Michaux state forest trail ride

I took Speck to Michaux State Forest on Saturday which is located between Chambersburg and Gettysburg PA. I did an endurance ride there many years ago and it is a popular training area for riders competing in the Old Dominion endurance ride in VA. I have wanted to ride there again since moving to York county and was SO happy to go.

Ride stats from my iphone GPS app

We parked at the Big Flat parking area (link for directions to parking area). This area is the main access for both  horse and ATV trails, expect to see both ATVs and horses in the parking area if you go, I feed my horses with an ATV so it was no problem but they may be startling if your horse has never seen one! The trail system in the state forest has some trails that are for horses only and some that allow both horses and ATVs, there are signs clearly indicating this at the trailheads and cross roads.

I rode this same powerline during an endurance ride in 2008!

This was such a beautiful area to ride and the weather was perfect with a slight breeze. The trails are a mix of wooded rocky areas and logging/service roads. I would definitely recommend shoes if your horse needs them for the rockier areas. The logging roads were ideal for doing some gaiting with Speck, he gaited awesome because there was actually open space to do so. I think this ride made him think of the mountains inTennessee, where we made some of our best memories together!

Speck observing the powerline and mountains in the distance