Posted 2009-09-28 1:12 PM (#111199) Subject: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
New User
Posts: 2
We are looking at taking a family camping/riding trip mid to late October. Where is the best place to go, we are in NE Texas so I was looking at Eastern OK or Arkansas. We will have kids riding with us so I would like somewhere that isn't dangerous. Will this be a good time to see all the fall colors?
Posted 2009-09-28 5:20 PM (#111212 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Regular
Posts: 71 Location: Edmond OK
There are several wonderful places to go but you might check to see if any reservations are available. Fall Color Riding is VERY popular. Cedar Lake Equestrian Trails is very pretty and a very nice camp. Very rocky though.
J-D is a private horse camp south of Cedar Lake closer to you. Very nice camp and offers some easy trails. Also rocky though.
A-Z Ranch is close to J-D but I haven't been there.
Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton is very nice also but the wildlife management side is closed during hunting season and so the state park trails are the only ones that are "open."
Horse Heaven is by Talehina, a private guest ranch, has cabins for rent in addition to RV spots (so does J-D and A-Z). Lots of trails.
I love Cedar Lake and was planning to go there in mid-October but all of the reserved spots were taken and I didn't want to take the chance of not getting electric since my trailer is total electric. So we are going to J-D.
Arkansas has lots to offer as well. One of my favorite places to ride is Lonesome D near New Blaine.
All of these trails are mountain riding and very rocky. You would want to make sure your horses are in shape.
Posted 2009-09-28 9:05 PM (#111218 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Regular
Posts: 93 Location: ark/ok border
I agree with Terri there are many nice camps over here! Cedar Lake is the best and does have some easy trails but they are very rocky now since so much rain has fallen and washed the trails. We went there this w/e and as always it was very nice. Went to Horse Heaven in Talihina last year and wont go back. Camp sites there are not set up user friendly( most camp fire rings are down below the trailer). Plus they also let motorcycles stay over nite and they were coming in all nite long then in the mornings revving engines and zooming past horses with no care of the horse riders. I also like Lonesome D, they have really easy trails but camp sites aren't paved so it is pretty muddy down there rite now. If you get to Cedar Lake by 5 pm on Friday you should be able to get a camp site w/electric, we did with no problem. Our son got there at 7 pm and got a site also. Robbers Cave is good but it is hard to park a large trailer there since most of the camp sites are at an angle and not enough room to turn good. Havent tried J-D or A-Z. Happy Trails which ever place you decide but I would go to either Lonesome D or Cedar Lake. Just my opinion :)
Posted 2009-09-29 8:29 AM (#111227 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
We have been to most all the camps in the area... I really loved the camp at Horse Heaven, Talahina,OK, about two hours north of Dallas. Loved the trails at Lonesome D, but not so much the camp. Has anyone been to Falling Waters camp/trails??? We also like Devil's Den... the trails are awesome, but the horsecamp is so-so...there are only two sites that can accomodate a big rig.
Posted 2009-09-29 7:03 PM (#111256 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Regular
Posts: 93 Location: ark/ok border
Went to Falling Waters in the spring and another place I wont go back. I made reservations 2 weeks in advance for 3 camp sites and when we got there they were gone. Owner said he forgot to write them down after I had to show him his conformation. The stalls are a long way from your trailer and all horses are boarded in one area which I dont like. We had corral panels on our trailer( we keep them there) so we sat them up by our trailer. Friends had to put 2 horses to each 10X10 stall. One of the horses next to them was a very rowdy stud and when they complained the owner told it was a friends horse and he usually tried to make sure no mares were put next to him! Then we went riding and came back to only 1 stall because other people who had reservations also showed up with and owner told them to just put them in any empty stall. They packed up and left. Now with that said the trails were ok but the water falls were beautiful. Have to tried Steel Creek on the Buffalo River? I think it shares the same trails with Falling Waters.
Posted 2009-09-29 7:13 PM (#111257 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Regular
Posts: 93 Location: ark/ok border
FYI, I'm not trying to be negative about all these camps just informative! No offense meant to anyone. One more thing about Horse Heaven is they tell you to bag your horse poop to help the ozone but they want it bagged in heavy duty plastic bags. Hmmm
Posted 2009-09-30 9:40 PM (#111292 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Member
Posts: 18
We just spent june in steele creek it is awesome..... The trails are okay our 9 yearoldson went with us on our draft mare which has breathing problems. We spent 9 days there would go back in a heart beatif we had the $. The camp ground is only for horses. The tie out picket i wish was a little bigger and is behind the camp on the hill but other than that i loved it. All the other places people mention i've been to. Cadar lake is good to but butffalo in my opinion is better. The only thin is only 2 trails go out from steel creek. We did check out the other camp ground and i'm glad we stayed at steele. It has running water and the river is as clear as can be. Be aware alot of canoe's but my horse adjusted after a little while. Ponca store has maps.
Posted 2009-10-01 1:27 PM (#111312 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Member
Posts: 9
Location: North Texas
Sarah,
One place that has not been mentioned as yet is Bar 50 near Bismarck, AR (just S. of Hot Springs). it is a kid-friendly place and is an easy drive from NE Texas. I can drive it in just over 4 1/2 hours from near Dallas. They have easy trails and some climbing trails. Some are rocky and some aren't so you will just need to check with Julian (owner) as to the best ones to go on for your group. The fall colors are very nice there around the first of November.
Posted 2009-10-01 4:24 PM (#111322 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Member
Posts: 9
Location: North Texas
Yes, I have been to Jefferson. Lots of neat shops there. You are really far in East Texas. You can be at Bar 50 in less than 2 1/2 hours. If I lived that close I would be there most weekends.
Posted 2009-10-07 2:11 PM (#111573 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
Sarah I live in Jefferson (Lodi community actually) and wonder if I know you ? Did you live in the McLeod community ? We go to Cedar Lake and Robbers Cave alot and have been to Bar 50.If its hunting season you should go to Cedar Lake as they dont close the trails. Another great place even during hunting is LBJ Grasslands at Decatur. Its about 5 hours drive though.
Posted 2009-11-09 3:57 PM (#112956 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
New User
Posts: 1
We love going to Lonesome D. It is pretty, and the trails are not that bad. We have not stayed at A to Z. A to Z was Tickled Pink, and we did go there and really enjoyed it when Glen and Sharron owned it. But we have heard a lot of negative things since it has been changed to A to Z.
Bar 50 in Bismark Ar is also a great place to go, and it is a great place to take kids, because it is not to rocky.
Posted 2009-11-10 7:23 AM (#112976 - in reply to #111256) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Expert
Posts: 2615
Have to tried Steel Creek on the Buffalo River? I think it shares the same trails with Falling Waters.
mmry,Steel Creek on the Buffalo is QUIET a ways from Falling Waters.Falling Waters is north of the Dover/Hector area above Russellville.Steel Creek is between Ponca/Jasper.
Posted 2009-11-18 6:25 PM (#113382 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Veteran
Posts: 285
We want to try Falling Waters next year if possible. How much riding is there? Can you get a forty two ft trailer in there? We don't mind rocks and we don't mind rough. From some of the pictures I have seen it looks to be really good riding.
Posted 2009-11-19 11:57 AM (#113419 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
New User
Posts: 1
Location: NW Louisiana
I've been most of the places previously mentioned here - current favorite is J-D near Octavia. Also like Bar 50, and used to go to Horse Heaven regularly, but haven't been in a year or so. Have found J-D,,and Bar 50 the easiest and quickest campgrounds for me to get to. I live in NW Louisiana. By the way Sarah...I'm not far from Jefferson! Been there a lot. Also, for any near Tyler, there is an awesome private property just south of Bullard that we love to go to.
Looking for new places and riding buddies :-)...
ya'll have a good one!
Posted 2009-11-23 1:35 PM (#113525 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
Ugh sorry. I keep forgetting when I sign in if I push enter, it sends a blank post. We have camped and ridden at many of the places you have mentioned, and some you have not. We like Robbers Cave in Wilburton Oklahoma. Also have camped at Wild Horse Trail Camp in Honobia Oklahoma. While Robbers Cave is a favorite I like Cedar Lake for really working my horse since we do Competitive Trail with NATRC. Matter of fact we are eating Thanksgiving dinner at Queen Wilhelmina lodge and then going on to Cedar Lake campground for 3 days of riding. Supposed to be great riding weather. First trip in our new LQ trailer so we are excited. I have been wanting to try Indian Mounds camp near Clayton OKlahoma. Someone mentioned Tarrant Ranch in Bullard Texas. We are having a competition there in April. Another nice camp is Caddo Grasslands just outside of Paris although they dont have a really long trail system yet. There is a trail at Bar 50 that is up and down like a roller coaster and I hope to do some conditioning there in May before I go to the competition we are having in Bandera Texas. Lake Arrowhead in McAlester Oklahoma is supposed to be really pretty. Where do you live at in Louisiana ? There is a trail system at Lake Wright Patman out of Queen City Texas and we also ride at Davidson Foundation in Harleton Texas when it isnt hunting season.
Posted 2009-11-23 1:42 PM (#113526 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
I am interested in more info on the Falling Waters you are talking about. I see mention of being on Hwy 7 near Russelville. I have camped at Mack's Pines many times and ridden trails there as we have competitions there. Macks Pines is on Hwy 7 north of Russelville and Dover.
Posted 2009-12-01 3:00 AM (#113792 - in reply to #111199) Subject: RE: Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
When is the competition in Bandera, Tx? That's the only place I've gone to so far due to time and accomodation constraints..(BP trailer.. no LQ). I love it there.. I'll most often go by myself and camp primitive.. . SOMEDAY I hope to branch out.. I need to find a riding buddy that doesn't mind traveling... (and has the time)
Best place to go in Eastern OK or Arkansas?
