Sunday, October 29, 2017

A Guide To Trail Riding Hoosier National Forest

By Gregory Russell


Spending a little time outdoors on a regular basis can help relieve the stress of normal life. For many, an ordinary afternoon swim at the beach helps in unwinding. However, if all you can think of is a setting that is full of nature, you might want to go for trail riding Hoosier National Forest.

The forest covers nine counties in the state of Indiana. Its authorities are headquartered in Bedford. There is a satellite office in Tell City as well. Its total area is 200000 acres. It is famed for its nature trails that welcome thousands of hikers and riders year in year out.

The most comfortable method of exploring its trails is on horseback. A slow casual daylong ride will undoubtedly give you some renewed respect for nature. The views to be seen are among the most stunning in America.

Before you set out, ensure you familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations that all visitors must abide by. To start off, remember there is no stable or horse available for rent once one enters the forest. Every rider is supposed to come with a horse or look for a nearby stable that has them for hire.

When added up, the trail distance totals 266 miles. On a typical day, you may come across other horse riders, hikers and bike riders. There are many campgrounds scattered within its vicinity too. Majority of them are aptly located next to the big lakes dotting the landscape. There are 5 total designated horse camps.

The inroads in the woods are filled with wildlife. It is therefore important to remain alert at all times when on site. If your horse gets spooked and the incident catches you off guard, you may sustain an injury. Some of the common animals you are most likely to encounter include foxes, white tailed deer, gray squirrel, opossum and woodchuck.

Some sections of the woods, especially those overlooking ridges, are perfect for bird watching. Most riders like to carry their cameras to capture shots of rare birds. Commonly spotted birds include the pileated woodpecker, migrant songbirds, waterfowls and turkey. There are bats and other rare birds that reside in the many caves present as well.

Safety ought to be your main concern when exploring. For one, make sure you pack your car off the road upon arriving. Most roads dotting the woods have unexpected curves and are narrow. You would be unfair to other users and endanger them by blocking the road with your car.

On windy days, try to exercise extra precaution. Strong winds often cause trees and branches to fall. As much as the authorities conduct cleanup exercises, there are areas that might be overlooked inadvertently. The same precaution should be extended to hunting season. A hunter may have a hard time differentiating you from prey in case you fail to put on reflective clothing.

The rules also stipulate that hikers and bikers must yield to horse riders upon encounter. However, you should signal that you are approaching in advance. Popping up out of nowhere can be unfair and hazardous to those yielding to you.




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