User:Equutrails

Horseback Trail Riding in Vancouver Area Parks
Wheher you are a visitor or live in the Vancouver area, Horseback trail riding is abundant in the Greater Vancouver Regional District and Fraser Valley. One just has to know where to go or who to ride with. All trails are available for public riding and most have trailer parking available, though some may be limited in size.

For visitors to the Vancouver area looking for things to do in Vancouver Equutrails Horseback Riding Adventures was established (2008) to provide guided horseback riding in parks around the greater Vancouver regional area. Guided trail riding is provided at Buntzen Lake, Pitt Lake and Golden Ears Provincial Park. Special arrangements can be made for group tours at Pacific Spirit Park located in Vancouver near UBC.

Buntzen Lake Trail Riding
The closest public horseback riding available from Vancouver is Buntzen Lake. It is located approximately 90 minutes from Vancouver at the village of Anmore, BC. Buntzen Lake is accessible by public transit. If you are trailering your own horses, or driving in to meet your guide, the Equestrian Overflow parking is located 1 km from the park entrance on the left hand side. Parking is on a first-come basis only. When parking lots are full the entrance gates will be closed for the day so go early - usually by 8:00 am. No re-entry is permitted.

For visitors riding with a trail operator, and will be using public transit, the C26 bus operates from Coquitlam Centre to Buntzen Lake daily. Normally this bus stops at the turnaround before the recreation area entrance gate across from the corner store. Take the Admiral trail straight through. It is a 1.5 kilometre or 15 to 20 minute walk to Equestrian Overflow Parking.

Golden Ears Provincial Park Trail Riding
Golden Ears is located approximate 90 minutes from Vancouver, making it an easy and popular park to horseback in. Access to the park is by car. For those coming from Vancouver, travel the short distance east to Maple Ridge (located on the north side of the Fraser River) along Highway 7. Turn left at Golden Ears Way exit and left at the lights. Follow to 232nd St and turn left. Follow to Fern Cresent where you will turn right. The park is just 4 km from the intersection of Fern Cresent and 232nd St. Coming from elsewhere in BC, travellers should head west towards Vancouver, follow signs to Maple Ridge and continue from there as described above.

As one of the largest parks in the province, Golden Ears Provincial Park is prized for its recreational opportunities. The extensive system of trails within the park provides good opportunity for hiking and horseback riding. The vegetation is typical of the coastal western Hemlock forest of BC and the mountainous trail riding can be rugged.

There is an extensive network of over 20 kilometres of gravel/dirt horseback riding trails in the park. The Main Horse Corral is located approximately .5 kilometers inside the main park gates on the left hand side direcly across from the Information booth. Riders can gain access to Aloutte trail, Mike Lake trail and Maple Ridge Trails from here. Equutrails rides primarily from the Main Horse Corral though meeting points may change depending on the route chosen.

From the Mike Lake road, trail riders can connect to the Menzies Trail to the Lookout Point and past the waterfalls and head towards the West Canyon and on to the Gold Creek area or loop down the Lookout Trail and connect back to the Alouette trail on the other side of the road. Depending on the speed of your trail ride, expect a 6-8 hour day of riding if you intend to ride from the Main Horse Corral to Gold Creek and back. It takes approximately 4 - 4.5 hours to ride to Aloutte Lake then retrace to the Lookout Trail and down Menzies to Mike Lake Road. You can return using the lower Aloutte Trail or head up the road and take the Mike Lake Trail to return to the Main Horse Corral.

Day-use stopover is permitted at the South Beach corral area, but horses must remain within the corral or on a designated horse trail.

Camping with horses is permitted in the designated camping area on the East Canyon Trail, approximately 5km north of Gold Creek parking lot.

Pitt Lake Trail Riding
Pitt Lake is the second-largest lake in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. It is about 53.5 square kilometres in area - about 25 km long and about 4.5 km wide at its widest. It is also one of the world's largest tidal lakes. The park entrance, is 40 km east of Downtown Vancouver.

Trail riding in this area is easy and on flat soft footing for most of the route. The trails are all out in the open so be prepared for the weather rain or shine.

From the parking lot trail riders can head west along Pitt River or go east past the boat launch and up the community road to turn south on at the estuary trails. To do a 1/2 day ride continue along the trail and turn down left at the lookout. Follow it to the gravel road and take that straight to Neaves Road where riders will have cross the road. If the gates are closed the walk around can be a bit tricky so dismounting is recommended. Once on the trail on the other side, you ride up to Pitt River and turn right to head back to the lake.

Visitors can join Equutrails on this easy and very scenic 1/2 day ride.