Riding On The North Side. . . . | |
| The northern part of the Park is available for riding also. It is made up of rolling pastures with some hardwoods and pine forest. In the northeast corner trails wind through hardwood forests past a cemetery from the yellow fever epidemics which just about wiped Memphis off of the map in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The population became so small that Memphis almost lost it's charter. Trails in this part of the Park are also part of the Tour de Wolf bike trail and you will meet mountain bikes on the trails as well as hikers. Please greet other Park users and if possible move off of the trail. Your horse standing in the poison ivy isn't going to be hurt nearly as much as the biker or hiker who gets into it. |   |
You must have a permit to ride in the Park. Permits can be obtained at the Visitor Center. You will need to show a 12 month negative coggins. The permits are free and are good for one year or until the coggins expires. The Visitor Center (901)767-PARK is not open on weekends. If you have any questions please call (662) 851-7122 |
In the middle of the northern area there are cross country jumps designed by International Course Designer Paul Popiel with a Beginner Novice, Novice and Training course and some Preliminary Jumps. There are one or two green-as-grass jumps for the beginner. If your horse jumps please feel free to school there. There is a water jump that is USEA approved and also suitable for carriage use. This area is also used by the Memphis Hunter Retriever Assoc. to train dogs in the many lakes. It is also a dog off leash area. All dogs must be under voice control of their owner. Most dogs respect the horses but be aware that they may be present. |
| In the north west corner of the cross country course you can access a corridor that goes to the far west side of the Park. You will be riding past the public riding rental stable pastures and may see other riders across the fence. Eventually you will come to the entrance road from Mullins Station Rd. |  |
  | Here you will pick up a dedicated equestrian trail that leads you thorough the pine forest. Please stay on the trail or you may be asked to leave the Park. The forest was severely damaged by "Hurricane Elvis in July 2003". This storm knocked out power to over 400,000 homes in Memphis when it hit. You will see some of the damaged areas as well as areas that were not damaged. On the west side of the pine forest you will be able to ride once again in open fields, around Lake Chickasaw and over to Farm Road.
The northern trails are easy for beginner riders and young horses but they should be accompanied by an experienced rider and horse. Expect to see a lot of activity in this part of the Park. |
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Last Updated on 1/10/2006 | |