faucets. There is no bathroom/shower facility but there are a few porta potties.  The porta potties are a little rough but get the job done. I also noticed two horse pens near a pond under some shade trees.  There are lots of tall trees you can high tie or picket your horse to, be sure to use tree savers or an old girth to protect the trees. The Ranch has a huge amount of space to maneuver  large rigs, campers, and living quarter trailers.  It is really a gorgeous camp / trail head area.

Mileage: Approximately 30 miles of equestrian trails are accessible at Tarrant Ranch.

Map:

TARRANT RANCH TRAIL RIDING AREA  (Thanks to Stephanie Sampson for providing this map!)

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Website: http://www.karankawa.com/

Location: Pierce, TX (Gulf Coast Area)

Contact: P.O. Box 587 – Pierce, Texas 77467 tel. (979)532.8980

Email: la3a@flash.net

Description: Pierce Ranch (a.k.a Karankawa Plains) is a hunting ranch/resort that opens up its ranch to horseback riders during the off season.  They are located on the Texas Gulf Coast area, in the small town of Pierce.  The ranch is off of U.S. Highway 59, between Wharton and El Campo, and consists of approximately 32,000 acres of pastureland, rice and row crops.  They offer cabins to rent, most of which are tucked away in trees which offer scenic discovery of your own trails.  Footing is pretty much dirt and sand.

At this time they do not allow day rides, but do rent out several cabins and a lodge for larger groups.  You can also bring LQ Trailers if the cabin you rent can accommodate them with parking space.  However, they do not have water and electric hook ups for LQ trailers, so generators are needed in the hotter times of the year.  They do not provide horse pens, but there are lots of trees to picket to.  No marked trails but lots of riding and space to discover your own trails.  I’ve stayed at Pierce Ranch several times, once at the Lodge, twice at the Hollywood House and several times at the Lake House.

My favorite is the Lake House, as it has a very nice pond with canoes and the Colorado River is right across the way.  It’s quiet, beautiful and very peaceful.  Each cabin offers a little different accommodations (i.e., the Hollywood House has air-conditioning, and Lake House does not), so you need to plan the right cabin during the right time of the year.  I’ve attached a few pictures of the Lake House (see below).

This is not a place that’s designed for equestrians specifically, but if you are equipped, you can have a lot of fun here.  I have always enjoyed myself at Pierce Ranch.

There is no extra charges to bring your own horses when renting a cabin.  Since the trails are not marked you may want to bring a compass or GPS system if you want to thoroughly explore the ranch.   Guided riding tours are offered for an additional cost.

All the cabins and prices are listed on their website, and there is also a map of the cabins located at:

http://www.karankawa.com/map.htm

To make reservations, or get more information, contact Velda at 979-532-8980.

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