all directions are shown from downtown Roanoke, VA

CARVINS COVE

Trail heads

Located in Botetourt County, Va., There are 2 main access points with parking for horse trailers. The boat dock at 9644 Reservoir Rd. Roanoke, VA 24019, and the Bennett Springs side off of VA Rt.311 in Salem. At the boat dock you may purchase day passes from the office. Trailer parking at the boat dock is limited to 5-6 trailers at most. At Bennett Springs, passes are obtained at the parking lot. Parking is available in the public lot or at a private barn lot at the end of the road. As always, be respectful of the area and clean up after yourself and your horses in either parking area.
The barn lot is private property for use by horse trailer rigs only! We use this lot by the good graces of the owner so be respectful and courteous.

There are over 40 miles of trails at Carvins Cove ranging from gravel roads to steep mountain trails. There is truly something for everyone here. No hunting is allowed within the park which allows for safe riding year round. The trails are used by equestrians as well as mountain bikers and hikers.

Carvins Cove is "day use only" with no overnight camping allowed.

BENNETT SPRINGS

BOAT DOCK

GLENWOOD TRAIL - MONTVALE, VA

Day Creek Trail Head

Located in Bedford County in the Montvale area just off of US Rt 460 Day Creek offers access to the southwest end of the Glenwood trail which stretches northeastward for 68 miles to the Natural Bridge area of Rockbridge County. There is a 25 mile loop that goes over the Blue Ridge into Botetourt County and back via Black Horse Gap and Boblet's Gap. There are also several "out & back" rides available. Trails consist of gravel roads, dirt forest service roads, and wooded trails. Many of these trails are quite rocky and horse shoes are recommended. The trail head has parking for about 20 horse trailer rigs, a creek for watering horses, and a pit type toilet. It is located in the Jefferson National Forest so National Forest regulations apply. Other than Sundays, this ride should be avoided during deer season. Overnight camping is discouraged.

Day Creek

MOUNT ROGERS - GRAYSON COUNTY, VA

Trail Heads

Our club usually camps at either Fox Creek trail head or Old Virginia Horse Camp. Fox Creek is available year round on a first come first serve basis and has spaces for 32 trailers. Old Virginia Horse Camp is available for groups and is by reservation only. Our club usually reserves this camp in June & August of each year. Both camps are primitive and have no potable water but do have access to creek water for your horses. Both have tie posts to high line horses, picnic tables, and portable toilets. Since both camps are within a mile of each other, they have access to the same trail network which is absolutely huge. Most of the trails here are very mountainous and rocky. Shoes or boots are a must on most horses. The top of the mountain is a clear natural grassland. There are wild ponies, lots of rhododendron in season and beautiful scenery. Most of these trails are for more experienced riders

What these horse camps lack in amenities, they more than make up for in unparalleled access to the most scenic trail riding in our region. Ride from your campsite and be within the Mount Rogers High Country for a spectacular day of riding that is arguably the best in the eastern U.S. Showers, water, and septic dump station are available at nearby Grindstone Campground for an additional fee

Fox Creek - Old VA

HUSSY MOUNTAIN HORSE CAMP - SPEEDWELL, VA

Trail Head

Hussy Mountain is in the east fork of the Dry Run Valley. The area is well-shaded with hardwoods, hemlocks and pines, creating a cool micro-climate. Parking spaces for vehicles and trailers, picnic tables, fire ring, and hitching rails are all available. Dry Run provides fishing, wading, watering horses. The camp provides access to the Highlands Horse Trail.

HUSSY MOUNTAIN

WHITE CEDARS HORSE CAMP - BLAND, VA

Trail Head

16 camping units: 13 single sites and 3 double sites.  All units have lantern post, fire pit, tent pad & picnic table. $15 per night. Single units have an 18' x 20' corral.  Double units have a 20' x 28' corral.  All sites suitable for horse trailers. Vault toilets--no showers or electric hook-ups. Water for horses is available from storage tanks located on each loop.  Reservations are not accepted at White Cedar Campground. All dogs must be on a leash.  White Cedar Campground is adjacent to the Flat Top Trail System, which utilizes a combination of forest roads and woodland trails to form over  20 miles of mountain riding. Primitive camping is also available off of Lions Den Rd. in the same area should the campground be full. A day ride trail head is also near by.

Located in the Dismal Creek vicinity near the Giles/Bland County border.

White Cedars

COLLINS COVE HORSE CAMP - IVANHOE, VA

Trail Head

Collins Cove Horse Camp provides access to the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail. It has parking, hitching rails and chemical toilets. No potable water. Open fields for camping. Fee Area

Collins Cove

JAMES RIVER STATE PARK - WINGINA, VA

Campground & Trail Head

Horseshoe Campground (10 sites HorseshoeEW40ft)

Electric and water hookups; the sites are pull-through and allow two trailers to share a common area between them. There are 20 covered horse stalls, five tent pads and a group fire-ring in the campground.

  • All sites have electric pedestals, which have 20, 30 and 50-amp outlets.
  • Campsites have a fire-ring grill, one picnic table and a lantern hanger.
  • Full-service bathhouse with hot showers and sink for dishes; the bathhouse has four unisex showers, one of which equipped for the disabled.
  • Showers are for camping guests only.
  • All equipment must be set up within site borders. Two vehicles are allowed per campsite. A fee is charged for additional vehicles, which must be parked in designated areas. Guests visiting campers must leave by 10 p.m.
  • A dump station is free for overnight camping guests; non-campers guests must pay a small fee to use it.
  • Groups with numbers greater than that typically allowed here must apply for a special-use permit at least three weeks before their stay.
  • Horses must be kept in a stall.
  • Rakes, wheelbarrows and buckets are available.

James River State Park

TRAILS: The park has 15 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking and bridle use. Tye River Overlook, Green Hill Pond Trail and the fishing pier are wheelchair-accessible.

DOUTHAT STATE PARK - MILLBORO, VA

Campground & Trail Head

TRAILS: Hiking, horseback and bicycle trails (mountain bikes only). There are more than 40 miles of wooded hiking trails to choose from throughout the year, ranging from easy to difficult. Many park trails are open to mountain bikers, however hikers have the right-of-way. Douthat has six miles of bridle trails. Visit the park office for a map depicting trails at Douthat.

Douthat State Park

LIPSCOMB FARM ROAD RIDE - MONETA, VA

Trail Head

This ride is done several times per year. It leaves and ends up back at the Lipscomb farm in Moneta, VA. The ride is over state maintained gravel roads that have a minimal amount of vehicular traffic. It is usually scheduled to coincide with club meeting and a pot luck supper.

Lipscomb Farm

MOORMAN PROPERTY TO HURT FARM RIDE & WAGON TRAIN

Trail Head

 We will ride out from The Moorman Property on  Spradlin Rd toward Rt. 24. You must enter Spradlin Rd from Goodview Rd. in order to make the turn into the property. We will cross 24 and ride across Triple Hill Farm to the Hurt Farm for a break and snack. We will then proceed back to our starting point for supper.   
Contact us for additional information.
12 month negative coggins is required and will be checked.

Moorman Property

AMELIA SPRINGS TRAIL RIDE

SPRING & FALL RIDES

Amelia Springs offers both a spring and a fall ride. This ride is on self guided trails through a 4500 acre hunting lease property. The camping is primitive (no water or electric on sites) in a field. Water, showers, a horse washing area, and portable toilets are available. Meals are included at this fee based ride. More information as well as sign-up forms are available at their website at:

AMELIA SPRINGS

MASSIES MILL TRAIL RIDE

Spring & Fall Rides
April & October

Massies Mill offers a weekend of great riding and good food in the mountains of central VA. The ride offers beautiful views and a variety of terrain, including apple orchards, pastures, woodlands and limited gravel road. All trails are marked and are self-guided. The trails vary in difficulty and may be rocky at times, so your horses should be trail-conditioned and well shod all around. They offer you a ‘long’ ride (app. 25 miles) and a ‘short’ ride (app. 15 miles) on Saturday, and a different short ride (12 – 15 miles) on Sunday. The registration fee includes 3 days and 2 nights of camping on a level, grassy field alongside the Tye River. Five meals, including a hot lunch on the trail on Saturday, are also included. Water is available for horses, and restrooms and hot showers are located inside the building. For more information and application forms, download the file below.
ntspring_trail_ride_e-mail__4-26-2013.pdf
File Size: 95 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

MASSIES MILL

FENWICK MINES

Fenwick Mines Trails
Directions: From New Castle, VA: Follow VA 615 for 5 miles to VA 611 (Peaceful Valley Rd). Turn left (white church on left corner & Fenwick Mines brown, forest service sign on right side of road). Go 1/2 mile and turn right on VA 685. Follow signs to Fenwick Mines Recreation Area. You will see a covered picnic shelter and a forest service vault toilet near a cul-de-sac. Park in cul-de-sac or back into grassy areas along side road.
Ride out past the picnic shelter; go around right side of bar gate. A short ways down bear right onto FS dirt road.  It will come out on Rt. 615.  Trail goes to left around concrete blocks. The trail will go through the woods, when you come out again on 615 you will look for trail to go back in the woods. The trail will come out again behind a red house, cross to the gravel road opposite the trail. These trails just parallel Rt 615. You will want to stay on the main trail (old RR bed). When you reach the next bar gate - you will come out in Oriskany, home of the world's largest post office (just kidding but you will understand when you see it). Ride past the post office and take a left onto the paved road. Ride up less than 1/2 mile and you will come to the "Lignite" Forest Service road to the left. Take this road, it will be a gradual pull then you will see wide place just before bar gate as FS road continues up, there will be a trail to the left that goes behind another bar gate, take it through the old iron ore mine site. This is called Mill Creek. Look carefully and you will spot some old equipment left in the woods. This trail will eventually come back out on the forest service road which led you to 615 that you started on. Bear right and follow back to the parking area. This loop is probably about a 20 mile loop but a very good ride with lots of different scenery.

   For a 2 1/2 hour ride, at the intersection of Mill Creek and the FS road, take the trail behing the bar gate. It will climb the ridge and then go along the ridge. Beautiful views up here. When the trail starts to slope down, start looking for a very sharp left hand turn. Do not miss it because if you continue on down the ridge, you will go down to the valley on the left at a dangerous creek crossing. If you are on the correct trail, you will soon be on a two track which takes you down to the valley, where you turn left to ride back to parking lot.

Fenwick Mines

STAUNTON RIVER STATE PARK

CAMPGROUND & TRAIL HEAD

Staunton River State Park is now open for horse camping. They have 13 campsites dedicated to horses and 20 stalls. All horses must be stalled and when all stalls are rented the campground is considered full. Campsites are $27 per night and stalls are $9 per night. They have added some trails and now have about 18 miles of trails. Everything here is brand new and quite well done. All sites have water & electric. A horse washing area is provided. They have nice bath houses and a swimming pool. This campground is located on a pennensula where the Staunton (Roanoke) & Dan rivers come together and begin to form Buggs Island lake. It is about a 2 hour drive from Roanoke. Their website has not been updated since the horse campground opened and still says there are no horse facilities but it is actually open for business.

STAUNTON RIVER STATE PARK