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
Williams Lake Trail #3589
The Williams Lake Trail is reached after a 0.5 mile hike on the Erma Bell Trail # 3563, starting from Taylor Burn Forest Camp. The trail takes the visitor near the shoreline of Williams Lake. From…
Winberry Divide Trail #3476
This trail follows the ridgeline between the Middle Fork Willamette River and Winberry Creek. It is the approximate route of a very old trail that joined a trail from Winberry Creek to the Middle…
Winberry Divide Trailhead
Site Open
This trailhead provides access for Windberry Divide Trail.
Winchester Ridge Trail #3596
Leaving the Winchester Trail #3594, the trail climbs a short distance before leveling off and following a rolling grade along the ridge top through the alpine forest of mountain hemlock and Pacific…
Winchester Ridge Trailhead
Site Closed
This trailhead provides access to:Winchester Ridge Trail #3596See Trail page for more information.
Winchester Trail #3594
This trail meanders along the ridge on a fairly level grade through an alpine forest of mountain hemlock and pacific silver fir. At the junction with Winchester Ridge Trail # 3596, this trail turns…
Woodpecker Trail #3442
Quick access route to Pacific Crest Trail through Douglas-Fir, Western Hemlock, true fir forest.
Youngs Rock Trail #3685
The trail parallels or passes through several open grassy meadows, with views of Diamond Peak, Sawtooth Mountain and Dome Rock.The lower reaches of the trail are quite open and has a park-like…
Youngs Rock Trailhead
Site Closed
This trailhead provides access for Youngs Rock Trail.