Horseback Riding
Wisconsin State Park System
Horseback riders can ride on more than 700 miles of trails in Wisconsin state parks, forests, recreation areas and unsurfaced trails on former rail lines. This page lists places with a mile or more of horse trails. Six of these properties offer a total of 175 campsites where visitors can camp with their horses. Some trails may be closed seasonally or due to surface conditions.
Riders ages 16 and older must have an annual or daily state trail pass to use most horse trails.
Please Note: The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) requires the testing of horses before certain activities on public lands. For more information, see EIA Testing Requirements on DNR Lands.
| Property | Segment and Miles |
|---|---|
| 400 State Trail | Wonewoc - La Valle 7.5 miles; spring/summer/fall only |
| Ahnapee State Trail | 48 miles; spring/summer/fall only |
| Brule River State Forest | Horse trail 26 miles |
| Buffalo River State Trail | Mondovi to Fairchild 36.4 miles; spring/summer/fall only |
| Cattail State Trail | Polk County segment 11.7 miles Barron County segment 7.4 miles |
| Fox River State Trail | Horse trail section 10 miles |
| Friendship State Trail | Horse trail section 4 miles |
| Gandy Dancer State Trail | Horse trail section 15 miles |
| Governor Dodge State Park | Open to horses May 1-November 15 Horse Trail--Interior Loop 6.8 miles Horse/snowmobile Trail 15.3 miles 20 horse campsites |
| Governor Knowles State Forest | Barrens Loop Horse Trail 4.5 miles Barrens/Sunrise Horse Trail 2 miles Horse/snowmobile/ATV Trail 30.5 miles Sunrise Cutoff Horse Trail 4 miles Wolf Creek Horse Trail 2.5 miles 40 horse campsites |
| Harrington Beach State Park | Horse trail 2 miles |
| Hartman Creek State Park | Horse trail 6.5 miles |
| High Cliff State Park | Spring/summer/fall only Horse/mountain bike trail 3.2 miles Horse/mountain bike/snowmobile 5 miles |
| Kettle Moraine State Forest - Lapham Peak Unit | Prairie Path 5 miles |
| Kettle Moraine State Forest - Loew Lake Unit | Horse trail 5.5 miles |
| Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit | Spring/summer/fall only Crooked Lake Horse Trail 2.5 miles Forest Lake Horse Trail 4 miles Horse/snowmobile trail 33 miles 22 horse campsites |
| Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit | Horse Trail 2.2 miles Horse/snowmobile trail 51.5 miles 64 horse campsites |
| Kohler-Andrae State Park | Black River Trail 2.5 miles |
| Lake Wissota State Park | Horse/bike/snowmobile trail 4.8 miles Horse/bike trail 1.7 miles; spring/summer/fall only No horse campsites |
| Lower Wisconsin State Riverway | 20 miles |
| Mascoutin Valley State Trail | Horse trail section 17.5 miles |
| Mountain-Bay State Trail | Outside the City of Shawano (rail grade) 51 miles Shawano detour 8.7 miles |
| Newton Blackmour State Trail | 22 miles |
| Oconto River State Trail | 8 miles |
| Old Abe State Trail | 6 miles between Jim Falls and the Chippewa River |
| Pecatonica State Trail | Calamine to Belmont, 10 miles; spring/summer/fall only |
| Point Beach State Forest | Legacy Trail: This 3-mile loop horse trail is located on the west side of Highway O. |
| Richard Bong State Recreation Area | Horse trails 13.2 miles Horse/snowmobile trails 4.5 miles |
| Saunders State Trail | 8 miles |
| Tomorrow River State Trail | 14 miles |
| White River State Trail | 2 miles |
| Wild Goose State Trail | Dodge County; 14 miles |
| Wild Rivers State Trail | Barron County North of Rice Lake 9.3 miles Douglas County 54.2 miles Washburn County 40 miles |
| Wildcat Mountain State Park | Horse trails 17 miles; spring/summer/fall only 24 horse campsites |
| Wiouwash State Trail | 6 miles |
| Wolf River State Trail | 14 miles |