Ozark National Scenic Riverways - Horseback Riding (U.S. National Park Service)

Staying on designated trails and minimizing time spent in the water will help keep trailriding an enjoyable activity for all, and help preserve the beauty of the Ozarks.

The hills and forests of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways area abound in trail riding opportunities. All dirt roads and marked horse trails are open to riding. The National Park Service has marked and color coded some 23 miles of horse trails, but a good topographical map will help. Most of these are in the Two Rivers area.

Many of the riding trails leave the park and cross private or state lands. Please respect others' rights. Download a horse trail map or contact park Headquarters at 573-323-4236, ext 0.

A few common sense rules will help you have a safe and enjoyable experience. These guidelines are also to help keep the area beautiful for you and for generations of riders to come.

1. Please stay on designated marked horse trails or unpaved roads. Cutting cross country creates a network of trails that cause erosion and may lead to the next rider getting lost.

2. Please cross only at designated river crossings. This prevents erosion and deterioration of riverbanks which muddies the river and degrades fish habitat.

3. Please do not bathe your horse in the river. Thousands of horses and their riders visit the area each year. The cumulative effect can be diminished water quality.

4. Respect the land you've come to enjoy. Please do not litter, gather artifacts (including arrowheads) or damage natural or historical features. Leave it beautiful for the next rider.

5. Use hitching rails where available, rather than tying horses to trees. Horses may damage trees by gnawing on bark or pawing roots.

6. Springs and spring branches are unique and beautiful. Please keep them running clear and clean by not riding, swimming or wading into them.

7. Please do not ride into campgrounds, picnic areas and other developed areas.

8. Most of the riding trails pass through private lands. Please respect the landowners where you ride. It only takes a few unfortunate incidents to cause a private landowner to close his land.

HORSE PATROL

Horse trails in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways are patrolled by a Volunteer Horse Patrol. Volunteers donate their time to provide park information, guidance, first aid and to be the "eyes and ears" of law enforcement on the trails. If you have your own horse, are willing to make a commitment of time to training and patrolling and would like to find out more, please e-mail us.

More about Volunteer Horse Patrol

Ride Safely!