Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

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Last updated on February 14, 2024

Virginia State Parks are great places to horse around! Six parks offer horse camping, and 19 have riding trails.  

So giddy up, and let's learn more about horse camping and trails at Virginia State Parks.

Bring your horse to ride the bridle trails at Virginia State Parks (and stay the night too)

Bring your horse to ride the bridle trails at Virginia State Parks (and maybe even stay the night too).

EQUESTRIAN CAMPSITES

Douthat, Fairy Stone, Grayson Highlands, James River, Occoneechee and Staunton River state parks rent horse campsites.

Some sites have electricity and water and a nearby full bathhouse. Others have electricity and water and a pit toilet. Because sites vary, carefully read about each park's horse camping amenities here

Equine campground at Fairy Stone State Park, Va

Most of our equestrian camping is set apart from the other campgrounds to give the horses' privacy and quiet, like this facility at Fairy Stone State Park.

You can rent a stable as part of your horse camping experience at Staunton River State Park

You can rent a stable as part of your horse camping experience at Staunton River State Park.

A comfortable stall and fresh sawdust for your horse at Fairy Stone State Park, Va

A soft place for your horse to bed down in our equestrian campgrounds.

Equestrian campground horse stalls at James River State Park, Virginia

Equestrian campground horse stalls at James River State Park.

Also, you can sign up for the Customer Loyalty Program to earn points that may be applied to future overnight stays. Learn more about camping and cabin stays at Virginia State Parks.

TRAILER PARKING

Lake Anna State Park has popular riding trails and ample parking for trailers

Lake Anna State Park has popular riding trails and ample parking for trailers.

Those parks have horse trails as do another 13 parks, and trailer parking is available at those parks. They are Bear Creek LakeBelle IsleChippokesHigh BridgeJames River, New River TrailPocahontas, PowhatanShenandoah RiverSky MeadowsTwin LakesWilderness Road and York River. Equestrian trails vary from 2 to 57 miles long.

HORSE COMPLEX

Mark E. Hufeisen Horse Complex at New River Trail State Park is a perfect venue for horse shows or rodeos

Mark E. Hufeisen Horse Complex at New River Trail State Park is a perfect venue for horse shows or rodeos, and provides easy access from I-77 and I-81.

Pocahontas State Park - Bright Hope Complex 

There are over 13 miles of bridle trails within the park's multiple-use trail system. Bring your own horse. No overnight accommodations for horses at the park. Horses may disembark at the Bright Hope Horse Complex, the horse trailer parking lot on Beach Road or the Dvorak Forest Trail parking area. 

Complete with a large parking lot, picnic tables, a restroom and two exercise rings (50 by 100 feet and 20 by 60 feet), this day-use facility offers equestrians easy access to the Bright Hope Multi-use Trail. The rings may be used by individuals for training – daily fee required – or may be reserved for group use during daylight hours. 

You can find full-service equine facilities at nearby Brandywine Farms.

New River Trail State Park Mark E Hufeisen Complex

At 16.5 acres, the New River Trail's Mark E. Hufeisen Horse Complex is the system's most prominent horse offering. It has a 170 by 250-foot arena, accommodations for calf-roping, seating for up to 600 and plenty of parking. The well-lit complex has a concession building, which has a refrigerator and a microwave oven, an announcer's booth and rodeo equipment. Visitors may bring a horse and ride in the arena for $5 a day, and the complex can be rented in total for special events for a full or half day.

Call (800) 933-7275 for details on renting our horse complexes.

State law requires that visitors carry a copy of a negative Coggins report with each horse brought to the park.

WHERE TO RIDE

Horseback riders on the new Meh-tek-kos Trail at York River State Park, Virginia

Horseback riders on the new Meh-tek-kos Bridle Trail at York River State Park.

Popular riding trails at Lake Anna State Park, Va

Great wooded trails for riding at Lake Anna State Park.

Sky Meadows State Park has scenic farmland trails for horse riding

Sky Meadows State Park offers rolling farmland and foothills for horse riding.

Beautiful scenery for a fall ride along the rivers at Staunton River State Park, Virginia

Beautiful scenery for a fall ride along the rivers at Staunton River State Park.

HORSE TRAILS

  • Bear Creek Lake: None in the park but 16 miles in Cumberland Multi-Use Trail
  • Belle Isle: 3.9 miles
  • Chippokes: 10 miles
  • Douthat: 6 miles, connects to Alleghany Highlands Multi-use Trail
  • Fairy Stone: 10 miles
  • Grayson Highlands: 2 miles, connects to Jefferson National Forest
  • High Bridge Trail: 31 miles
  • Holliday Lake: 14 miles, connects to 10.2 miles in Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest
  • James River: 15 miles
  • Lake Anna: 12 miles
  • New River Trail: 57 miles
  • Occoneechee: None in the park but 7.5 miles trailhead for Panhandle Trail
  • Pocahontas: 13 miles
  • Powhatan: 9 miles
  • Shenandoah River: 7 miles
  • Sky Meadows: 7 miles
  • Staunton River: 18 miles
  • Twin Lakes: None in the park but 8 miles in Prince Edward-Gallion Forest
  • Wilderness Road: 8 miles
  • York River: 14.3 miles

 

Some of the other Virginia State Parks in our system have horseback riding available nearby the park. If this is something you're interested in please contact the park directly to ask. Since our park staff typically live in the area of the park, they can provide honest feedback in recommending one over the other for the best riding experience.

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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

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