Horse Riding and Camping
Horseback riding is permitted at several areas throughout the Olympic National Forest. There are many areas on the Forest designated for horseback riding, so check the specific recreation site before you hit the trails.
Trail Etiquette
Trail etiquette for multiple use trails calls for horses to have the right-of-way. Hikers should yield to horses. Bicyclists should yield to horses and hikers. Horse riders are responsible for the control of their horse at all times.
Many trails are open to multiple non-motorized uses, meaning the trails are shared by hikers, horse riders, and bicyclists. Information on allowed trail uses is available on trailhead signs and or by contacting the nearest Forest office.
Rider Responsibilities
- Ensuring that their horse has been tested for Equine Infectious Anemia.
- Carrying current written proof of a negative Coggins Test result.
- Providing proof of negative Coggins Test upon request.
- Using certified weed-free feed.
Weed-free Feed Requirements
As part of a larger effort to reduce invasive species on national forest lands, weed-free feed is required in all Pacific Northwest National Forests, the Crooked River National Grassland, and all Oregon and Washington Wilderness Areas.
- All hay, hay cubes, straw, grain, and other crop or mulch products brought on to National Forest land in the Pacific Northwest Region must be certified “weed free” using North American Weed Management Association (NAWMA) standards, or better, regardless of how they are used (livestock feed, bedding, erosion control, mulch, etc.).
- Commercially processed feed pellets or steamed, rolled grains are also allowed under this order. They are considered weed-free feed and need not be state certified (see additional information about commercially processed feed below).
Forage and mulch products sometimes contain seed or reproductive parts from non-native, invasive and noxious weeds. Resulting weed populations degrade the health of native ecosystems. Wildlife habitat, soil and water quality, rangeland, economic values and beauty of the land decline as a result. National Forest lands are among the areas most vulnerable to impacts from weeds and are also, in general, where prevention of infestation is most likely to succeed. A rule requiring the use of certified weed free feed and other crop products is one of the effective tools for minimizing the spread of invasive plants.
While hay and similar crop products are most often associated with livestock feeding, they are also used as mulch for erosion control, bedding, and other uses. The closure requires that all hay, hay cubes, straw, grain or other crop or mulch products, regardless of how they are used, be state certified as weed-free, when used or stored on National Forest System lands.
Weed-free hay or crop products have been inspected according to standards used by the North American Weed Management Association (NAWMA) and member states. Under NAWMA standards, fields are inspected to ensure the absence of seed and reproductive parts from listed invasive weed species. Fields which pass the inspection are state certified and the producer may then officially label the products as a weed-free hay or crop product. In a-like sense, state certified weed-free mulch comes from fields that pass inspection and are then state certified and labeled for use in restoration and re-vegetation projects.
Feed pellets are made by finely grinding the ingredients, heat treating, and then compressing into pellets. This process kills a very high percentage of viable seed that may be in the source ingredients. Similarly, steaming and rolling grains kills most viable seeds that may be present, including those of invasive, noxious weeds. While commercial processing feed may not in all cases eliminate all weed seed, feed pellets and steamed rolled grains are considered a reasonable option for preventing invasive and noxious weed spread.
Penalties
Penalties for violation under the statutes listed on the closure order. Following the period of adjustment and education, violations of the closure order prohibitions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both (16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C 3559 and 357).
Weed-free providers
The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board, in cooperation with county weed boards, manages the inspection and certification program in Washington. It is referred to as the Washington Wilderness Hay and Mulch (WWHAM) program and is approved by NAWMA. For information and a list of providers in Washington, please see: https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/washington-weed-free-hay-and-mulch-program or call (360) 902-1874.
Search for Horse Riding and Camping Opportunities
Big Quilcene area
Bogachiel Rain Forest River Trailhead
Buckhorn Wilderness
Colonel Bob Wilderness
Duckabush Stock Trailhead
Gorge Bridge Trailhead
Lebar Horse Camp
Littleton Horse Camp
Lower Dungeness/Gold Creek Trailhead
Middle West Fork Humptulips Trailhead