Posted 2010-01-09 3:35 PM (#115064) Subject: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Janesville WI
I'm new here and find all the information very helpful.
We are going to Shawnee this spring and are trying to find out which campgrounds are within riding distance of the Garden of the Gods / One Horse Gap and that general vacinity. I was told that High Knob would work but I cannot get an answer on the phone and have heard it is in the process of being sold. Any other suggestions?
Would Little Lusk Lodge be close?
We have QH's so they aren't as fast as gaited. Any information would be appreciated.
We've stayed at Circle B and Double M in the past and want to try some new areas to ride.
Posted 2010-01-09 5:34 PM (#115065 - in reply to #115064) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
Regular
Posts: 64 Location: West TN
To ride Garden of Gods area, High Knob is the best place. I heard it has a new owner, that will not take over until March 1, so at that point you should be able to reach them. I don't know of any other campgrounds except Double M, but you said you had stayed there. To ride the One horse gap area, One horse gap campground (may be called Buchanans) would be the closet. Little Lusk is too far from either of these place. If you stayed there you would ride the Lusk Creek area. Where ever you stay I know you will enjoy riding the Shawnee. Have a nice ride.
Posted 2010-01-10 9:19 AM (#115082 - in reply to #115064) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
Regular
Posts: 99 Location: Pleasant Plain, Ohio 45162
We have stayed at 34 Ranch and were able to ride to one horse gap from there. It is my understanding that you cannot no longer ride up to Garden of the Gods as the forest service has closed those trails and subject to fines for riding on them. 34 Ranch has 500 acres to camp on and has stalls if you need them plus numerous ponds to fish in. We stayed there for almost a week and never rode the same trails. Go to Horseandmuletrails.com and you can pull up all the reviews and info. Good Luck
Posted 2010-01-10 12:14 PM (#115089 - in reply to #115082) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
quote: "It is my understanding that you cannot no longer ride up to Garden of the Gods as the forest service has closed those trails and subject to fines for riding on them."
Not true. In fact they have built more trails in, and around there. You can still ride up to the trail head with hitching rails and walk up to the visitor center.
Posted 2010-01-10 9:18 PM (#115106 - in reply to #115064) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
Elite Veteran
Posts: 781 Location: La Cygne, KS
While staying at Hayes Campground last May, we checked out High Knob. Was not impressed at all. A lot of work will need to be done to improve the campground. Most sites were picket line only and the sites with stalls were in very poor condition to the point of some sites being unsafe for horses.
Posted 2010-01-13 12:26 PM (#115217 - in reply to #115139) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
Elite Veteran
Posts: 781 Location: La Cygne, KS
My post about the campground needing work was for High Knob. Hayes is by far the better than High Knob. Very nice hosts at Hayes. Just some minor work needs to be done to the stalls and mats.
Posted 2010-01-14 7:36 AM (#115263 - in reply to #115064) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326 Location: Gallatin, TN
We stayed at Hayes in September 2009 and couldn't have been happier. The other campers around us were very friendly and helpful. Most of them had permanent sites at Hayes and because they rode there often they were able to help us with chosing trails. We didn't get to ride as much as we would have liked because of the weather, but the trails we did ride were great. The ride to Indian Kitchen was good and the view was beautiful.
Posted 2010-01-15 10:42 AM (#115311 - in reply to #115064) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Janesville WI
Thanks everyone for the great information! We have decided to stay at 34 Ranch......this time. We do like trying different places so we can ride different trails so maybe we'll hit a couple others later this year.
Posted 2010-02-01 8:47 PM (#116031 - in reply to #115064) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
New User
Posts: 1
HighKnob offers the best overall riding - I have ridden all of the camps in the area - Highknob will have a new owner but the original owner would greatly help you with camping or trails - you can ride to Garden of the Gods, Double M, there are maps and trails marked. Avoid the 3rd weekend of April as it is very busy unless coming in that Sunday afternoon, any permanent campers would also be helpful as well. Let me know if I can help. There are gates to make stalls and understand the new owner is putting her best foot forward on the camp. There is hay available.
Posted 2010-02-07 3:17 PM (#116244 - in reply to #115064) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
New User
Posts: 1
high knob would be your best bet. the camp ground aint the best but your there to ride and thats the best riding unless you go to bay creek camp ground those are the best riding
Posted 2010-02-15 6:21 AM (#116591 - in reply to #115064) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
Regular
Posts: 51 Location: Jeddo, MI
I know the new owner of High Knob and am certain from my experience this will be a great place to camp. The owner was also a guide for us when we went down and that experience was wonderful. It is so much nicer going with someone that knows the area. We stayed at her home and it was very neat and the stalls were clean. Just a great experience. So when JoJo takes over the High Knob campground I can expect the same.
Posted 2010-02-28 5:18 PM (#117106 - in reply to #115064) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
Veteran
Posts: 212 Location: novinger, mo
I heard about High Knob has new owners. what about the trails around there and 34 Ranch? Are they marked as well as they are over by the Lusk Creek area which are really marked well.
Posted 2010-04-21 4:59 PM (#119133 - in reply to #119088) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
New User
Posts: 1
Location: So. Illinois
High Knob is open. There is nothing wrong witht he campground. However most of the shaded sites are taken up with permanent campers. It is under new ownership and I heard there are plans to improve/re-model the shower houses.
The phone number for the campground is #618-275-4494
...and yes, this is the campground you will want to stay to ride the Garden of Gods area.
Posted 2010-05-08 6:36 AM (#119902 - in reply to #115064) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
Regular
Posts: 51 Location: Jeddo, MI
High Knob. Just got back from that trip and it was so beautiful..the new owners names are Dan and Jo-Jo and they are really working hard cleaning up the campground. We found there to be so many trail heads right out of camp. The showers are great and the new owners are nice hard working people that want to make sure your stay is enjoyable. The new stalls are also very nice. Debbie
Posted 2010-05-20 9:16 PM (#120405 - in reply to #115064) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Janesville WI
Thanks everyone for the input. We just returned from 4 beautiful days of riding in Shawnee. Ended up staying at 34 Ranch. The trails aren't marked the best but we were able to either ride with someone that knew the area or found our way around. Very beautiful area. 34 doesn't pack the trailers/campsites in as close as others which is a plus. Tom is also working on improvements to the place. There are rumors that the place is closed and that they don't have access to the trails...........just rumors. We had no problems. We made it to One Horse Gap and a few other places. Waiting on GOG for the next time.
Weather was PERFECT! Overcast at times 60-65 with only a few sprinkles. The trails are in pretty good shape right now and we saw lots of wildlife.
We visited High Knob and it appears they have their work cut out for them. Lots of permanent sites but the camping sites are definitely a work in progress. I hope they get things back on track as we'd be interested in staying there on a future trip. Wanted to check out Little Lusk but ran out of time.
Long story short..........definitely worth the 8 hour drive.
Posted 2010-05-21 9:02 AM (#120415 - in reply to #120405) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
Veteran
Posts: 161 Location: S. Central Illinois
Glad to hear you think the trip was worth it. You will have to give High Knob a try. The permanent campers definitely have it the best there, but everyone is super nice and the riding is phenomenal.
Posted 2010-06-02 9:01 AM (#120829 - in reply to #120415) Subject: RE: Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
Veteran
Posts: 212 Location: novinger, mo
We just got back from a few days stopover at 34 Ranch on the way to AL. Very nice campground. Not many campers (middle of the week?). The trails to and around One Horse Gap were great. We did not get a chance to ride all the trails in that area, but what we rode were fantastic. As far as we could figure out there was only one trail to the Nat'l Forest. That was the downside. It was 45 minutes to get into the forest, pretty riding, but repetitive. The only directions from the owner were pretty vague. I think there must be other trails from camp that could get you there, just didn't have time to find them.
Shawnee - Where to stay to ride Garden of The Gods
