Posted 2010-03-11 10:28 AM (#117464 - in reply to #117448) Subject: RE: Anyone been here before...?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
We haven't been there yet , but are planning on it. The only thing bad that I heard is that the trails are mud when it rains. Friends (from Iowa) have said that Iowa State Parks don't groom their trails, so you want to be there when it is dry. Still planning on trying to get there this year though.
Posted 2010-03-12 10:04 AM (#117493 - in reply to #117448) Subject: RE: Anyone been here before...?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
No real dry season really. Just not as nice when there has been a substantial rain fall. A lot of times mid to late July and most of August are drier times but who knows for sure. On August 6, 1991 we got 14 inches over night after going almost a month without any rain.
Posted 2010-03-12 7:03 PM (#117516 - in reply to #117448) Subject: RE: Anyone been here before...?
Veteran
Posts: 270 Location: Roanoke IL
River Valley is like if Disney World was a horse camp. It's my fav place to be. The trails can be muddy. Shimeck closes for rain. You can always ride the river valley trails though. You can ride to Hel Mart on saturdays and get a free beer coozie. Go for one of the evens listed on the website....the ranch horse shows are lots of fun. Steve and Carolyn are great folks. If you need a well bred QH colt or filly they've got you covered.
Posted 2010-03-15 8:27 AM (#117607 - in reply to #117448) Subject: RE: Anyone been here before...?
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Cherokee, IOWA
I live in NW Iowa,(Cherokee) and have not had the chance(yet) to visit River Valley Lodge. Looks like a great place. As to an answer to your question about "dry season", last year, we only got to ride our local horse trails a few times, due to a lot of rain, and mud. Previous year, rode almost every weekend, dry, dry, dry! (only in Iowa does the weather change every 5 mins!) Looks like this year will not be much different, since our area had over 60 inches of that wonderful white stuff!!. Usually, riding is pretty good late July and August here, but pretty hot and humid at that time.........have plenty of bug spray and "cold refreshments"! We ride often at Brushy Creek State Park in Ft. Dodge, IA, but last year, it was closed a LOT....rain and mud ,even closed mem. day wknd. We are very thankful our local conservation opened up a place to horses only 10 miles from here, and have made a great horse camp. Not a lot of acres to ride, but enough for a nice 1/2 day ride. I'm anxious to see what the weather has in store for us this spring. Right now, it looks like we'll be in the "mud" till at least June!!
Posted 2010-03-15 10:32 PM (#117645 - in reply to #117607) Subject: RE: Anyone been here before...?
Veteran
Posts: 231 Location: Illinois
LOL, I can relate to the " mud factor" looks like it is going to be another soggy one this Spring...at least it is starting out that way..I would hate to head out that way only to find a "hog wallow"...
Anyone been here before...?
