Horseback Riding with Sandy Glass
In 1999, my family and I moved out to Lincoln County from St. Charles County. We needed a place that had room for horses. We were thrilled to know we were only a few miles away from Cuivre River State Park. They have an equestrian campground and miles of horse trails!
On the weekends, I would take the neighbor’s two girls, my daughter, four horses, and set up camp for the weekend. Back then, we just used a tent and tied the horses to the hitching posts that are at each campsite. We would saddle up and ride for a few hours through the state park. After a scenic ride with the girls, we would always head down to the beach to swim. When my son was young, he would come with me to ride the trails in the park. We would pack a lunch in our saddlebags and stop at the bluffs for a picnic lunch with the most beautiful scenery below.
In my early years of spending time horseback riding and camping at Cuivre River State Park, I learned a few lessons.
- Always put your cooler of fried chicken inside your vehicle. We learned this lesson after watching raccoons open plastic containers and enjoy our feast from our tent in the middle of the night.
- Bring wood. Each campsite in the park has a fire pit. It’s great for making s’mores and breakfast for your family and friends.
- Study up on tying horses safely for overnight. Lil’ Joe was an escape artist. I used to double halter him to prevent an escape. Here’s the best resource I found.
- Reserve your campsite. If you are a horse rider like me be sure to reserve an Equestrian campsite.
- Pack your saddlebag with your favorite beverages and snacks. It’s good to prepare. Trails, identified by color, can take a couple of hours or more.
I’ve been exploring Cuivre River State Park for the last 20 years with kids, without kids, and with a variety of my horses. Whether you have a horse or you hike, Cuivre River State Park is a great place to make memories with friends and family alike.