Horse Riding and Camping
There are plenty of places for horseback riders and campers to explore in Mt. Hood National Forest. Please review the following guidelines for equestrians to help protect the Forest's resources and make everyone's visit more enjoyable.
- Weed-free feed is required in all Oregon & Washington National Forests and Grasslands. Learn more about weed-free forage in the State of Oregon.
- Equestrians should do their best to control their horse, avoid cross-country riding, and avoid tying stock to trees for prolonged periods.
Horseback Riding
Recommended best practices for equestrians and their stock:
- Stay on the trails. Ride single-file in the middle of the path, and don’t detour around puddles, snowbanks, or other obstacles if you can go through them. Instead, stay on the trail to avoid creating wider or parallel trails. Don’t take shortcuts or cut across the switchbacks; this can trample and tear out plants and create additional trails that could be more prone to erosion.
- Minimize your impact. Try your best to avoid fragile or sensitive areas, like wet meadows or marshy ground, to help protect the natural resources. Instead, keep your stock on dry, firm ground when possible. Always pack out what you packed in.
- Be courteous. Please be respectful of other trail users - like bikers and hikers - just as they should be respectful toward you. Offer the right of way to other riders, bikers, or hikers when possible. If it’s too difficult to move your horse off a narrow trail, politely ask them to step off on the downhill side. Try to spread horse manure versus leaving a large pile in the middle of a shared trail.
Horse Camping
Also called equestrian campgrounds, horse camps and stock sites are designed and intended specifically for anyone camping with a horse or other stock animal. There is a limited number of horse camps available for equestrians to use on Willamette National Forest.
Search for Horse Riding and Camping Opportunities
Larison Creek Trail #3646
This popular 6.3 mile (10.1 km), moderate trail follows Larison Cove on Hills Creek Reservoir and then Larsion Creek through lush, green vegetation. The trail has a 1,500 feet elevation gain (trail…
Larison Creek Trailhead - Lower
Site Open
This trailhead provides access to Larison Creek Trail #3646See Trail page for more information.
Larison Creek Trailhead - Upper
Site Open
This trailhead provides access to:Larison Creek Trail #3646See Trail page for more information.
Larison Rock Trail #3607
For those who take the time to hike the entire 4.0 mile (6.4 km) trail, a majestic forest, with lots of old growth at the lower elevations is available to investigate. Vegetation consists of Douglas…
Larison Rock Trailhead
Site Open
This Trailhead provides acces for Larison Rock Trail.
Lava Lakes Trail #3433
This trail links Duffy Lake Trail #3427 to Maxwell Butte Trail #3391.Trail travels without much elevation gain or loss, passes by several ponds before Train Lake and Twin Lakes which it meets near…
Lawler Trail #3473
The trail climbs up past some very interesting rocky outcroppings, crosses young conifer stands before reaching the ridgeline. Along the ridge it leads to a large rocky knob with a great view. Look…
Lawler Trailhead
Site Open
This Trailhead provides access for Lawler Trail.
Lost Creek Trailhead
Site Open
This trailhead provides access to:Lost Creek Trail #3462See Trail page for more information.
Louise Creek Trail #3520
Louise Creek Trail #3520 begins at it's junction with Separation Lake Trail #3536 in the Three Sisters Wilderness less than 1 mile south from Separation Lake Trailhead. From the junction, the trail…