Equestrian Trail Use
Fremont Adventure Recreation's mission is to promote a culture of community and healthy living through human-powered outdoor recreation in the Royal Gorge Region. While we also value equine, motorcycle, ATV, side-by-side, and 4x4 outdoor experiences, FAR's expertise and focus as an organization is human-powered experiences. We cannot be all things to all people. To find out more information about optimal locations to recreate based on your use, we suggest you contact the appropriate land management agency (BLM, USFS, City, County, CCRD etc.). Equestrians can also contact the local equine advocacy group for equine-related trails: http://rmbch.org/
FAR came together in 2010, and the Lower Arkansas Mountain Bicycle Association formed in 2008. We have now joined forces under the FAR umbrella and have been working on trail advocacy in the Royal Gorge Region for over a decade. During these years we have worked tirelessly to get to where we are today - and the fruits of our labor have become quite visible in regard to local trails and events. Not surprisingly, as a human-powered organization, our efforts have resulted in trails that are optimized for human-powered use.
Fremont County has a wealth of trails that are open to equestrian use. Additionally, there are no fewer than seven trail systems in close proximity to Cañon City that either fully disallow bicycle use, or have significant restrictions in regard to bicycle use. As a result, these areas see notably less use than the local trail systems where FAR invests time, effort, and money. We recommend equine users seek to utilize these lighter use areas as a way to reduce instances of interaction with human-powered users. Additionally, horse damage to the trails at these areas will impact fewer users. These areas are highlighted on the map below:
FAR came together in 2010, and the Lower Arkansas Mountain Bicycle Association formed in 2008. We have now joined forces under the FAR umbrella and have been working on trail advocacy in the Royal Gorge Region for over a decade. During these years we have worked tirelessly to get to where we are today - and the fruits of our labor have become quite visible in regard to local trails and events. Not surprisingly, as a human-powered organization, our efforts have resulted in trails that are optimized for human-powered use.
Fremont County has a wealth of trails that are open to equestrian use. Additionally, there are no fewer than seven trail systems in close proximity to Cañon City that either fully disallow bicycle use, or have significant restrictions in regard to bicycle use. As a result, these areas see notably less use than the local trail systems where FAR invests time, effort, and money. We recommend equine users seek to utilize these lighter use areas as a way to reduce instances of interaction with human-powered users. Additionally, horse damage to the trails at these areas will impact fewer users. These areas are highlighted on the map below:
We have recently been asked how equestrian users can help with local trail efforts. The following recommendations will provide extensive benefits to all trail systems and users:
- Remove all equine fecal matter from the trail. FAR recognizes that, to our equine friends, it is just a byproduct of your beloved animal. But to the rest of trail users, it is inconsiderate to leave giant piles of poop in the middle of the trail. A simple kick to get the mess off the trail is the least you could do. If you have a standard ride and your horse poops at roughly the same place every time, put a little more effort into it so the trailside does not become your personal pet toilet. If your animal is not on a strict certified weed-free hay diet, we ask that you use a catch system as to avoid the potential for the spread of noxious weeds to the trails. If you are unable or unwilling to dismount mid-ride to deal with removing poop from the trail, use a catch system. We have read the articles noting the bacteria level differences between equine and dog poop, but since we don't normally eat either, it is still just fecal matter that should not be left for other trail users to see, smell, avoid, remove from their shoes/bikes, or otherwise deal with (the cloud of flies that get spooked off the poop is always a joy to go through...).
- Do not ride in soft or muddy conditions. Please realize that a ~1,000 pound animal (plus rider weight) using metal or otherwise stiff shoes can inflict significant trail damage, particularly when the trail is soft or muddy. Unfortunately, these equine-made craters can take months to wear down and meanwhile degrade the trail experience for all other users. For example, on April 21st, 2018, equine usage of the Mutton Bustin' trail resulted in trail damage that lasted until late July. There has been similar significant damage in January 2019 on the Anticline trail at Oil Well Flats, May 2019 in South Cañon, November 2019 in South Cañon, November 2019 in the Royal Gorge Park, December 2019 in South Cañon, November 2020 in South Cañon, January 2022 in Oil Well Flats, February 2022 in South Cañon, April 2024 in the Hogbacks, and September 2024 in the Hogbacks among many other examples of damage due to equine usage in poor wet/muddy trail conditions. FAR maintains a website with up-to-date trail conditions in order to educate trail users so they can plan accordingly. We understand our education efforts won't reach everyone but on-the-ground signs have been installed to catch the outliers (see 2nd video below). Please let your trail friends know of up-to-date trail conditions as well as our conditions website. As well, consider being part of the solution and let us know updated information in regard to trail conditions.
- Expect and respect other users. If your animal cannot be fully controlled during an encounter with other trail users, it is highly recommended that it not be taken on a public trail. Demanding that other users talk to your animal because it does not recognize them is inconsiderate - at least ask nicely. This is also an indication that you should work more with your animal in a private setting before embarking on a public trail. Do not make the unpredictability of your animal an issue for other trail users. Also, consider dismounting your animal and leading it by the reins while passing other users (or while other users pass you) in order to minimize the potential for your animal to have an issue and maximize the safety for everyone involved.
- Be considerate when parking large rigs. Blocking the majority of a parking area when other options exist is poor form. Some parking areas are not able to accommodate trailers.
- Consider utilizing areas that see low use and/or areas that have restrictions on bicycle use (Grape Creek, Beaver Creek, Cooper Mountain, the Bank, Booger Red, Deer Haven, Newlin Creek etc. - see map above). These areas will be less crowded and will have less interaction with other trail users. It is incredibly frustrating for human-powered users to have horse damage on a trail like Mutton Bustin' or ReCycle that are both just a half mile away from a previously existing trail that is closed to bicycle use (Grape Creek).
- Work with local land managers to create new trail opportunities and/or to improve existing low use trails. As highlighted on the map above, there are plenty of areas in which working towards equine optimized trails would be incredibly beneficial. There was recently a desire to allow horse use on the proposed human-powered Fremont Peak Trail. Why not work with the BLM to put in a similar trail from Grape Creek to the YMCA Mountain summit? Given that the Grape Creek trail is closed to bicycles, a YMCA trail starting at Grape Creek would similarly be inaccessible to bicycles and would make an ideal equine optimized trail. Additionally, the City of Cañon City has offered Red Canyon Park as a potential site for equestrian optimized trails.
- Don't use trails where horses are not allowed Yes, several trails in the area have been conceived, planned, designed, funded, constructed, and maintained for human-powered only or bike only use. The signage is clear, you just have to be able to comprehend basic images and/or instructions like DO NOT ENTER. See video below for a classic example:
Video is from 2020-11-11 from the Smooth Criminal trail. Two horses passed by clear signage and entered a bike only, downhill only trail going against traffic. Not only is this incredibly dangerous, it is outright disrespectful. Hoof damage was prevalent and large piles of poop were left on the trail for good measure. For reference, this location is just 1.25 miles away from the Grape Creek trail that is closed to bikes and well used by equestrians.
This video from 2022-02-16 captures recent horse use in muddy conditions immediately next to an on-the-ground sign that was installed to address this type of usage and the resulting trail damage. The damage done will at best take months to wear down and at worst causes permanent damage to the tread (ex. Nov. 2019 damage to ReCycle is still evident). Meanwhile the horse damage to the trail tread negatively impacts the experience of other trail users. We can assure you, causing trail damage like this is not making you any friends in the trail use world. Keep that in mind next time you are advocating for equestrian access to trails that those other users have conceived, planned, designed, funded, constructed, maintain, and use on a regular basis.
In Response to the City's Potential Hoofed Animal Ordinance
Quiet recreation is one of the greatest benefits of living in this area. And there certainly are many different kinds of recreation that people can enjoy. Each of these offer financial benefits to our community, health benefits to our citizens, and activities for our children and families. Urban trail systems (somewhat different than backcountry trails), are also costly to build (about $3-5 per linear foot) and difficult to maintain if needed, but they are undoubtedly a worthwhile investment. Some trail systems are classified as “multi-use”, meaning that they can be enjoyed by a number of different types of users, including mountain bikers, hikers, runners, and equestrian users. Others are called “purpose-built”, and that means that they have been designed for one specific user group or purpose. But there are important differences between multi-use trail systems and purpose-built. The terrain, intent, soil type, and safety of the users must be taken into consideration when deciding which users should be allowed on trail systems. At the Royal Gorge Park, mountain bikers have advocated for, funded, and helped design a trail system that allow them to build a trail system that is fun, safe, and sustainable for their use. It includes many mountain bike-friendly features including rollers, exposure sections, rock outcroppings, berms, steep drops, and tight corridors. The very nature of those features, however, make the trails unsafe and inappropriate for equestrian use.
There are dozens of miles of trails that ARE appropriate and open to equestrian users across Fremont county. FAR, the City of Cañon City, and BLM have all worked to create trail systems in the area that are open to many different quiet, non-motorized recreation users. There are even places where bikes are NOT allowed, and equestrians can enjoy a relaxed ride, knowing that they will not encounter any mountain bikers. (See above for more information.) In fact, this would be one of the only trail systems (except for a small portion of the Riverwalk) that would be closed to equestrian use. This designation is so that the Royal Gorge Park can be designated as a 'Mountain Bike destination' for riders of all ages and abilities. The trails are what are generally called “purpose-built” trails. This means that they are designed to maximize the full potential of the terrain to accommodate the needs of mountain bikers, hikers, and runners. Other communities in other areas have also designated trail systems as non-equestrian specific, including areas of Sedona, Arizona, Sheridan, Wyoming, and Bentonville / Bella Vista, Arkansas. These locations are places where mountain bike riders can engage in fast, relaxed, feature-heavy riding.
Mountain bikers love occasional prolonged steep sections of trail. This allows them to gain speed and enjoy the downhill “flow” that they’ve worked to hard to achieve. (Uphill is fun, but HARD.) Unfortunately, the pressure that a horse – a large and heavy animal – puts on a steeper slope is significant. The displacement of the soil, especially in our desert environment, causes degradation to the trail and inherent damage. This is further exacerbated when the trails are moist or muddy. The average footprint wouldn’t make much of a dent, but a 1,000-lb animal can displace much more material and leave unfortunate holes in the trail surface. These potholes do NOT enhance the ride of a mountain biker, nor do they offer a desirable surface for trail runners or hikers. It is akin to putting speed bumps every 5 feet on a fun ATV trail. It’s like riding / running on a washboard dirt road.
Horse hooves do significantly more damage to trails when muddy. While ALL trail users can leave marks when mud is present, a horse has the weight and physical ability to leave much more of what we call “legacy damage”, or damage that can take months to wear back out. Our desert soil, which includes that at the Royal Gorge, is dense. There isn’t any vegetation like some of the “loamy” trails of the Pacific Northwest or East. It doesn’t “bounce back” when it’s compacted or displaced. Mountain bikers and equestrian riders can all be irresponsible, but foot and bike tire damage is easier to ‘erase’ after a few days or weeks of riding. Hoof prints tend to be bigger, hold water, go deep, and lead to long-standing potholes.
The safety issues are also worth considering, including areas where the trail is so narrow (due to the nature of exposure) that passing between a large unpredictable animal and a biker would be dangerous at best. There are also a number of areas where the line of sight is not very long, and a rider / horse interaction could lead to a troublesome situation. While we (of course) advocate for conscientious riding, running and hiking, there will inevitably be instances where horses and other users meet unexpectedly.
Horses, by many rider’s admission, walk on the outside of a trail. This not only leads to trail widening in places, but also tends to erode the outside of a trail. When that trail is built on a slope, that causes undue erosion and trail damage. There are also steep grades, bench-cut areas (where the trail is built into a slope), and portions with significant exposure.
Trailbuilding is both a science and an art. Our trailbuilder, in conjunction with local volunteers and our land managers, has created trails that are designed and built for mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. In the future, we’d like to build additional features and optional lines for bikers that will make the trail system a destination for these kinds of users.
We wholeheartedly encourage other user groups to explore the idea of building specific trail systems for their use. Red Canyon Park does not currently feature trails, and this would be a great opportunity for other user groups to advocate for, fund, and build additional trail mileage in the greater Cañon City area. Disallowing one user group allows for another user group to enjoy stress-free riding on their own terms and without the added danger of encountering conflicting users. FAR has no plans for future trails in Red Canyon Park and the area would make for ideal equestrian optimized trails.
We encourage all users to share trails responsibly, and that often means encountering equestrian users on other trails. Be nice, say “hi”, and be sure to get off your bike if the horseback rider requests it. Some horses spook easily, and others are seasoned professionals. (Some probably react better toward a rattlesnake than some of us!) Always carry and use a bell when rounding blind corners, and slow down when your line of sight is shallow. Not all trails are built equally, but WE are.
There are dozens of miles of trails that ARE appropriate and open to equestrian users across Fremont county. FAR, the City of Cañon City, and BLM have all worked to create trail systems in the area that are open to many different quiet, non-motorized recreation users. There are even places where bikes are NOT allowed, and equestrians can enjoy a relaxed ride, knowing that they will not encounter any mountain bikers. (See above for more information.) In fact, this would be one of the only trail systems (except for a small portion of the Riverwalk) that would be closed to equestrian use. This designation is so that the Royal Gorge Park can be designated as a 'Mountain Bike destination' for riders of all ages and abilities. The trails are what are generally called “purpose-built” trails. This means that they are designed to maximize the full potential of the terrain to accommodate the needs of mountain bikers, hikers, and runners. Other communities in other areas have also designated trail systems as non-equestrian specific, including areas of Sedona, Arizona, Sheridan, Wyoming, and Bentonville / Bella Vista, Arkansas. These locations are places where mountain bike riders can engage in fast, relaxed, feature-heavy riding.
Mountain bikers love occasional prolonged steep sections of trail. This allows them to gain speed and enjoy the downhill “flow” that they’ve worked to hard to achieve. (Uphill is fun, but HARD.) Unfortunately, the pressure that a horse – a large and heavy animal – puts on a steeper slope is significant. The displacement of the soil, especially in our desert environment, causes degradation to the trail and inherent damage. This is further exacerbated when the trails are moist or muddy. The average footprint wouldn’t make much of a dent, but a 1,000-lb animal can displace much more material and leave unfortunate holes in the trail surface. These potholes do NOT enhance the ride of a mountain biker, nor do they offer a desirable surface for trail runners or hikers. It is akin to putting speed bumps every 5 feet on a fun ATV trail. It’s like riding / running on a washboard dirt road.
Horse hooves do significantly more damage to trails when muddy. While ALL trail users can leave marks when mud is present, a horse has the weight and physical ability to leave much more of what we call “legacy damage”, or damage that can take months to wear back out. Our desert soil, which includes that at the Royal Gorge, is dense. There isn’t any vegetation like some of the “loamy” trails of the Pacific Northwest or East. It doesn’t “bounce back” when it’s compacted or displaced. Mountain bikers and equestrian riders can all be irresponsible, but foot and bike tire damage is easier to ‘erase’ after a few days or weeks of riding. Hoof prints tend to be bigger, hold water, go deep, and lead to long-standing potholes.
The safety issues are also worth considering, including areas where the trail is so narrow (due to the nature of exposure) that passing between a large unpredictable animal and a biker would be dangerous at best. There are also a number of areas where the line of sight is not very long, and a rider / horse interaction could lead to a troublesome situation. While we (of course) advocate for conscientious riding, running and hiking, there will inevitably be instances where horses and other users meet unexpectedly.
Horses, by many rider’s admission, walk on the outside of a trail. This not only leads to trail widening in places, but also tends to erode the outside of a trail. When that trail is built on a slope, that causes undue erosion and trail damage. There are also steep grades, bench-cut areas (where the trail is built into a slope), and portions with significant exposure.
Trailbuilding is both a science and an art. Our trailbuilder, in conjunction with local volunteers and our land managers, has created trails that are designed and built for mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. In the future, we’d like to build additional features and optional lines for bikers that will make the trail system a destination for these kinds of users.
We wholeheartedly encourage other user groups to explore the idea of building specific trail systems for their use. Red Canyon Park does not currently feature trails, and this would be a great opportunity for other user groups to advocate for, fund, and build additional trail mileage in the greater Cañon City area. Disallowing one user group allows for another user group to enjoy stress-free riding on their own terms and without the added danger of encountering conflicting users. FAR has no plans for future trails in Red Canyon Park and the area would make for ideal equestrian optimized trails.
We encourage all users to share trails responsibly, and that often means encountering equestrian users on other trails. Be nice, say “hi”, and be sure to get off your bike if the horseback rider requests it. Some horses spook easily, and others are seasoned professionals. (Some probably react better toward a rattlesnake than some of us!) Always carry and use a bell when rounding blind corners, and slow down when your line of sight is shallow. Not all trails are built equally, but WE are.
