Author: Kelly Hurd (Page 12 of 12)

Park Name: C BAR STABLES

Website: https://cbarstables.com/

Contact: Larry & Martha Montgomery #254/749-6962

email: C Bar Stables at net zero dot net

Location: Valley Mills, TX 76689

Directions:
From Dallas/Fort Worth take I-35 South towards Hillsboro. Take the first exit to the town of Hillsboro and then turn right onto Hwy.22 towards Whitney. Cross the Whitney Dam and at the flashing light turn left onto FM 56 towards Valley Mills. Go about 13 miles and turn right onto CR 3350.

Coming from the south, take I-35 to Waco, Texas then take Highway 6 North approximately 30 miles to Valley Mills. Once in Valley Mills, go through the only blinking light in town. Turn right on FM 56 going to Whitney Dam. There is a green sign just before the intersection of Hwy 6 and FM 56 that says “Whitney Dam.” Once on FM 56, turn on Bismarck – CR 3350. Then turn left on PR 3348 at C-Bar Ranch sign. Drive to the cattle guard for registration and Negative Coggins check in. Continue reading

Christy on Ringo, Deb on Gunner, and Curtis on Dragon at the entrance of 7IL Ranch. September 2020.

Resident pot belly pig.

Park/Trail Name: 7IL Ranch

Website:  https://7ilranch.com/

Location: 5389 Mill Creek Rd., Cat Spring, TX 78933

Contact: (979) 236-5552 or e-mail: 7iltrails@gmail.com

Directions: From I-10 Exit 704 (FM 949) Go (north) on FM 949 about 11.7 miles to 1094. Cross 1094 and go 0.2 miles. Turn left on Mill Creek Road.  After the bridge stay to the right at the  Y.    Go another 2.5 miles and 7IL entrance is on the left.

Overnight Horse Camping: Allowed

 Facilities:

• Women’s/Men’s bathrooms  with large stalls and showers
• 27 electric hookups (20, 30 & 50amp)  with water
• Tent camping and day use areas
• 15 uncovered pens and 2 covered pens (pens are not located by RV hookups)
• Arena
• Round pen
• Rental party pavilion with electricity, heat, ac, and patio
• Unusual non equestrian obstacles for human trail runners/races
• Extensive equine obstacle course

Christy and Ringo completing the suspension bridge.

Reservations: Reservations through Reserve America  are required to reserve and pay for horse pens and camping sites.

Fees: Fees are subject to change, check with the 7IL Ranch for the most up to date rates. Once you arrive, check in at the red barn where you will pay your riding and/or non riding daily ranch use fees. Payment drop box, maps, and liability release forms are located inside the red barn on the right.

• $20 per day for each person riding
• $30 Riding Weekend Special Friday – Sunday
• $5 Non-rider daily fee per person
• Half price for children under age 12
• $12 for a 12×12 pen
• $22 a day for RV hookup

Bathroom/shower facility and gift shop. The shop is not always open.

The 7IL barn is for boarders, however, the front porch of the barn is a nice shaded place to hang out or eat lunch.

Dogs: Dogs are allowed but must be kept on leash.

Cell Phone Service: Excellent!

Wagons / Carts: Some of the trails are wide enough for wagons.

7 IL is a wagon friendly ranch. It was a real treat to see this friendly pair and their wagon hauling mule.

Trail Map:  7IL Trail Maps

Mileage:   If you ride all the trails going one direction and then ride them all again the opposite direction,  there are approximately 35.5 miles of trails.  If you ride the trails going one direction only, then it is almost 20 miles of trail.   There are a total of six well marked color coded trails.

White Trail is 4.8  miles and it’s reverse is the Red Trail  at 4.8 miles

Blue Trail is 6.5 miles and it’s reverse is the Orange Trail at 7.3 miles with a minor deviation

Green Trail is 6 miles and it’s reverse is the Yellow Trail at 6.1 miles

Curtis, Deb, Christy, and Patti riding the Green/Yellow trail at 7IL Ranch on a beautiful September day.

Terrain: The ground is all sandy with some pretty deep sand in spots. It is not rocky and very barefoot friendly. There are no steep grades or difficult terrain.  7IL Ranch is mostly flat with gently rolling hills, ponds, and some to several creek crossings depending how how much rain they have received. Many of the trails are in the open with no shade, but a few zig-zag through forest, gullies, and creeks.  The White/Red trail has a section that weaves through trees and a few creeks with some short drop downs and easy climbs.

Photo by Jim Edmondson with Optical Harmonics, 3/2011 NATRC competition.

 Description: 7IL Ranch in Cat Spring is a family run cattle, hay, boarding, and yes trail riding operation. 7IL has everything, except lots of rocks — so no horseshoes or boots are needed here! The ranch is family owned by Faye Huber Reznicek and her son David Reznicek.  The 2,100 acre ranch has been in their family since 1863. They kindly opened up 7IL to trail riders in 1999.

Be prepared at 7IL to open and close several gates. Double check that you got the gate properly closed to keep the cattle where they are supposed to be.

There are cows out and about, as it is a working cattle ranch.  Be sure you and your horse are proficient at opening/closing gates while mounted or ride with someone who is, otherwise there will be several spots you will have to dismount for gates.  Most of the gate latches (not all) are fairly easy to open and close from horseback.

7IL  is a popular venue for pleasure trail riders, endurance riders, fox hunts, organized group trail rides and equine competitions. The reasons for its popularity is obvious, the ranch offers many miles of well-marked color coded trails, numerous RV hookups, several pens, a small round pen, nicely kept arena, an awesome equine obstacle course, a large enclosed pavilion, and spacious restroom/shower facilities.  The ranch has become popular also with non-equestrian trail runners some who compete in what is called a Savage Race.  I had to google “Savage Race” which is runners going through crazy human obstacle courses.  You can see some of these big blue obstacles from the trail.   Do check the calendar on the 7IL website before you book your dates to camp; sometimes the trails are closed due to foot races or buzzing with activity due to other events.

Rules and Safety: 

•  Before you ride please sign a waiver (download from7IL website or get from the barn), have proof of negative Coggins and pay.
• Minors are required to wear a helmet and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 
• All dogs must be on a leash in camp area.
• Please do not run or trot your horse in the camp area.
• Please spread manure, pick up all trash and hay twine/wire. (please do not throw over fence).
• No smoking in barn, pavilion, gift shop or restrooms. Please put all cigarette butts in trash.
• If you ride through a gate that is closed, please make sure it is closed behind you.
• Please no unattended horses in arena or round pen.
• No loose horses allowed on trail.
• Please do not tie to fences or trees.
• Contained camp fires off the ground only.  Upon leaving, please pick up unburned wood.
• Observe the posted county burn ban laws
• Please bring all trash back from riding on trails.
• Please do not chase or herd cattle.
•  Horse Pens  are by online reservations only  and please clean after using with muck bucket and rake provided.
• RV Hookups  are by online reservations only (they do not have a dump station).
• “Pack it in, Pack it out” Rule:  what you bring in, please take it back with you: including unused hay, string, firewood, chucks and shavings / manure.  Or put in dumpster or muck carts provided. Do no throw things over the fence behind the RV sites.

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Update 3/28/2024 : Caution – Lake levels are extremely low and it is dangerous at this time to enter the shoreline along the lake with your horse due to thick muddy silt which your horse will sink into, similar to quick sand. 

Location: Canyon Lake, TX Off of FM 306 and Hancock Rd.

N29 deg 54.841′

W098 deg 14.364′

Contact:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Canyon Lake Office Phone #830/964-3341

Website: https://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/canyon/Recreation/Trails/Horse.asp

Facebook Group:

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/347645365712120/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/canyonlaketrailriders/

Mileage: Approximately 7 miles

Facilities: A picnic table shaded by an awning in the center of the trail parking area. There are no other facilities; no running water and restrooms. No shade trees in the trailer parking area. There is access to the lake from the trailer parking / trail head area and throughout the trails.

Volunteers and Donations: The trails and facilities are mostly maintained through volunteer groups and donations.   Trail users also can preserve this lovely destination for others to enjoy by being good stewards of the land. Please pick up after yourself and feel free to pick up any trash you see when visiting the park.  Report any concerns to the Army Corps office #830/964-3341,

Overnight Camping: None

Terrain: Some rocky areas, mostly flat, and fairly open with some trees (bring your sun block).

Cost: No charge

Description:

Old Hancock Trail is managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Trail maintenance is up to trail user volunteers.   In order to continue enjoying this lovely park we must be good stewards of the grounds.  Please don’t litter and if you can pick up any trash you see.  Please spread horse manure at the trail head.  Trail users are hikers, bicyclists, and horse back riders.  Motorized vehicles are not allowed unless there to do work, like mowing trails.   The trail is located off the Northern Shoreline of Canyon Lake. Once you turn on Hancock Road from FM 306, the trail head is about 1.5 miles. Driving down Hancock Road there is a small airport on your right. The road dead ends into the trail head. The trail head parking is spacious with plenty of room to maneuver a large rig. The surface of the trail head is mainly sand and caliche. A picnic area is located at the center of the trail head. There are no pens or hitching posts.  At the trail sign there are large limestone bricks which can be used as a mounting blocks. This park has no running water or electricity.

The trail begins at the northern end of the trail head where the map is posted. The trail ends at Canyon Park road which is about 3.5 miles and then curves back around, making the round trip approximately 7 miles. You will hit a few rocky spots on the trail. The trails are mainly flat and do not offer much in the way of inclines or steep ravines. There are a few dips and two creek crossings. Often times, especially during a drought the creek crossings are dry.

The trail also has a few loops, but is mainly straight forward and easy to follow. A few brown metal trail markers with arrows pointing in the correct direction are posted. There are signs warning not to cross over into private property which is mostly fenced or cabled off. Several rest stops with benches, great for riders who prefer to mount up using a bench/mounting block, are located beside the trail. There is not a great deal of cover so sunblock is needed and it can get windy.

If you are looking to slowly condition your horse to beach riding this trail would be a small step in that direction. There are a few short trail spurs leading up to the lake and on most days small waves gently role onto the shore. These trails are good for conditioning your horse to large open spaces. There will be hikers and bicyclists sharing the trails. Sights and sounds of boats, ski jets, and other water recreation activities will be occurring. You will have plenty of opportunities to expose and desensitize your horse to new situations.

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