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Archive for the 'Texas Trails' Category
HEYNE RANCH © 2015 Lin Sutherland
Contributor: All content & pictures provided by contributor Lin Sutherland – owner of Onion Creek Ranch
in Austin, Texas. Thank you Lin!
Heyne Ranch Location: Southeast Texas, slightly south and west of Houston.
Website: None at this time.
FaceBook Link: FB page Heyne Ranch Link
Contact/Owner: Peter Heyne #713/504-3141 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Address: 10010 FM 960, Glen Flora, Texas 77443
Directions: Look for a Big sign on front of the drive. Please note, the ranch address is not exact on Google Maps. The best thing to do is Google Glen Flora. The ranch is one mile south on 960, just over the Colorado bridge, on the left. Call Peter Heyne if you have any questions or problems: 713-504-3141.
Hours: By appointment only. This is a private ranch, you need to make arrangements before showing up.
Cell Phone Service: Good.
Dogs: Dogs are allowed if well behaved and under control.
Equestrian Camping: Allowed!
Fees: Fees are subject to change, please ask the owner, Mr. Heyne, for current rates.
Day Riders: $20 per person for day riding (when not camping but only riding for the day) or $15 for day riding that is 4 hours or less.
Camping Fee: $20 per night per rig. (there are no electric hook ups yet)
Pens: $15 per horse.
Farm House Rental: $125 a night.
Ranch House: The ranch house has electricity, running water, central heat/air. This home is located in a Beautiful setting. Big cottonwood and sycamore trees overlook the 1920's farmhouse, surrounded by a large, trimmed yard. An old barn sits nearby. The house is a two bedroom one bath facility. It can sleep five (two full sized beds and a fold out couch). A new refrigerator and stove is provided. Centrally heated and air-conditioned, the house is comfortable and pleasant, with old ranch photos and books. The front porch, complete with rocking chairs, is a perfect spot for wine and conversations. Cost: $125 a night. The ranch house is rented on a limited basis when Mr. Hayne is not using it.
Bathhouse: There is a nice newly built bathhouse with running water, showers, toilets, and heat/air.
Pens – Good pipe pens (full of spring grass), two water troughs in the camping area. A hose and faucet are available for washing up. Owner requests you muck out your own area if needed.
Camping: I saw no trailer electrical hookups but understand Mr. Heyne is working on that. For now it appears to be "dry camping," but it's under a large set of deep-shade trees near the pens. You are welcome to run your generator.
Mileage: Approximately 10 miles of trail.
Map: Provided by the Ranch.
Trails/Terrain: This is a 400 acre ranch with 10 miles of trails. The 10 mile estimate is word from the owner. It seems about right. There are few gates to go through. Existing gates have horseback friendly openers. The trails were mowed when I was there. Shoes are not required. The soil is basically sandy. It's solid, soft and mostly grassy footing. There is cattle/longhorn on the property.
The River: Two river trails are gorgeous with winding trails through the trees. Big plus: Large sandy beach on the river. Owner suggests not entering the river by horseback as certain spots seem to have quick sand.
Coggins: A current Coggins is required.
Pests: BUG SPRAY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. There can be sudden gnat invasions so DO NOT FORGET your bug spray both for you and your horse. It's southeast Texas and on a river. A fly mask is also a good idea.
Description: HEYNE RANCH © 2015 Lin Sutherland
Heyne Ranch is an old private ranch in Southeast Texas that offers 10 miles of grassy, no-rock trails through scenic woods, farmland and rolling pastures. The land lies along the Colorado River and includes shaded parking, water troughs and pens. Peter Heyne, the owner, has opened the ranch to trail riders and overnight campers. He's recently built a nice new bathroom/shower house that's heated and air conditioned. The old farmhouse on the place is available for rent on a limited basis. Check with the owner for availability.
We took our two gaited horses to Heyne Ranch and it was perfect for them. The trails at the ranch are maintained by frequent mowing. We liked the trails that wind through the woods along the Colorado River and the open cantering trails through the fields where we could really move out. I also loved cantering on the smooth, long dirt road through the cultivated corn and cotton fields. Our horses are barefoot and never had a problem since rocks and tough terrain is virtually nonexistent on the ranch.
Nearby Towns: Close to two towns: the small community of Glen Flora with its Antique Emporium, and Wharton, which is loaded with trash and treasure stores, as well as a Wal-Mart and Buc-ees and a terrific Mexican food restaurant called Los Cucos Café
In Summary: I loved riding this ranch. I found I could really get up and go or just plod along and enjoy the scenery. For endurance riders, the trails do form a loop so you could do two loops with only two gates to open. There is one gas pipeline bridge you have to go under, but the owner has put in a go-around if your horse is wary of it. Our horses had no problem with it.
This trail post is courtesy of WTTA contributor
Ann Sides – Thank you Ann!
Texas Parks and Wildlife Caddo National Grasslands website link
Caddo Trail Riders Association link
Caddo Trail Riders Association Facebook page link
Location: Caddo Grasslands is about an hour and a half northeast of Dallas. When you come to Caddo Grasslands, plan on getting away from it all and enjoying some of nature's beautiful scenery and great horseback riding.
Just FYI, in case of emergency Paris, TX is the nearest large city with emergency facilities.
Latitude: 33.7372 Longitude 95.9738 If you are using Mapquest etc. type in Telephone, TX (closest town)
Ranger station at Caddo: 903-378-2103 (is NOT answered 24 hours)
Ranger headquarters of Caddo & LBJ Grasslands: 940-627-5475
Caddo Trail Riders Association: President Phil Haley 903-583-3902 and Mike Durbin 903-664-2618 email@example.com
Through Bonham: (Ann's favorite route)
Go out North Hwy 69 to Leonard.
Turn right at Hwy 78. Stay on 78 through Bonham to FM 1396.
Turn right on FM 1396 and go 9.6 miles
Turn left on FM 2029 approx 3-4 miles.
Turn right on FM 409 and go approx 2 miles. You'll see a brown sign that says Bois d'Arc Trailhead. Entrance is on the right side of the road, with a cattle guard crossing.
Mapquest will show some little FM roads that skirt around Ladonia and one after Bonham, especially on the FM around Ladonia (twisty and narrow). It is a much better drive pulling horses to stay on the bigger roads.
Equestrian Camping:
Overnight equestrian camping is allowed.
$2.00 for day riders or day visitors
$6.00 for overnight camping
*There is free day use area which has no water or bathroom
Current Coggins is required but is not usually checked. There is no ranger station at front gate.
The road in the camp is gravel and all campsites are shaded. There are approximately 20 pull through sites and 10 pull in sites. Each campsite on the outer side of the loop has a large picnic table, and either a single pole to tie horses to or a steel highline with a cross piece. The single poles are being replaced with highlines. Other amenities at the campsite include a large covered pavilion with picnic tables, a composting pit toilet, a large water trough, a horse wash rack and a mounting block for handicap riders. All campsites have frost free faucets with water available year round; however there are no showers or electrical hookups. You can tell this camp was designed by horse people, for horse people, as all facets of the campsite are horse friendly. There is day use parking down the road from the main trailhead. It is primarily used when there are large group meetings. The work on the campsite began in 2000 by a volunteer riding club, Caddo Trail Riders Association, who still maintain and improve the trails and campsites today. Their website (Caddo Trail Riders Association link) contains up-to-date maps and phone numbers of members you can check with about weather and controlled burns (more on this later).
Dogs are allowed but must remain on a leash.
Cell Phone Service:
Cell phone service is fair.
Trail Users:
This is a multi-use trail for Equestrians, hikers, hunters, and bicycles. However, due to the sandy trails there are rarely if ever bicycles on trail. Hunters typically hunt. in areas away from the trails. Trail users are required to wear orange during dear season. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trails..
There is approximately 30 miles of trails.
Trail Map:
Click the map to enlarge it. According to Caddo Trail Riders Association, trail maps are available at the campgrounds. CTRA also reports that the trails are well marked.
The terrain is sandy, heavily wooded, and hilly to flat. These are barefoot friendly trails.
When most equestrian folks hear "grasslands" in Texas they think of the Grasslands in Decatur. However, there is another grasslands area that together with the Decatur area comprises the Caddo-Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands. It is located near Honey Grove and called Caddo Grasslands. Caddo Grasslands has nearly 18,000 heavily wooded acres and three pristine lakes. It is open for hunting and fishing (following TX Parks & Wildlife seasons), camping, hiking, picnicking and horseback riding. Equestrian riders will find 30 miles of shady, sandy trails and a comfortable campsite at Bois D' Arc Trailhead. There is additional acreage near Ladonia but it has not been developed for recreational use.
Trail 1 is 11.0 miles and for years I was warned this trail was very rough. I finally rode it with some friends who had ridden it before and found it's a wonderful trail!! It had lots of up and downs which I really like. To access Trail 1, go out Trail 2 and take Trail 4. You'll cross a small road into a camping area with horse gates on both sides of the road. After about a quarter mile you'll come to another horse gate that goes out toward the road. Go out this gate and ride by the fence to the right. You'll need to cross the bridge on the highway and go a short distance to another horse gate on your right. This is not a busy highway and has good visibility. This is a long trail and it is ideal to bring along a lunch and stop at the lake overview to eat, where there is a picnic table. The 11.0 miles includes the portion of Trail 2 and Trail 4. If you desire to shorten your ride back a little, you can ride along the highway all the way back. It's pretty boring and is not maintained for horses, so be wary of holes or other hazards.
Trail 2 is the shortest trail at 3.6 miles. However, it is very scenic with a stop by the lake and a trek through a large stand of pine trees. This is a very nice trail and is relatively flat.
Trail 3 is the next longest at 6.2 miles. It is similar to Trail 1 but has more up and downs. There is a cut through on the trail to use if there's been a lot of rain and is shown on the map. There is a very sturdily made bridge on this trail that is good training for your horses.
Trail 4 is 8.9 miles. This trail is located across the highway from camp but there is good visibility at the crossings. The west side of the trail has some areas that are not shaded. On the north end of the trail is a new trail that's been recently opened, called 4b. I've been told it's the best trail there. With the weather bumping the 70s a group of us went up to Caddo Grasslands and decided to ride Trail 4 and 4b. We didn't have any trouble closing gates as we had a pro side passer ride with us, who not only side passed with ease but did so while ponying another horse!!! The road crossing went well with gates on both sides of the road. The terrain is gently rolling hills, with moderate ups and downs and most of it was through lovely forests with sandy trails. One of the really nice things about Trail 4 is if you have a group that some riders want to do a short ride and some want to do a longer ride, it's easy to split up and one group do the inner circle and the other group do the outer circle. Our group stayed together but we found some of us getting a little tired so we cut off part of Trail 4b by riding a gravel driveway, shown by the red arrows. From there it was an easy 1 mile back to camp. The trails were VERY well marked and maintained. The area shown in the red circle is across an open field and if there had been a recent rain it would have been very boggy. The trail itself was dry but one horse got off the trail and it was boggy even though there has not been rain in several weeks.
Note on controlled burns. Occasionally the National Forrest Service determines the forest is getting too dense with underbrush and they'll do a controlled burn. In a controlled burn the flames are only about a foot tall and they basically cut through small trees and bushes and clear out the undergrowth. Sometimes the trees are supported by other trees' branches and do not fall. This can be a hazard immediately after a burn; especially if it's windy. Also, as you can imagine its not real pretty after the burn. If you're planning a long stay and/or a long drive, be sure and check dates for controlled burns with the Forrest Service at Decatur (940-627-5475) or with the Caddo Riders Association.
About the contributor:
Ann Sides, WTTA's newest contributor, lives near Greenville, TX with husband, J.Paul, who is head of security and composting, 5 horses, and 3 dogs. Ann works at L-3 in Greenville and hopes to retire in a couple of years. But until then she'll keep riding and camping every weekend she gets the chance. She and J.Paul have one daughter, Lauren, son-in-law Clint, and one adorable grandchild, Ryan Moore, who live close by in Royse City. It doesn't get any better than this!!!
Website: Unknown
Face Book Page: https://www.facebook.com/
Location: 7960 County Road 3914, Athens, TX 75752 (North East Texas)
Mailing Address: Trace Trails, 8543 County Road 3914, Athens, TX 75752
Contact: (903) 258-0054, owner Billy Beeson
Email: Unknown
Directions: From the intersection of Texas Loop 7 and US 175 head northwest towards Mabank on US 175 for approximately two miles. Turn right on Co. Rd. 3918. Follow this road around a 90 degree curve to the right, then take the first left, which is Co. Rd. 3914 (you will also see signs for Tara Winery). Co. Rd. 3914 is narrow and curvy. Pass the winery on your left (it's a two story white house with large pillars and a vineyard — you can't miss it). Continue on 3914. After a curve in the road you will see a silver gate on your left — pass this gate and continue on Co. Rd. 3914. Trace Trails will be on your right and easily seen from the road. From Co. Rd. 3914 it is approximately 1.7 miles. The campground is in a large tree lined meadow. There is a wooden sign placed on two metal barrels.
Overnight Equestrian Camping: Allowed!
Fees: Fees are paid by way of the honor system. There is a metal drop box located to the left of the entrance road under some shade trees. Just drop in your payment and enjoy the trails.
$8.00 per person per day
$7.00 per person to camp overnight
Operating Hours: These trails are normally open 24/7 with some exceptions. On occasion for large events like an endurance race in which 100 or more riders will participate, the trails might be closed to those not participating in the event. So it is always best to call before you haul.
Facilities: Primitive camping grounds are located in a large tree lined meadow. There is no electricity and there are no designated campsites, so you can pick where you want to park or camp. There is one porta-potty, a few picnic tables, a fire ring, and two water faucets with metal water troughs. Water hoses were attached to the faucets but I do not know if they belonged to another visitor or were provided by the ranch. I'd suggest you bring your own water hose. There is one horse pen constructed out of 8 metal panels. The pen is not covered but is located under some shade trees. You may high tie to trees so long as you use tree savers or something like a girth to protect the trees. You may also bring portable or electric pens. On the north side of the camping area (to the left as you drive in) there are some shady places to park, otherwise you can park along the tree line or out in the open field. It is first come, first served with regard to parking and/or camping locations. The water faucets, pen, picnic tables, fire ring, and porta-potty are located to the left (or north) side of the campground under the trees.
Dogs: Dogs are allowed and may be loose so long as they are well behaved… otherwise please keep your dog on a leash. Be aware that some of the trails go near residences who have dogs, and we had two dogs try to chase after our horses. However, as soon as we turned our horses around facing the dogs they backed off.
Cell Phone Service: Cell phone service was strong and I had no problems using my Verizon cell phone.
Trail Users: Trail users consists of mostly equestrians and maybe an occasional hiker. There are no motorized vehicles or bikes on these trails.
Mileage: According to the owner, Mr. Beeson, there are more than 50 miles of trails on the 1,000 acre property. The trails are color coded.
Red Trail = 7.5 miles
White Trail = 6.5 miles
Orange Trail = 9.2 miles
Blue Trail = 11 miles
Pink Trail = 16 miles
There are multiple cut-through trails marked by yellow and green ribbons for which the mileage is unknown.
Maps: Go to the Trace Trails FaceBook page to see additional maps.
Trail Markers: The trails are well marked with colored ribbons (some colors are faded), white signs with colored arrows, and pie plates. The property fence line, telephone poles, gas line, blacktop road, and dirt road make great guides to also help you find your way around. The trails heading out of camp are fairly easy to find. Several of the trails start out north of the water troughs and others start out on the edges of the tree line. You can also go to the very south of the campground meadow to pick up the trails as well.
Additional information on trail markers provided by Ann Sides (Thanks!):
Trail marking: the ribbons are on the right side of the trail as you're leaving camp on the start of the trail as indicated on the maps. Turns are shown by three markers on the side to make the turn or by an arrow. Several competitions are held here each year including endurance rides, trail competitions with NATRAC and ACTHA and all of these folks put in LOTS of hours to keep the trails maintained and marked. Thank you all!!! Additional thanks to the Beeson family for allowing us to ride on their lovely ranch!!! And thanks to GOD for creating this lovely place and allowing us to care for it and our horses.
Terrain: The soil is sandy and mostly free of rocks; shoes/boots are not required for your horse. The sand can be deep in some areas. This is a great place to ride if there has been rain, as the sandy soil drains quickly and therefore the mud and bog dries up fast. The trails can be dusty if there has been no rain. The trails take you through wide open grassy meadows and thick forests. The terrain is mostly level or gentle rolling slopes. The Green and Yellow cut-through trails usually cut across thick woods and wind in and out of creeks and gullies providing more challenging terrain. There are more ups and downs, creek crossings, and deadfall on these cut-through trails.
Water: There are two water faucets with troughs at the campground. On the trail I saw one stock tank and a few creeks from which the horses were able to drink.
Trace Trails Description:
Trace Trails in Athens, Texas is a privately owned 1,000 acre working cattle ranch in northeast Texas. This ranch offers over 50 miles of sandy and scenic trails to enjoy with your friends, family, and horses. Dogs are allowed and may be loose so long as they are well behaved, otherwise please keep your dog on a leash. During one of our rides at the ranch a fellow equestrian had her well behaved dog tag along down the trails with us and he was having a blast. The ranch often hosts trail competitions, benefit rides, and endurance races. You are welcome to bring your own horse anytime to ride at Trace Trails, but you might want to call first to find out if there is an organized event also going on. Some of the endurance races held there can have as many as 100 riders. Ranch use fees are very affordable and everyone pays by the honor system by depositing their fees in the drop box. Overnight equestrian camping is primitive in that there are no electrical hook ups or designated camping pads.
This is a great place to camp and ride, especially since there are numerous miles of trails. The trails are diverse with flat to rolling sandy terrain, open grassy meadows, and thick forests. The yellow and green cut-through trails wind through thick forests and in and out of gullies and creeks; these were my favorite trails. The trails are well marked with colored ribbons — although some colors are faded — and white signs with colored arrows, and pie plates. The property fence line, telephone poles, gas line, blacktop road, and dirt road make great guides to also help you find your way around.
Trail Tale & Review:
Trace Trails Review, Nov 7-9, 2014 – By Contributor Ann Sides (Thanks so much Ann!)
I've probably ridden at Trace Trails in Athens 7-8 times, but I haven't ridden there for a couple of years prior to this trip and have never been brave enough to camp out without electricity!! So this trip was a welcome return back to a place where I've had some great rides. In the past we had jumped from trail to trail, never going from start to finish, and I always thought I was probably missing a lot of good trails. I was so RIGHT!!
My friend Jackie and I arrived Friday mid-day and got busy setting up camp; stringing the highline and setting up the generator. We decided to ride a portion of the red trail. It leaves out of camp on the north end, crosses a county road that is not paved, and through a gate into a large pasture. It took a team effort to open and close the gate but at least we didn't have to dismount! The trail went through an open pasture and then into the woods. The trails are sandy, wide, shady and well marked. We rode the north loop of the trail, probably about 4 miles and it was beautiful; gently rolling hills through heavy forest. There were some gentle ups and downs, and we passed by a deer stand (no one home). We stopped by a pond about halfway into the ride for the horses to rest and get a drink. We took the "scenic loop" and it was a little higher with some very nice views. The entire trail is through woods, and it was truly a delight. We were joined in the camp by a local cowboy church, Living for the Brand, and they were great campers!! They cut up a fallen tree and stacked firewood, started a fire, and invited us for supper, breakfast, and lunch!!! They were real nice folks and we enjoyed getting to know them. There were two girls with the cowboy church that were horse crazy and loved on the horses.
The 2nd day we were joined by Brenda and Henry McNair, who are some great folks that helped me start trail riding and camping. They brought their wonderful horses CJ & Sunny. CJ is a gray Appaloosa and Walker combination and Sunny is a Palomino QH. CJ is one of the steadiest trail horses I've ever been around. His only problem is that he sometimes falls asleep while he's walking!! After a wonderful breakfast of pancakes and sausage provided by the Cowboy Church we rode out on the Pink Trail from the north end. We planned to ride 2 hours so we only rode the inside loop of the Pink Trail, which is in the same area as the loop of the Red Trail that we rode on Friday. This portion of the pink Trail has very heavy woods and sandy, shaded trails. The south portion of the pink trail includes 3 miles of road riding on very lightly traveled dirt roads.
After a big lunch of hamburgers, again provided by the Cowboy Church, and lots of good visiting around the campfire, Henry & Brenda left for their home in nearby Wills Point. We decided on a short ride and left out on the south end of the Red Trail. We planned to just hop around on whatever trail took our fancy. This end of the trails has a lot of ups and downs and is very heavily wooded, but as usual well trimmed and marked. Jacki spotted a deer not far out of camp.
Trail marking: the ribbons are on the right side of the trail as you're leaving camp on the start of the trail as indicated on the maps. Turns are shown by three markers on the side to make the turn or by an arrow. Several competitions are held here each year including endurance rides, trail competitions with NATRAC and ACTHA and all of these folks put in LOTS of hours to keep the trails maintained and marked. Thank you all!!! Additional thanks to the Beeson family for allowing us to ride on their lovely ranch!!! And thanks to GOD for creating this lovely place and allowing us to care for it and our horses.
Saturday evening we were joined by Annette Griffin and her two horses, Tally, a Paint and Percheron combination, and Mister Man Griffin, (Mister for short) a Haflinger and POA combination. Annette competes in NATRAC on Tally and recently won Sweepstakes in their first year of competing together!! We were joined on Sunday morning by Julie Whitaker and a Paint horse she was trying out named Laredo; a really pretty horse with one blue eye.
We rode the Orange Trail, which starts in the south end of the meadow. It was spectacular with some good ups and downs; lovely, lovely ride. This took us way back on the ranch to places I've never been. We went through several large pastures and stopped by a nice sized pond for the horses to drink. I finally rode one trail start to finish!!!!
Saturday evening we were joined by Annette Griffin and her two horses, Tally, a Paint and Percheron combination, and Mister Man Griffin, (Mister for short) a Haflinger and POA combination. Annette competes in NATRAC on Tally and recently won Sweepstakes in their first year of competing together!! We were joined on Sunday morning by Julie Whitaker and a Paint horse she was trying out named Laredo; a really pretty horse with one blue eye.
We rode the Orange Trail, which starts in the south end of the meadow. It was spectacular with some good ups and downs; lovely, lovely ride. This took us way back on the ranch to places I've never been. We went through several large pastures and stopped by a nice sized pond for the horses to drink. I finally rode one trail start to finish!!!!
We rode the Orange Trail, which starts in the south end of the meadow. It was spectacular with some good ups and downs; lovely, lovely ride. This took us way back on the ranch to places I've never been. We went through several large pastures and stopped by a nice sized pond for the horses to drink. I finally rode one trail start to finish!!!!
Trail Tale & Review:
November 8-9th, 2014, provided by contributor Kelly Hurd
I had the opportunity to visit Trace Trails due to last minute changes in our camping plans on account of the weather. Our original destination was a muddy mess, but since Trace Trails is sandy, the water drains through the soil quickly and that means little to no mud after several days of rain. I joined my American Indian Horse riding club, NETASA, to enjoy Trace Trails during a fall weekend in November.
The leaves were starting to turn and the bright purple beauty berries were everywhere. This is a working cattle ranch so there are roaming cattle throughout and gates to open and closed as you ride through the property. During our short weekend visit to Trace Trails I ran into some old friends (Shirley & Vern) by chance, which was a pleasant surprise.
Vern and Shirley had brought their Rocky Mountain horses to the ranch and were meeting up with their riding club "Trail Gaiters and Friends." Our two clubs met together to ride some of the trails and we had a fun time. Overall it was a great weekend with cool weather for a campfire, good friends and family, good horses, super trails, and good food! I'm looking forward to riding at Trace Trails again. It is definitely worthy of a return trip.
During this trip Curtis with NETASA showed me all sides of the ranch. Since this was my first trip to Trace Trails and because we didn't always stick to one trail in particular (as it was fun to ride the cut through trails and jump around to different trails), I don't have a good description of each individual trail. If you know these trails well and can give a good description of each of the colored trails then please email the info to me and I'll add it on this page. I also invite others to share their reviews of the trails as well and I will share the information here.
Additional Pictures:
Contacts: 806/488-2227 or park information at 1-800/792-1112
Reservations: Made by phone 512/389-8900 or on line
at: http://texas.reserveworld.com/
Location: 11450 Park Road 5, Canyon, TX 79015
Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) N: 34° 59′ 04.84″
Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) W: 101° 42′ 06.51″
Directions to Park Headquarters:
South of Amarillo and 12 miles east of Canyon on State Highway 217
Link to location on Google Maps
Directions to Equestrian Trailhead: The Equestrian trailhead/campsite is located on the southwest side of the park, south of the circular turnaround. From the park entrance/headquarters, follow Park Road 5 down into the Canyon. Be cautious as there is a 10% grade for two miles as you descend to the canyon floor. At the split we kept left due to park road construction. It is about an eight mile drive from the park entrance to the equestrian site. There are a few low water crossings that will have water over the road after a heavy rain. The equestrian campsite is located behind the equestrian day use area. If hauling a larger rig you will need to be cautious when turning into the trailhead, by taking it wide or circling around in the day use area to come from the opposite direction and get a better angle for your turn from the day use area to the campsite area. Our visit in June of 2014 coincided with park road construction and bridge repairs which made for some very narrow bridge crossings when hauling a three horse living quarter trailer.
Camping: Overnight equestrian camping is allowed!
Fees (fees are subject to change, please call the park for most accurate and current fee rates):
Seniors, Texas resident age 65 and up – $3.00 a day
Adults or children ages 13 and up – $5.oo a day
Children under age 13 – free
Equestrian Campsite – $12.00 Nightly (up to eight persons per campsite)
Non Equestrian Campsites with water/electric – $24.00 Nightly
** parking fees are added on for sites with more than two vehicles, your trailer is counted as a vehicle
Horse Unloading Areas: Horses can be unloaded at the Equestrian campsite and day use area located at
the south end of the park south of the circular turn around and at the Light House Trail parking area; you
cannot park on the road.
Equestrian Trailhead – Campsite Facilities: There are 12 primitive and reserveable equestrian
campsites. These sites are not marked. The area is open and you just pick a spot to park your trailer.
It is not an overly large campsite so maneuvering larger rigs is mildly difficult depending on how many
other trailers are there. The ground is red dirt; there are no gravel or concrete pads. Some areas along
the outside brush/mesquite tree line are not level and there are some washouts in spots. There is
almost no shade.
Pens: There are four large connected pipe pens about 24 by 24 feet in the shape of a square. These
are nice sturdy pens. There are no chains or latches to secure the pen gate with, so be sure to bring
something to tie or chain the gate closed. No more than two horses are allowed in each pen. The pens
seem to be on a first come first serve basis. The pens are not covered and there is no shade. You may
also bring portable panels or tie your horses to the trailer or tie to the outside of the pipe pens. The park
asks that you do not tie your horse to trees and that you do not leave your horse unattended. You may spread
Water: A water pump/facet is located directly in front of the horse pens and a second water pump is
located in the center of the equestrian campsite area along with a water trough. A second water trough
is also located in the day use equestrian parking area. I'd recommend you bring a water hose.
Picnic areas: Two picnic areas with tables and rustic wood awnings for shade are located at opposite
sides of the equestrian campsite. Each area has a fire ring.
Bathrooms/Showers: The equestrian campsite is primitive so there is no bathroom or shower at the
campsite. However a 1/3 mile walk or drive on a slight uphill to the Mesquite Camp Area will take you
to the closest bathroom/shower location. You are not allowed to ride your horse to this area.
Park Store: This state park has a store which provides some supplies , ice, souvenirs, and it has a small
restaurant which serves hamburgers and sandwiches.
Pets: Pets are allowed if kept on a leash no more than six feet in length. Pets are not allowed in the state park buildings. You are required to pick up your pet's waste.
Pests: When the weather is warm be prepared for large biting flies. My fly spray seemed two work for about ten to fifteen minutes against these terrible critters. Some horses had less of a reaction to the bites than others. I could actually see the fly dig its awful head deep into my horse's flesh. Angel was one of the horses that had a reaction to the bites. She had swollen welts which you can see in some of the pictures of her. I really regretted not having a fly sheet for her and I will not return to this location again during warm weather without one.
Cell Phone Coverage: There is no cell phone coverage on the canyon floor. We had to drive back up out of the canyon to the park entrance for cell phone service.
Mileage: The park offers approximately 16-18 miles of designated equestrian trails. Trail riders are allowed only on the following trails – Equestrian Trail, Juniper Cliffside Trail, and the Lighthouse Trail.
Trail Users: The trails are shared by hikers, bikers, and equestrians. Equestrians are restricted to the Juniper Cliffside, Lighthouse, and Equestrian trails only.
Recommended Reading:
Trails & Tales of Palo Duro Canyon State Park
by Richard Lamaster
Trail Markers: The Juniper Cliffside and Lighthouse trail (north trails) are decently marked but
the Equestrian Trail and its branches (south trails) are not marked.Finding the trailheads leading out of the
campsite was a challenge as there were no signs in the equestrian campsite to direct us to where the trails begin.
Terrain: The ground consists of red gritty caliche, clay, and sandstone dirt that glitters in the sun. It is
rough and rocky in many areas of the park. Shoes/boots are recommended. There is little to no shade
along the trails. The wind can kick up a lot of red dirt which manages to get everywhere. I was cleaning red dust
out of my LQ trailer for a while after returning home from our trip.
The Trails:
North Trails
The north trails (Juniper Cliffside and Lighthouse Trails) are a little less challenging and
decently marked with milder ups and downs.
From the equestrian campsite the Juniper Cliffside Trail runs north approximately three miles and then
connects to Lighthouse Trail and is decently marked once you find it from the campsite. To get on this
trail leaving from the equestrian campsite go north to the equestrian day use area so that you are facing
the main park road, head left (northwest) from where the water trough is in the day use area and follow
the unmarked trail. From there you will come to the creek and make a slight right following the creek.
The creek will be on your left. From there you turn left before hitting the main road and cross the creek
near the main road, or if the bridge is completed on the main road you might be able to ride over the
bridge. During our visit in June of 2014 the bridge and main road was under construction here. After
crossing the creek stay to the left of the road and you will see the Juniper Cliffside trail sign which when
coming from the equestrian campsite goes northwest and is parallel to the main park road. This route
will eventually connect to Lighthouse Trail.
(See pictures below for an idea of how to get to the Juniper Cliffside trailhead from the equestrian campground and
day use area).
Once you cross the creek (which has gentle sloping banks but can also be pretty boggy after a heavy rain) there
will be no more watering opportunities unless a heavy rain recently poured down on the park. This trail is marked
with wooden signs and blue metal steaks with "JC" and the mileage written on them.
Juniper Cliffside Trail starts out grassy with lots of cedar and mesquite trees. However, the grass soon
disappears and there is very little to no shade for the remainder of the trail. Juniper Cliffside trail
consists of red clay, sand, and rocky patches. This one track trail weaves through hills along normally
dry creek beds and gullies. On Juniper Cliffside there are two wooden bridges which appear to be made
for hikers and not horses. I would not recommend riding over these bridges. The first bridge has a very easy
detour, just ride beside it and through the shallow dry creek. The second bridge is over a deep gully and requires
a short detour to the main park road to skirt around it.
Once you get around this bridge you will ride by False Cave which is on the left. This is a high traffic area with
lots of little trails from the road to the cave. To stay on the main trail and follow the wooden posts. You will
pass the "Red's Rock" sign, and you will pass other trails to your left that says no horses allowed and you will
pass the Capitol Peak Mountain Bike Trail sign on your left. In this area Juniper Cliffside runs very close to the
road. Juniper Cliffside trail ends or runs into an open area. This is the parking area for Lighthouse
Trail. Ride to your left on the edge of this parking area and you will see the sign for Lighthouse
trail, which also has a white mailbox with red writing that says "Take One."
Lighthouse Trail is wider and provides no shade. This is a one way trail that is almost three miles,
making about a six mile round trip. Along this trail there are some wooden benches with wood awnings
for shade to rest if needed. Lighthouse trail is also more popular with hikers and bikers, most likely
because of the amazing views. Because I rode this trail on a very early Monday morning I was fortunate
not run into many other trail users.
My recommendation is not to miss this trail; it is too gorgeous not to see. To get to Lighthouse Trail you will
either have to ride from the equestrian campsite up Juniper Cliffside Trail which is about three miles or you can
trailer to the day use Lighthouse Trail parking area. You will see several trail junctions but stay on the main
trail. Trail markers are wooden signs and bright green metal stakes marked with an "L" and the mileage.
Along this trail you will have amazing views of Capital Peak , Lighthouse, other rock formations, and the canyon.
You can even ride right up to the base of Capital Peak and see your shadow on this monumental mass of exposed
sedimentary rock. The trail dead ends into a shady area which has a picnic table and bike rack. From here a narrow
hiking only trail that has several rocks across where it starts winds up to the Lighthouse formation. Regulars
informed me they have left their horses tied here so they could hike up to Lighthouse.
I'd recommend if you want to do this to have one volunteer with you to stay behind with the horses. I did not get
to hike up this trail as I did not want to leave my horse tied up unattended. Park regulations also request that
you do not leave your horse unattended. So plan ahead and bring someone to look after the horses if you want to
explore this hiking trail and see Lighthouse up close.
Link to state park handout about the Light House Trail
South Trails
The terrain is fairly challenging along the Equestrian Trail south of the campsite. This trail opens
up to lots of additional unmarked branches and loops. You will have a few creek crossing to gain access
to additional trails. The creek in this part of the park is narrow and has steep banks for several of the
crossings, so it can be a challenge. During our visit it had just rained so it was also boggy. Be prepared
for some steep grades and rocky areas here. However, once you cross the creek and go through the hills
it opens up into a lovely flat meadow quite different from the rest of the park terrain.
To get to these trails from the equestrian use area once you come to the creek go left/southeast with
the creek on your right. This will take you behind the horse pens and into a large area of unmarked
trails to explore, labeled as the Equestrian Trail on the maps, but there are no trail signs. You can also
get to these south trails by riding out of the campsite between the picnic area and the horse pens. This
area starts out very hilly. There are no trail markers in this area either. You will eventually also have
to find a safe place to cross the creek. If you get squeezed between the beautiful red canyon wall and
the creek on a trail which continues to become narrower and washed out then back track to find your
creek crossing. This area is gorgeous but I could not find a safe creek crossing and had to back track.
Fortunately riders who frequent these trails showed me where to cross.
Do not ride in this area if there is a chance of stormy weather, as the meadow and creeks can quickly flood during
a storm. There are indian pictographs in the hills and large rock formations you can use as landmarks. This
southeast side of the park is also where the Battle of Palo Duro occurred.
Trail Tale:
Riding at the Grand Canyon is a dream of mine and on my bucket list of places to see from between
my American Indian Horse's black tipped ears. This past June, we hauled to the next best location, the
"Grand Canyon of Texas," Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Palo Duro is the second largest state park in
Texas and the second largest canyon in the United States. Encompassing over eighteen thousand acres,
the park is 120 miles long and 800 feet deep. It is an eyeful of brilliant shimmering colors and geologic
wonders to behold; a stark contrast to the surrounding Llano Estacado. Entering Palo Duro Canyon for
the first time is a shocking experience of converging landscapes. As you easily cruise through the flat
treeless high Texas plains, also known as the Llano Estacado, then suddenly you find yourself descending
down a 10% grade from the canyon rim trying hard to watch the precarious road while your eyes tempt
you to sneak glances of the colorful canyon walls. Imagine the sheer force of water, Praire Dog Town
Fork of the Red River to be exact; creating such artistry out of what once was a little gully.
The name "Palo Duro" is Spanish for hard wood, which Native Americans used to make arrows from
Juniper tree branches in the canyon. The park's history was a big draw for our little riding club (NETASA)
of Spanish Mustang/American Indian Horse enthusiasts. Arriving on a full moon was carefully planned
in hopes of witnessing the legend of Indian Horse spirits running free through their canyon home on
moonlit nights. These mustangs were massacred in the Red River War. Over one thousand Southern
Plains Indian mounts were shot dead by order of Colonel Ranald Mackenzie of the Fourth U. S. Cavalry
after the battle of Palo Duro Canyon in September of 1874. Our full moon arrival also happened to land
on Friday the 13th.
On this evening the skies turned a vicious red and ominous clouds hid all celestial
bodies after we settled in at the Canyon's floor. We saw no full moon that night. Unfortunately, our
friends were riddled with bad luck; flat tires, a fender bender, and a distraught U joint on their journey
from east Texas. To top it off, as they descended into the stormy canyon their trailer awning was
partially ripped off by strong winds. The night was full of lightening, thunder, and rain. My thoughts of
being on the canyon floor during a storm were a little unnerving. In the early morning hours the weather
cleared and a full moon beamed proudly just above the canyon's rim. The moon's glow was true and full
for all to see the remainder of our stay. During the nights at Palo Duro, I heard a frightening rush of wind
pouring down from the rim and crashing into the canyon walls creating an eerie sound, unlike I've ever
heard. Could it be the Indian Horse spirits or was it just the wind?
Saturday morning after being treated to a hearty breakfast of pancakes and sausage we were ready
to hit the trails despite the slippery red mud from the previous night's rain. Temperatures were
uncharacteristically low for the month of June due to the blessed rain. Finding the trails leading out
of camp was a bit tricky as there are no markers or signage from the equestrian area. Our horses
were fresh and ready to get moving due to the abnormal crisp air and were frustrated with our lack of
direction. We soon learned that in order to get anywhere, a creek crossing was inevitable. The hard rains
made this normally simple task a challenge as the creek banks consisted of thick mud. I dismounted
and trudged through the mud to find a safe crossing. During our stay conditions improved and our sure
footed American Indian Horses prevailed. That first day we explored Juniper Cliffside trail which runs
north from camp along Red Mesa.
On Sunday morning I had the pleasure of tagging along with Palo Duro regulars, Chris and Christie
Shippy, who showed me the rugged unmarked southwest trails of "The Equestrian Trail". We rode
through the hills and up to Cactus Rock, which is one huge specimen of a rock with a head of cactus.
They took me near Tub Springs to see faded Native American Pictographs which were almost hidden
in the shadows along the bottom of a large boulder. Near the end of our ride we rode to a grass filled
meadow which the horses truly enjoyed. Christie is also one of the talented wranglers in "TEXAS", an
outdoor musical production in Pioneer Theater. I'd recommend making time to see this show while
visiting. The outdoor theater with its natural 600 foot canyon wall is what makes all the visual effects
a great success. That night we watched Christie in the spot light gallop her horse down the canyon
wall with ease while carrying the Texas Flag. Be prepared for heart pumping canon fire and brilliant
Christie's family also helped improve one of the creek crossings and helped out one of our NETASA
members who had a trailer problem. Also camping in the park was Doug and Claudia Sloan. Doug is
an animal wrangler and stuntman who has worked on over 40 films. A better group of fellow campers
would have been hard to come by.
My favorite ride was on Monday morning. Everyone was packing up to head home. Fortunately, I was
able to get a few extra vacation days which meant we had one more full day at the park! At dawn, Angel
and I headed out solo up Juniper Cliff to Lighthouse Trail. The sun bathed, Capital Peak and Lighthouse
rock formations as the moon still hung translucent in the blue sky. Angel and I shared the trail with
the park's natural inhabitants; only until our ride back to camp did we bump into a few park visitors. I
believe Angel enjoyed the peaceful ride and scenery as much as I did. I felt a strong connection with her
as we enjoyed our freedom on the trail. Riding during the magic hours of dawn brilliantly highlighted the
canyon as sun rays projected onto colorful million year old layers of geological history.
Angel and I returned in time to say good bye to our friends before they began their journey home. That
hot afternoon I took our dog Eva to explore False Cave and play in the creek. Chris relocated the trailer
to the best spot in camp and we had the entire place to ourselves. I took Angel out for one last ride
to explore the nearby south Equestrian Trail. Chris and our dog LB tagged along for a while but then
turned back at the creek crossing.
Angel hopped over the narrow steep banked creek and we followed it down to a dead end. This side of the stream came
to a red canyon wall and we either had to cross once more or head back. It was peacefully quiet here and a thick
grove of mesquite and oak trees lined the canyon wall. A strange feeling came over me as Angel grassed by the
creek. The sun was setting and it was time to head back. Angel became full of energy and at every break in the
trail she opted to try and take the route which lead back to the canyon wall instead of our campsite. I wanted to
explore more as well but we could not be out alone on unknown trails in the dark. It seemed something was really pulling
Angel back down the trail. At every turn I had to give a little extra push with my aids to keep Angel back on track
to camp. I could not help but wonder if she was feeling the spirits of her ancestors and was that why I also had
such as strange stirred up feeling inside. Later I learned we were very near the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon
which took place on the southeast end of the park.
Palo Duro Canyon offers approximately 16-18 miles of designated equestrian trails. Trail riders are
allowed only on the following trails – Equestrian Trail, Juniper Cliffside Trail, and the Lighthouse Trail.
All of the trails are spectacular in regards to scenery. Although the campsite is primitive and the biting
summer flies are persistent, don't miss an opportunity to visit Palo Duro Canyon, as the scenery far
outweighs any small annoyances.
Lajitas Equestrian Center #432/424-5000 (x5170)
Maverick Ranch RV Park #432/424-5180
Lajitas Golf Resort – firstname.lastname@example.com
Lajitas Equestrian Center – email@example.com
Maverick Ranch RV Park – email@example.com
Lajitas, TX –off of Main Street / FM 170 – this is a small town so you can't miss it. The Equestrian center is on the south side of the road and the RV park is on the north side of the road.
Lajitas is approximately 100 miles south of Alpine, TX. From Alpine follow TX 118 South about 80 miles into the Study Butte / Terlingua junction. Turn right on FM 170 and continue 14 miles into Lajitas. You will first see the Equestrian Center on your left (look for the large sign and white fences) and the RV park will be next on the right (before the cemetery), and then the resort is on your left.
You can board your horses at the Lajitas Equestrian Center and camp overnight at the Maverick RV Park or stay at the Lajitas Resort – all facilities are a part of the Lajitas Golf Resort.
For the Horses:
Lajitas Equestrian Center offers boarding to visitors who wish to bring their own horses to ride the trails of Lajitas or ride in Big Bend Ranch State Park. You can board your horse in the barn which offers 12×12 pipe stalls or if space allows you can board your horse in one of their paddocks. The barn is covered, has ceiling fans, and is open on all four sides. The stalls have rubber mats and metal hay racks hanging on the pipe panels. The barn also has wash racks, a tack room, a bathroom, and an office. Boarders can also make use of the large covered arena (the arena is not lighted) and covered round pen. There is a staff residence at the Equestrian Center which means a staff member is present at the center almost 24 hours a day and they will contact you if there are any concerns about your horse. One of the horses in our group was sun bathing in his stall but staff were concerned that he was possibly colicy – they could not reach us by phone due to the poor cell phone service so the manager, Mark Dial, drove over to our campsite and tracked down the owner. She explained that her horse normally likes to nap during that time of day but to be safe we checked on him and all was fine. It is a good feeling to board your horse at a facility that truly watches out for the horse's welfare! I was thoroughly impressed. There are extra fees for shavings. You can clean your own stall or pay extra to have staff clean the stall. Next time I visit I'll pay extra to have my stall cleaned as there was not enough wheel barrows or manure containers which made the job difficult. That is my only complaint about the facility –hopefully they will purchase more wheel barrows. Also be prepared to fill out several forms and releases at arrival when planning to keep your horse here, you might ask ahead of time to have these forms e-mailed over. After a long haul, the last thing you want to deal with is paperwork.
For the People:
You and yours can either camp in your LQ trailer, RV, or tent at the Maverick Ranch RV Park or you can live it up and stay at the Lajitas Resort. Please see the website for details about the resort rooms, as I did not stay there, but I did explore the resort grounds and found them to be beautiful. We stayed at the RV park. The RV park has 30 & 50 AMP / water / septic hookups. You can bring your dogs with you to the RV Park but they must remain on leash. The park has a nice view, especially if you are in the sites furthest to the back towards the east. There is no shade in this RV park. Some sites allow campfires. The community center offers guests a spacious air conditioned / heated area to eat, watch movies, use the restroom, take a long hot shower, or wash your clothes. Behind the club house is a patio and swimming pool. The RV park advertises internet access, Wi-Fi, and cable. At the camp site we occupied, #27, we were unable to obtain these amenities, however, Wi-Fi and internet access was slow but accessible at the community center. Most of the RV sites are pull throughs and spacious, making it easy to park a large rig.
Pets are allowed at the RV park but must be kept on leash. Unknown if pets are allowed at the resort.
Cell Phone Coverage:
Very poor to none depending on where you are in the RV park or at the Equestrian Center. On the trail cell phone coverage is either non-existent or extremely poor.
Fees (subject to change, please call for the most up to date rates):
Equestrian Center – $15 a night per stall or $20 a night per paddock – extra charges for using the center's shavings and having staff clean out your stall. $150 a day for a guide/wrangler to show you the trails.
Maverick Ranch RV Park – $39 a night for hookups ($35 a night if you are a state employee, AAA, AARP, or Sam's Club member).
Big Bend Ranch State Park / Barton Warnock Visitor Center – $5 entrance fee & $2 equestrian use fee. If you plan on riding from the Equestrian Center into Big Bend State Park, first check in at the Barton Warnock Visitor Center to show proof of Coggins and pay your state park use fees. We drove over the day before riding into the park to take care of our fees and obtain an entrance permit. You can also get maps, trail advise, hats, t-shirts, etc… at the visitor center.
Big Bend National Park – I was told by the Lajitas Equestrian Center staff that you can ride into the national park from the equestrian center, however, riding is not allowed there and they said you can be ticketed for this. I called BBNP – 432/477-2251 – wait for your extension options and then press #3 to hear a long recorded message about pets and livestock. If you can get through the pet section of this recording you will hear them say horses are allowed in certain areas of the National Park. I am sure you will have to check in first and pay fees before riding into the park. The check in center is most likely not very close to the Lajitas Equestrian Center. Please call the National Park for details. I imagine what the staff is referring to is if you ride into the park without a permit you could be ticketed – also horses are not allowed in all areas of the National Park. I have not taken horses into the National Park myself so I have no firsthand information on Big Bend National Park. www. nps.gov/bibe
There is no need to trailer out from the Equestrian Center when you can just ride out the front gate. From the Equestrian Center you can easily ride your horse just half a mile to get into Big Bend Ranch State Park accessing miles and miles of trails or you can ride the trails in Lajitas (Lajitas Golf Resort Trail System) which offers approximately 20 miles of trails.
Lajitas Trails –
BBRSP Trails –
There are several different maps available at the Barton Warnock Center. The map I found most useful is the Big Bend State Park Discovery Map which is about $2. I also bought the Big Bend Biking Guide for $2 which I found useful for trail riding. Here is a link to one of the basic park maps: Big Bend Ranch State Park Map
Trail Markers:
Lajitas Golf Resort Trail System is mainly marked by numbers. The trail markers are infrequent.
Big Bend Ranch State Park (BBRSP) is mostly marked infrequently with wooden or metal signs.
In this region of Texas the ground surface is mostly rocky with some sandy areas mostly found in dry creek beds. Shoes or boots for your horse is highly recommended. The trail difficulty level can vary from easy flat jeep roads to extremely rugged single track trails. Water sources can be scarce as well, so keep this in mind when planning out your route.
Pack plenty of water for yourself and if possible some for your horse as well. You can carry a great deal of water in a hydration backpack such as a Camelback or Geigerrig. You may also want to bring area maps, and a collapsible bucket to water your horse with. Due to the remoteness of the land I'd also recommend a dual human/horse first aid kit, rain jacket, hat and/or helmet, flash light, matches, knife, hoof pick, sunblock, and extra food/snacks. I also brought an external charged battery for my i-phone. Cell phone service is poor to non-existent but in a few high areas you can get spotty service plus I had maps down loaded on my iHikeGPS i-phone application that I could access through satellite without cell phone service. Due to the rugged terrain it would also be a good idea to bring an extra horse boot to use if a shoe comes off or if you are using boots on your horse, one could easily become damaged.
Trail Users:
The trails in this area are shared by hikers, off road bicyclists, and equestrians. Motorized vehicles are also allowed in some areas such as the two track jeep trails.
Description / Trail Tale:
Captivating rugged landscapes called me back to ring in a second New Year in Big Bend country. I brought in 2013 by exploring the Big Bend Trails in Big Bend Ranch State Park (BBRSP) at the centrally located Sauceda Headquarters and Bunkhouse. New Year's 2014 trail riding adventure brought me back to this desolate South Texas land eager to explore remote and rugged territories aboard my sure footed Spanish Mustang/American Indian Horse, Angel. Ringing in the New Year in Big Bend is becoming a tradition for me.
This year we went to Lajitas, boarding our horses at the Lajitas Equestrian Center and camping at the Maverick Ranch RV Park. Lajitas provides access to their Golf Resort Trail System and to the south entrance of Big Bend Ranch State Park. Our small group consisted of myself, my husband, and three of my riding buddies; Carol with her Appaloosa Bug, Beth with her Tennessee Walker Patience, and Haley with her paint Jake. Haley and Beth arrived a day ahead of us and were able to explore the local Lajitas Golf Resort Trail System. The following day they took us out on these trails and I was surprised how many trails branch out of town. This trail system has approximately 20 miles worth of trails, some of which are dirt roads while others are rugged and offer spectacular views. There is no charge for riding this trail system on your own horse. The trail markers are infrequent and if unfamiliar with the area it would not be hard to get turned around. Two days of our stay consisted of exploring this trail system. I did not get to ride each one of the trails, but out of what I did ride my favorite was #5 which climbs up a mesa and follows along the top ridge line providing an amazing view. As far as wildlife goes we did spot what appeared to be big cat tracks, saw a tarantula crossing a gravel road, spotted hawks, mountain goats, and saw signs of Javalinas. The oddest sight was stumbling onto the green of the Lajitas golf course while riding amongst cacti in desert terrain. I could not help but wonder what an amazing amount of water it must take to maintain the turf… an out of place sight no doubt. The Lajitas Equestrian Center has a string of trail horses so if you don't have your own horse you can still go on a trail ride in this area. They also put on Stargazer Mesa Dinners and overnight rides. Their horses were in good condition and looked to be well cared for. The manager of the center and all "cowboy" activities, Mark Dial, is a knowledgeable equestrian with a strong back ground in AERC, USEF, and also worked as an equine therapist and chiropractor.
On New Year's Eve we celebrated with dinner at La Kiva in Terlingua and enjoyed live music by The Fabulous Vortexans. The food and music was great and the place packed. The drive from Lajitas to Terlingua is not bad. Beth and Haley opted to try the Lajitas Resort New Year's Eve dinner, steak and shrimp, a bit pricy for us but my friends reported it was well worth it as the food and service was great. On our way home Chris and I were sure we had spotted several unidentified flying objects. Bright orange glowing orbs were slowly ascending into space. I thought maybe they were the Marfa lights. However, when driving into the RV park we got a good laugh after discovering the beautiful floating objects were sky lanterns launched to bring in the New Year by another group of RV visitors. What a sight they were, I'd never seen them before. We did not stay out too late as our big ride into the state park was planned for New Year's Day.
On New Year's day we planned a trip into Big Bend Ranch State Park and booked a wrangler from the Equestrian Center to guide us. We got lucky to have the manager, Mark Dial, as our wrangler for the day. Mark led us from the Equestrian center into the state park which was an easy half mile ride. From there he took us on a twenty mile round trip journey from the East Contrabando Trailhead to the Whit-Roy Mine Ruins. The day was beautifully clear and started out in the chilly mid-30s but quickly climbed up to a warm mid-70s in the afternoon. We peeled the layers off and the horses were sweaty beneath their furry thick winter hair. There is little to no shade in this land full of cacti, creosote, ocotillo, and sotol. Trees are few and far between in this section of the state park. Mark shared some of the park's history as we rode along, to include the Wax Factory Laccolith which used Candelilla plants to make wax and old quicksilver (also known as mercury or cinnabar) mines such as the Whit-Roy Mine.
The Whit-Roy mine ruins served as a perfect resting spot. Most of this area consisted of old mine ruins and housing for the miners and their families. A water trough in the corner of the corral had clean water which the horses were eager to gulp down; this was the first and only water for the horses on our trip in the state park. The creek beds were all dry. The Whit Roy dining hall has been restored along with the outhouse and corral. The quicksilver boom basically dried up in the 1960s and most of the mines were closed. Be sure to stay clear of the actual mine sites, we observed these from a distance, as they are great habitats for rattlers and the ground near the mine is unstable and dangerous.
While we finished our packed lunches under the shade of the old dinning hall's front porch ramada, our horses rehydrated and had a nice rest.
Before leaving, Haley hopped off Jake to check out one of the old living quarter mine ruins but Jake wanted to see too, so he poked his head into the doorway.
We concluded our Whit-Roy exploring; it was time to head back. After mounting up I took another long look at the old mining town and just a bit further out I saw the huge Wax Factory Laccolith rising out of the land like some crazy foreign object. The most impressive site for me is the Big Bend country itself, God's unique South Texas creation, nothing is comparable. It is a harsh rugged land for miles and miles, beautifully vast and wild.
We set aside a day to drive along the famously beautiful FM 170, also known as El Camino Del Rio. Be prepared to make several stops and have your camera ready to capture roadside photo worthy vistas, such as La Cuesta (The Hill). Don't expect to travel fast, as the FM 170 fifty mile stretch of curves between Lajitas and Presidio has some of the steepest paved grades in Texas, La Cuesta is a 15% grade – I do not recommend this route for hauling horses. La Cuesta is approximately 12 miles west of Lajitas.
For fans of the Lonesome Dove saga, don't miss seeing the Contrabando movie set off El Camino Del Rio where scenes from Streets of Larado and Dead Man's Walk where shot. The eye catching sets sit just off the Rio Grande. Right off FM 170 about half way between Presidio and Lajitas is also Closed Canyon, the hike entrance is just a few minutes' walk from the road and leads into a 15 foot wide slot Canyon with 150 foot high walls. The Canyon eventually leads into the Rio Grande, but most people turn around before that due to steep drop offs and dangerous terrain. We did not do this hike but I heard the hike to get into the Canyon is easy and the view is worth the effort… next time.
Other Activities in Lajitas outside of horseback riding include, golfing, stargazing, hiking, biking, exploring, fishing, rafting the Rio Grande, being pampered at the resort, etc….. There is plenty to do in this area of Texas, above is just a small list of possibilities. I'm looking forward to 2015 New Year's adventures and expect to be back in Big Bend Country to ring in 2015.
More Pictures!
Horse Facilities:
Additional pictures can be seen on WTTA's Lajitas Facebook album:


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1. Vacuum conveyor or Powder suction machine: Pharmaceutical, plastic, chemical, chemical fiber, food industry;
2. Thermal oil heater: printing and dyeing industry, paper-making, energy, petrochemical, spinning, printing and dyeing;
3. Gas heater for pipe mounting: aerospace, meltblown nonwovens, membrane, chemical industry, electrostatic spraying, science lab, greenhouse heating;
4. Cleaning calciner: plastic die, plastic mold, distribution board, spinneret, filter, filter rods.
Sunco Machinery service:
1. Pre-sale service:
1) Communicate with customers, understand customer's needs;
2) Provide professional consulting services;
2. Sale service:
1) Help customers select the product patiently, explain how to use the product;
2) Provide a list of standards for the design, manufacture, assembly, installation, commissioning, acceptance, testing, operation and maintenance of equipment to the buyer;
3) Provide drawings.
3. After-sales service:
1) Responsible for installation and commissioning;
2) Provide maintenance and repair service.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The below areas have coverage of EVDO (2.4mbps) / BTS in Banglore.
- BTM Layout Exchange
- City Exchange, Near Market
- Electronic City
- HSR Layout Exchange
- Kengeri
- KR Puram Exchange
- Kormangala Exchange
- Malleshwaram
Lets see how I started using this device on my Linux distribution (You can follow the same steps to configure this device on any Linux distribution) :
Device : [b]ZTE EV-DO AC8700 800M[/b]
Product Vendor : Qualcomm, Inc.
1) Insert the EvDO device into USB port
2) Check whether the device is getting detected on your system or not. You can issue the following command in console :
#sudo tail -f
BSNL has taken another good initiative in bringing 3G to India. BSNL is the first operator in India to launch 3G service under the EVDO technology developed by QUALCOMM. A subscriber can get mobile internet @ blazing 2.4mbps speeds for Rs. 550(NOW 650 for new users)/month. Isnt that awesome ?
About the modem. Its a matchbox size/pendrive size small usb modem thats supplied for evdo connections. Here
This is a sample application form which i obtained from the
BSNL Central Exchange, LIC Building
Trivandrum, Kerala
It shows the pricing and split ups. You get the instrument as soon as you complete the form and payment.


text:
Just when you thought you had had the best day forwildlife the day before - granted it was the first day with no yardstick for comparison - along comes another one to challenge the notion. The second of the two full days in the Andasibe area was planned to be a morning at Mantadia. This is a huge reserve, dwarfing Andasibe by many fold. It is also more difficult to see the wildlife here, due to the size and spread of the groups. The drive from Andasibe takes well over an hour, due in whole to the very rough road linking the two. We were lucky to be in a 4x4, which soaked up some of the ruts. When we arrived at the entrance, there were a couple of mini buses pulled up alongside deep mud with a job on of turning. The "facilities" are also interesting, consisting of no more than a hole in the wall for a toilet surrounded by three walls and a roof. No door of course.
There are some well laid out tracks to follow from here, but as with yesterday, some of the wildlife had to be searched for off piste. The forest is fairly thick, but not impenetrable, which leads to some interesting detours. Things started well, after finally pinning down a Cuckoo-roller through a window in the canopy, and a Tylas Vanga while waiting for the guide to return from searching for a nightjar. Thus led to a small climb and the reward of a small group of Common Brown Lemurs. They were unperturbed by our presence, feeding peacefully on the trees in front of us.
We descended back down to the main track, with the guide hoping for a glimpse of Sifakas. These are also quite difficult to track down, but progress was good with various good birds in the menu. A Pygmy Kingfisher was at eye height for some time over the main track, and a short diversion found a stunning Blue Coua. The only real bird party we came across was predictably led by White-eyes, but added Paradise-flycatchers and a couple of Nuthatch Vangas which had been missed yesterday. A white male Paradise-flycatcher was seen much later in the morning. Before reaching an open track and direct sunlight, a small group of Lesser Vasa Parrots was generally very approachable. The open track passed almost hidden Brush Warblers in the undergrowth, and ended at a small pool, which had a pair of Madagascar Grebes at the rear. A single Common Brown Lemur was in trees to the side, and Madagascar Spine-tailed Swifts and single Madagascar Bee-eater over head.
Returning to the forest was a brilliant move. We should have been heading for the vehicle by now, but we then came across another guide who had seen Sifaka further down the tracks. Passing a Blue Vanga on the way, we went up smaller tracks and were lucky enough to find the small group of 8 Diademed Sifakas. We were the only observers in the half an hour or so that we followed them in the forest, even coming across our first few leaches. A dose of 50% deet soon sorted them out! The Sifakas entertained throughout, including a very young baby trying its climbing skills. They were often either just above us or only metres away. A real treat.
The return to the vehicle found a few Magpie Robins, a Long-billed Bernieria, and finally a Madagascar Cuckoo which could be located finally. They had been calling regularly throughout the trek, and only poked out of the canopy this once. When near the entrance, the guide spotted a Fosa just off the track. A little too quick for me at the back, but seen briefly by my wife. She now has the stick to beat me with!


text:
Amidst the beats of dhols and the nagadas the mother arrives. The eyes which till now were waiting desperately for her arrival, is filled with joy. The goddess arrives victorious. The conch is blown and the ladies perform "ulu dhyoni" in unison.
The sight of mother on lion with furious eyes, ten heads holding weapons stabbing the mahisasura is a sight to watch. My heart starts pounding hard, I am sure every heart does. Standing in front of the Devi, tears seem to fill my eyes and I wonder why since childhood we have been taught to pray. Pray to God for giving us strength. We were told- if you ask sincerely God never denies help. But a question kept teasing my mind. Hasn't God made us self-sufficient to take care of ourselves? Definitely there is a super power. Miracles do happen. But why consider ourselves weak.
This little girl from an orphanage in Rourkela wasn't weak for sure. She used to take up the responsibility of several others. But when she tried raising her voices against a senior person molesting her, she was chained. Chained to the same person who molested her. This incident dates back sometime around where we witnessed the "Nirbhaya case."
Go on and call me a feminist but there is one more point to make here. Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh came together to empower the Goddess with weapons and wisdom, when they together couldn't curb evil. This puja let it be a message for all men and women, women need not be protected. They need to be empowered.
This puja is special for us. Our ancestors conveyed a simple thought through symbols. But it depends on us how we decipher these symbols - cry for help in front of the almighty or take the message, they wished to convey.
- Rohini Naishadham
- Rohini Naishadham


text:
CE approved forward and back function electric wheelchair Handcycle / E-Handcycle
- Battery capacity
- 36v 8.8ah China cells
- 36v 8.8ah Samsung cells
- 36v 10.4ah Samsung cells
- Wholesale Price:
Quantity Price 50+ $468.16 100+ $441.56
Item specifics
Forward and back function electric wheelchair Handcycle / E-Handcycle
Material of Frame : Alloy Aluminum
Handlebar: Alloy, Adjustable ,default is straight, Bent type can be optional Construction: Alloy suspension connection , Quick release design ends to wheelchair easy handling, can suit almost all types wheelchairs universally.
Motor: brushless hub motor, 250w (200w is available)
Battery : 36V10.4Ah KOREA Samsung 2.6F Cell Lithium battery
Charger: 42v 2A 50/60HZ, 110V~240V A/C input
Charging time: 4~6 Hour
Display: LCD display
Wheel: 12" X 2.125 road tire, Alloy rim, 13g Stainless steel spoke
Brake : double side disc brake
Throttle : twisting hand throttle ,with 5 LED light power indicator
Reverse Gear: Default,N/A. can be added according to customer's request
Max. speed: 15km/h
Driving range : 55km depend on the battery capacity/road condition/driver weight & driving habit.
Front light: LED front light, can be with Horn intergrated.
Quality warranty period: 2‐year for framework& battery, rest 1 year. Production leadtime, 15~ 25 days, sample could arrange in 7 working days
Packing Size: paper carton, 1pcs/ctn, 97x18x43 cm, 0.075CBM N.W./G.W. : 15KG/18KG
Conveyance: 390PCS/20'GP, 936PCS/40'HQ


text:
Housing First programs prioritize highly vulnerable people with a serious mental illness who are coming out of extremely stressful circumstances. Considering these factors, it's expected that case managers will encounter some participants who experience psychosis. Psychosis refers to the presence of psychiatric symptoms involving a loss of contact with reality. These symptoms are the defining features of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. But, these symptoms can be present for other reasons including: a mood disorder (most commonly bipolar disorder but also depression); substance use (e.g. hallucinogens or alcohol withdrawal); a physiological condition (e.g. head injury or migraines): or even just extreme deprivation caused by a lack of sleep, food, or water. Symptoms of psychosis include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thoughts or behaviors including becoming catatonic, and negative symptoms (decreased motivation, limited emotional expressions, and decreased interest in pleasurable activities or social interaction).
It's important to distinguish between delusions and hallucinations. Delusions are fixed false beliefs that may include the belief that a person has special powers (grandiose) or that someone is controlling or inserting thoughts into someone's mind. Sometimes it can be hard to identify whether something is delusional because there may be degrees of truth. For instance, people may experience persecutory delusions (a belief that they are going to be harmed or harassed). In reality, many people we work with regularly encounter harassment and abuse related to their mental illness, lack of money, housing status, race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Hallucinations are sensory experiences that occur without an external stimulus or outside input. A person may hear, see, smell, taste, or feel something that isn't actually there. They may appear to be listening and responding to voices without anyone in view talking to them. Visual hallucinations tend to involve scenes with family members or animals (bugs crawling on your arm), seeing shadows, or visual distortion. To get an idea of what it's like to experience auditory hallucinations check out this video and for an example of what visual distortion can feel like look at motion aftereffect illusions. Imagine how difficult these experiences can make going about your daily life.
Experiencing psychosis can be distressing and even harmful, regardless of the type and cause. Psychosis is associated with an increased risk of depression and suicide, impaired functioning in school or employment, and strained relationships resulting in a loss of supports. Symptoms of psychosis usually begin when people are between the ages of 16-30. Early intervention is important because the duration and severity of a psychotic episode can increase the likelihood of additional episodes and poor outcomes in the future. Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) is a treatment program specifically developed to support people experiencing their first psychotic episode. CSC providers develop a personalized treatment plans that can incorporate medication, therapy, case management, education or employment, and family support to address a manage psychosis.
Because of the risks associated with psychosis, case managers and other helpers can use a harm reduction approach to support people. As with substance use, the focus should be on reducing the negative consequences of psychosis. Case managers should help participants learn to manage psychotic symptoms in a way that reduces their impact, instead of emphasizing the elimination of symptoms. The presence of psychosis does not have an inevitable result. It does not mean that a person can't maintain housing and independence. As Sam Tsemberis, CEO and Founder of Pathways to Housing, explained in the @Home documentary segment on Housing First, "People have a functional ability and it's quite separate from their diagnosis. You can believe that the government is after you or that there are people flying in from outer space and they're going to take over the planet. And, leaving all that aside, you can still go get a ham and cheese sandwich and some French fries, have a meal, or go shopping." Understanding that people who experience psychosis can and do successfully stay housed is essential for effectively using the Housing First Model. Below, are some things to keep in mind to support people experiencing psychosis.
people who experience psychosis can and do successfully stay housed...
Begin by assessing for safety. People with psychosis are at an increased risk of suicide. If a case manager thinks a person is at risk of hurting themselves, they should be direct and open about the topic. A case manager should try to figure out if the person has a specific plan, previously attempted suicide, and the likelihood that they will act on their suicidal thoughts. The risk of violence to others is also a possibility. However, it's important to point out that people with a mental illness are not more likely to commit violent acts. Instead, they are over 10 times more likely to be the victims of violent crime than the general population. If there is a clear threat, consider assisting the participant with hospitalization or safety planning and contracting.
Don't argue with psychosis. The nature of delusions is that they are fixed beliefs and unlikely to change based on conflicting evidence. Arguing with people about the validity of their idea will only encourage them to dig in their heels, find faults in your logic, and possibly even refuse to continue working with you. As with all harm reduction work, the quality of the relationship is essential. Case managers should align themselves with their participants and avoid being confrontational. Even casual statements like, "Don't be silly" or "Get it together" can be dismissive and isolating. Remember that whatever they are experiencing is real to them and genuinely affects them. Help people explore their symptoms and speak in a calm, clear, and concise way. Don't pretend to hear what the person hears or share in a false belief. Without feeding into a delusional thought, we can still identify with the feelings it creates in a person. For instance, a case manager might say, "It's really scary to feel like you're constantly being watched by others. That takes a lot of strength and courage. How do you manage to get through your day despite that?"
Help develop a list of options that can include personal coping strategies and professional support from a psychiatrist, therapist, or case management team. As we mentioned in a previous post, a participant has a right to choose whether or not to take medication. Although medication is considered a go-to response for the treatment of psychotic symptoms, there is some research showing that people may benefit from managing psychosis without medication. A recent study compared people with schizophrenia who were being treated with antipsychotic medications and those who were not. The study showed similar levels of symptoms but higher levels of general functioning among people not taking medication. Although medication may be most effective for some, we should explore strategies beyond medication with all of our participants to help them cope with psychosis. Don't assume that someone needs medication in order to be successful in housing. At a recent training, one attendee mentioned a participant who was homeless for 25 years prior to being housed in their program, does not take medication, and maintains the cleanest apartment of anyone on their caseload!
Respect people's right to use drugs. People may use illegal drugs or alcohol to self-medicate the symptoms of psychosis. For example, participants have reported using depressants like alcohol, heroin, or other opioid pain relievers to drown out voices and help them sleep. There might be therapeutic benefits to other substances as well. As researcher and journalist Helen Redmond explains, "Nicotine may even have specific properties that 'treat' symptoms of schizophrenia." Consider the capacity for nicotine to improve mood, memory, and concentration and how that may balance the impact of psychosis. In a harm reduction program, helpers should never remove a helpful coping mechanism before finding substitutes. With substance use or psychosis the course of treatment is the same—to nonjudgmentally help people explore and understand the function, the potential consequences, and the alternative ways to manage it.
Some additional resources for information on psychosis include Mental Health First Aid, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the Hearing Voices Movement.
Unless otherwise stated, blog posts are written by James Kowalsky and Valery Shuman of the Heartland Center for Systems Change, Midwest Harm Reduction Institute of
March 2018


text:
Justin Parker is an English songwriter and producer from Boultham, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. He has worked with numerous artists, including Lana Del Rey.
Work with Lana Del ReyEdit
Songs from Born to Die (2012):
- "Born to Die"
- "Video Games"
- "National Anthem"
- "Radio"
- "Carmen"
Songs from Paradise (2012):
- "Burning Desire"
- "Ride"
Songs from Lust for Life (2017):
Songs currently unreleased:
- "Dum Dum"
- "Last Girl on Earth"
- "Marilyn Monroe"
- "On Our Way"
- "Paradise"
- "Velvet Crowbar"
- "Wild One"