Catoctin Mountain Park | HORSEBACK RIDING

Horse-friendly segment of the Catoctin National Recreational Trail within Catoctin Mountain Park

Horse-friendly segment of the Catoctin National Recreational Trail within Catoctin Mountain Park

Horseback riding at Catoctin Mountain Park is allowed on the Orange Trail and on the Catoctin National Recreational Trail north of Park Central Road. I hiked these trails and reviewed them on the Orange Trail North Loop Hike and Orange Trail South Loop Hike web pages here on National Park Planner. In all, there are about six miles of trails.

There are no horse rental facilities within Catoctin Mountain Park, so you must have your own horse.

Riders can park their horse trailers at the parking lot across from the entrance to Camp Greentop. If this parking lot is covered with snow or is too muddy, park at Camp Round Meadow and walk your horse along the road to the trails.

Horse-friendly Orange Trail at Catoctin Mountain Park

Horse-friendly Orange Trail at Catoctin Mountain Park

With that said, think twice about riding a horse at Catoctin Mountain Park. I hiked all of the Orange Trail and encountered at least a half dozen downed trees that horses are not getting over, under, or around. The Owens Creek Campground host told me that nobody hikes the trails on the west side of the park, which means there is very little maintenance. Another Ranger told me that trees fall all the time, particularly after a rain storm. Perhaps I visited on a bad day. Perhaps the trees were removed shortly after my visit. Perhaps. I wouldn’t venture out on the Orange Trail on a horse without first consulting a park Ranger about the condition of the trail (and from experience, my bet is the Ranger will be clueless since he / she has not actually been on the trail).

Downed tree on the Orange Trail at Catoctin Mountain Park

Downed tree on the Orange Trail at Catoctin Mountain Park

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Last updated on April 26, 2024
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