Posted 2010-07-02 10:02 AM (#121827) Subject: cedar lake or horse heaven in Oklahoma
Regular
Posts: 91 Location: Hill Country, Texas
We're having to head north for camping this week due to the rain in south Texas. We're looking at Cedar creek or Horse Heaven. Which do ya'll like better? Differences? Which campground is best. Which has better trails. Thanks
Posted 2010-07-02 6:18 PM (#121842 - in reply to #121827) Subject: RE: cedar lake or horse heaven in Oklahoma
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
We just returned from a week at Cedar Lake. It was great riding as usual. We go there all the time, its 189 miles from my barn door. I have not been to Horse Heaven but the camp at Cedar Lake is very nice, very shaded and there are spots that are somewhat secluded. Bath houses are nice if you need that. Each spot has 2 corrals and there are some doubles with 4 corrals. We like # 8, first electric you come to, and the one directly behind the handicapped, I think its F4. You can go 10 miles down the road to Hontubby and have excellent and cheap dinner in the little store/cafe. Tuesday night ribs are to die for and Friday night catfish is supreme. Most of the trails still had water and I think they have been getting a bit of rain so riding should be even better. Trail 8 up Blue Mountain is spectacular, as is The Emerald Vista/Winding Stair trail and Horse Thief Springs. These are harder climbing trails up to lookout vistas. Great place to stop for lunch. The lovely rock ridge along Snake Mountain, trail 4, is close to camp and a great place to watch a sunset. You can go down trail 2, or the highline and visit Harveys Long Branch Saloon for a coke or beer. Its an icon and worth the visit. Hey Terri we went up Blue Mountain on the itty bitty FS road in my dually. LOL Rangers said they went up in a jeep. Oh well. 1st gear and low range 4 WD, we made it. Heavener has anything you need shopping wise, and you can visit the Runestone Park. It neat. Its about 20 miles to Queen Wilhelmina lodge. Guess you just going riding though. LOL We took a full vacation and rode in the mornings and then played the ultimate tourists during the day. We rode up there last Christmas Day in the 6 inches of snow. It was spectacular. Oh but take a wheelbarrow. Much easier to clean the pens. You put it beside the road and they pick it up. They were getting ours everyday. Not much of a fly problem.
Posted 2010-07-02 11:11 PM (#121852 - in reply to #121827) Subject: RE: cedar lake or horse heaven in Oklahoma
Regular
Posts: 91 Location: Hill Country, Texas
Patti, thank you for all of that great information! Do you happen to have a local # for the campground? The people I talked to thru the park didn't know squat.
Posted 2010-07-03 5:55 AM (#121853 - in reply to #121827) Subject: RE: cedar lake or horse heaven in Oklahoma
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
You make reservations through recreation .gov, but you have to do that 10 days in advance. They have 40 or more electric with water and corraLs so shouldnt be a problem. Most are big rig friendly, specially the back-in sites. The reservation site has a camp map and info on each campsites size, shade, etc. The host Sharon is off, having surgury. Supposed to have a fill in host. Rangers dont seem to come around much. There is a ranger/tourist info station about a mile away. You might get their number and try them. What did you want to know? We are leaving this evening around 2 or 3 for Robbers Cave in Wilburton.
Posted 2010-07-08 1:02 PM (#122051 - in reply to #121827) Subject: RE: cedar lake or horse heaven in Oklahoma
Regular
Posts: 93 Location: ark/ok border
CEDAR LAKE!!! We have stayed at both and will not ever stay at Horse Heaven again! You must bag u stall leavings(hay and all in plastic heavy duty bags, for the eco system but the plastic knocks that out), the sites are not very user friendy, ur trailer will be up hill from ur table and campfire, trails arent marked that great, and the prices are higher. Now at Cedar lake, campsites are clean, level(usually on pavement) and bathrooms are great. Most of the camp sites are now open this time of yr and they have several that are nonreservable. YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED IN CEDAR LAKE, like we were with Horse Heaven.
Posted 2010-07-08 3:46 PM (#122058 - in reply to #121827) Subject: RE: cedar lake or horse heaven in Oklahoma
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
So Mary where were you the week of June 15th? I think its the first time we have been to Cedar Lake and you werent there. LOL We made an impromptu spur of the minute trip to Robbers Cave for the 4th of July. Had a great time. We hadnt ridden there in awhile. Trails were great. RC is a much easier trail system than Cedar Lake. Lots of rocks but not alot of big climbing. Of course then you dont have as many of the spectacular views but the Rim Rock Trail and overlook bluff is fabulous. The Butterfield trail along Coon Creek is very pretty riding. There was lots of water on trail and it was cool and breezy. We rode all day Sunday with local OETRA friends. Then that night we watched the fireworks show on the lake. RC campgound is small but nice. They are putting in corrals. Dont have them at all the sites yet but they have a bunch. Only thing I dont like about RC is they let non-equestrians camp there. Its a small campground and they often take up alot of the best sites or alot of room with vehicles and tents strung out in the electical spots in the trees. This is a sore point with many as equestrians cannot go to a different camp if full. But the riding there is really good with well marked trails and a good map. The trails and markings were in good shape with new detours around some area that had bad damage from previous storms. They have about 35 electric/water sites and will reserve 15 of them. They also have a handicapped parking spot that is cement. Lots of picket poles incase you dont get pens.
Posted 2010-07-08 10:03 PM (#122072 - in reply to #121827) Subject: RE: cedar lake or horse heaven in Oklahoma
Regular
Posts: 93 Location: ark/ok border
was at Lonesome D that w/e CTrider lol, but havent been getting to go alot, trying to get our first cutting of hay done, still like 2 more fields but the rain is holding us back. Hubby is having to work alot of w/e also, so we girls are trying to plan a girls only w/e down there soon, we have decided to call our group the hooves and hussies trail riders lol
Posted 2010-07-30 8:08 PM (#123021 - in reply to #121827) Subject: RE: cedar lake or horse heaven in Oklahoma
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Texarkana, Texas
Cedar Lake gets my vote all the way. Trails are marked really good. Camp grounds w/ pens perfect. As nice a place as you'll want to go. There is not much water on the trails during the summer so be sure to go in the fall & spring. You'll be glad you did!
cedar lake or horse heaven in Oklahoma
I really appreciate ya'lls opinions and information. Keep it coming.