Planning my autumn trip to 4-J and was wondering if there are any destinations to ride to on the trail. Such as caves, rock formations, old homesteads, spectacular overlooks etc. I have never been there and wanted to make sure I ride to the "must see" sites. Do they provide you a trail map?

I have GPS (If I can remember how to use the dang thing), so if anyone has coordinates, I can use that to find the "must see" too.

You HAVE to go to the turkey cabin, it's really a neat view.  The trail to get up to it is not for the faint of heart. I think they cut another trail up to the cabin that's not so bad, but the original still makes me nervous even though I've done it a bunch of times. Another good place to ride to we call "cabbage patch" and if you ride through the old camp, cross the river, over the sand bar, and up past the cattle feeders, then take a right, you will go past an old girlscout camp lodge. It's all abandoned and old, and I went in it, but not upstairs since the floor is caving in.  There's the cabbage patch  lookout if you keep going on past the cabin.  

My favorite overlook is the one that looks out over the camp.  You are actually up on the bluff that is by the hay field and outdoor riding arena.   I don't know how to post pics but I have some of the overlooks.  The organized rides are the best way to see the sites if you aren't familiar with the trails.  You can get lost easily.  I've done it, and it's very scary.  We almost didn't make it back before dark.  

Amanda

Thanks to everyone with the replies so far. I can just see myself printing these pages out before we go and telling my husband we need to turn right past the cattle feeders! He follows a GPS and I would rather use a map and landmarks! Same thing when I give someone directions... always good to use landmarks when telling someone how to find something.

Turkey Cabin sounds interesting. I can't wait to go!!!

We don't care to ride with a large group since we like to take our time and I like taking pictures of wildflowers and butterflies, autumn leaves etc. Not to mention gaiting/cantering when we want also. So we usually take the GPS to help us find our way back if we get lost and I always have a compass too. But we still get turned around sometimes. A GPS is a good tool, but only if the battery still works and the signal makes it through dense trees!

Well, we didn't get to go to the 4-J Ride. Ike flooded out our site. So we rolled our deposit over to next year. I'm bummed, but we did get to ride at Huckleberry State Park in MO instead. Stayed at Huckleberry Stables. Very nice camp hosts and had a great 4 days of riding.

Kinda tight space for LQ trailers, but Rick and Mary accomodated us on short notice.... was at their front door in just 2 hours.