Aldergrove chapter is already busy this year working on improvements to two horse camps: Woodlands, in Golden Ears Park and Tulameen Horse Camp in the Cascade Recreation Area of Manning Park.
Movers and shakers of the Whitworth Forest Horse Camp project; Jim McCrae with wife Marilyn, Jack Breaks, George Ralph and volunteers. circa 2009
A third, the ,Whitworth Forest Horse Camp, 56km south of Silver Creek in the Skagit Valley, had the road to it, Silver Skagit, wash out during the atmospheric river of 2021. The road is supposed to reopen this spring and the camp will probably need work! It has eleven pull through campsites, firepits, picnic tables, 2 corrals per site, and central water. There is access to several trails: Skagit River, Centennial and Skyline 2. It’s also known for seasonaly BAD, mosquitos! It should be open May 17 to October 7. To reserve camping.bcparks.ca or call 1-800-689-9025 , or first come, first serve.
Woodlands: In 2013 Aldergrove began working with BC Parks on the creation of a horse camp in Golden Ears Park, in Maple Ridge. Hundreds of volunteer hours were logged (man and machine) but snags were met, and progress stalled. Fast forward to this year (and lots more volunteer work), when not only is Woodlands Horse Camp up and running with pads for eight rigs, central water and six high-line posts, but Aldergrove chapter recently received permission to install corrals! Thanks to BCHBC volunteers, there will be 3 sets of 12 x 12 double corrals going in this summer!
A pad with highline posts at Woodlands Horse Camp.
Woodlands is located along the Golden Ears Parkway, just past the ticket booth and before the bridge to Gold Creek, on the left. The trails are well maintained and there are lots of them! They are all multi-use trails and can get busy in peak season.
Currently Woodlands Horse Camp may only be reserved as a group campsite, which is $120/night plus a minimum of 15 adults at $5/head. Camping is open March 1 to Nov 30 for reservations. All manure must be taken out with you. To reserve camping.bcparks.ca or call 1-800-689-9025
Tulameen: Back in the 1990’s plans were put in motion to create a horse camp along the Dewdney Trail in Paradise Valley, within Manning Park. It has been in use for decades now and even has a log cabin (aka The Hilton) for the use of Rangers and BCHBC Stewards involved in club sanctioned projects.
Stock grazing in the meadow at Tulameen Horse Camp with beautiful Snass Mountain overlooking.
This is a remote horse camp which can be ridden into from the Cascade Rec area (there are high-line posts, hitching rails and plenty of parking to stage your adventure) then about a 4 hour ride along the Dewdney Trail. Alternatively, you can ride in from Whitecloud Lake at 52K on Tulameen FSR, or from the Whipsaw or Granite Creek FSR.
When you arrive at Tulameen Horse Camp, there is lots of great tenting, a barn to keep your gear dry, several paddocks, limitless trees to highline to, a beautiful grassy meadow, a firepit, water nearby at the Tulameen River and a spring. This is a Leave No Trace campsite, so spread your manure and be gentle on the trees and grass. First come, first serve.
Brian Harder repairing a bridge along the Dewdney Trail.
The existing paddocks are pretty sketchy, but there will be a multi-chapter effort in August to build six new ones! There are miles of trails, both historic and new, with plans to clear and open up more. This is a bucket list destination! For more info on Tulameen Horse Camp contact Brian Harder at president@bchorsemen.org
There is more information and maps of these horse camps, on the Horse Council BC Trail Database at hcbc.online/trails
Want to support initiatives like these and get updates? Join a BCHBC chapter near you! www.bchorsemen.org
Next month you’ll hear about the Skimikin Horse Camp projects!
Submitted by Sheila Sowerby
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