Clifton Horse Society - Trail Information

Information, Maps, etc. for Riding Locations.

The Northern Virginia area has tremendous riding opportunities. Many county and state parks have equestrian trails that can be reached with a short trailer ride; other locations will require longer trailering times.

Our objective for this section is to provide as much information on as many locations as we can. We will provide a map when available (in some cases there will be a link to another site) and information as to difficulty of the trails, type and length of trails, any special rules you need to know, any particular problems you may encounter, etc.

Please let us know about any inaccuracies you find or any additional information you may feel will be a help to other riders. If you have a favorite site, let us know and we will try and include it.

NOTE: PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR HORSE AROUND YOUR TRAILER AT ALL LOCATIONS.

It doesn't matter if it is a paved or grassy parking lot, leaving manure behind is a really good way for equestrians to lose riding privileges.

The following trails have been used frequently by CHS members. Many have been used for CHS organized monthly rides.

Manassas National Battlefield Park
(http://www.nps.gov/mana/)
Located at the intersection of Routes 29/234 near Manassas, VA. The Battlefield is a great place to ride with approximately 20 miles of trails and access to the trails in Bull Run Regional Park (by going under I-66). NOTE: You must have a PARK PASS to ride the trails (passes can be purchased at the Visitor Center.). Maps are available from the Visitor Center off Route 234, and there is a fee to use the trails. There are two designated parking lots for horse trailers. Trails are well marked, mostly flat and well maintained. Riders must stay on the trails and be alert to hikers with dogs and small children. To do the entire trail system riders have to cross Route 29 and/or Route 234. There are streams to cross (after heavy rains, some can be difficult to cross), wooded areas, open areas, and a few highways to cross on some of the loops. An excellent map of the park showing the equestrian trails, trailer parking, etc. is available from Friends of the Manassas National Battlefield Park at their website: http://fmnbp.org/maps/index.htm.

Fountainhead Regional Park
Located on Hampton Road, off Route 123 North of Lorton, VA. Maps are available from Clifton Horse Society and there is no fee to ride the horse trails. Parking is about two miles in from the entrance and is asphalt. The trails run along the Occoquan River. They pass through majestic mature forests, over picturesque creeks, and through large stands of rhododendron. The park is open from mid-March to mid-November. Restrooms and picnic tables are available.

Bull Run Regional Park
Located at the end of Bull Run Road off of Route 29 South of Centreville, VA. There is no fee to enter the park for residents of Fairfax, Loudoun and Arlington counties, cities of Alexandria, Clifton, Vienna, Falls Church. Sometimes on the weekends the park does collect a small entrance fee from other locations. There is a designated horse trailer parking lot about ½ mile after an immediate left turn after you pass the Gate House. (Look for the kiosk at the parking area). The trails are about 8 miles in length and are flat and well maintained. Be prepared to encounter hikers with children and dogs. The trails are well marked with painted blazes. For those adventurous riders, you can cross Bull Run on the Colonial Pipeline, ride under Route 66 and enter Manassas Battlefield Park trails (remember, though, you still need a pass to ride at the Battlefield). Bull Run Park is Mile Zero or Mile 18 (depending on where you begin/end) of the blue-blazed Bull Run-Occoquan Trail. The park is open year round, but caution has to be taken when riding mid-November to early January as the park hosts The Fesitival of Lights for the holidays. Please stay on the designated horse trails. (Click here for a map and information regarding riding the trails at Bull Run Regional Park)

Shenandoah River State Park
Located off Route 340 north of Luray, VA. Maps are available at the entrance. There is a small fee to enter the park, payable at the entrance gate. There is a designated horse trailer parking lot about ½ mile in from the entrance on the left. The trails are about 8 miles in length and are well marked. The trails are flat to slightly hilly and well maintained. They are multi-use trails. The park is open year around.

Pohick Bay Regional Park
Located off Gunston Road near Lorton, VA. Maps are available from Clifton Horse Society. There is no fee to enter the park for residents of Fairfax, Loudoun and Arlington counties; all others may have to pay a $4.50 per vehicle day rate. Approximately 10 miles of well-marked and well-maintained trails. Trails range from flat to rolling hills. The trail along the Bay may reveal eagles and other wildlife. The park is open all year. For a map of the equestrian trails, check out the website for Mason Neck Horse Coalition (MNHC) - http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/brianp8592/index.html.

Great Falls Park
Located off Georgetown Pike north of the Capital Beltway near the American Legion Bridge. Maps are available at the entrance or at the Visitor Center. There is a small fee to enter the park, payable at the gate. There is a designated horse trailer parking lot about ½ mile in from the entrance on the right. The trails are about 4 or 5 miles in length, but riders can follow the River Trail upstream to Riverbend Park and back. They are multi-use trails. The park is open all year.

Lake Anna State Park
Located in Spotsylvania, VA. Maps are available at the entrance. There is a small fee to enter the park. There is a designated horse trailer parking lot straight in from the entrance and on your left. The park has 10 miles designated as shared, multiple-use trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. They pass over moderate terrain through mixed hardwood and pine forest. Trails range from easy to more difficult and are well marked. The park is open all year.

James River State Park
(http://www.dcr.state.va.us/parks/jamesriv.htm#Map)
Located in Buckingham, VA. Maps are available at the entrance. There is a small fee to enter the park. There is a designated horse trailer parking lot, check with the ranger as to location. The park has about 18 miles of trails that are very well marked and very well maintained and are flat to rolling hills. They have horse camping accommodations as well for individuals or groups.

Graves Mountain Lodge
(http://www.gravesmountain.com/index.html)
Located in Syria, VA. Maps are available on their website or from Clifton Horse Society. There is a small fee to park your horse trailer for the day or you can camp or stay at the lodge and keep your horse at the barn. The trails are endless. There are some flat, less rocky trails available, but generally it is mountain riding. You can ride for an hour or all day. It is closed from Thanksgiving to March.

Fort Valley Stable
(http://www.fortvalleystable.com/)
Located at southern end of the Shenandoah Valley near Edinburgh. On camp property there is a series of wooded trails that offers one or more hours of easy riding. There are some rocky areas, but they are not real bad. Most of this trail is rolling terrain with no hard climbs. The trails are well marked with paint blazed on the trees, and a color-coordinated map is provided. There are other trails that are more challenging. There is a small day-use fee or you can camp with your horse for one night or a week.

Conway Robinson State Park -

Virginia Arboretum
http://dir.gardenweb.com/directory/sav/

Clifton Horse Society
P. O. Box 183, Clifton, VA 20124