Black Forest Trails

Black Forest has several nice easy trails. None of them are very long and all are within easy driving distance. The easiest trail is the new Partnership Trail around the perimeter of Black Forest Section 16. This trail is relatively flat and you can ride around it in 1- 1 and 1/2 hours. The flowers are lovely in the summer and there are lots of large pine trees. There are a few boggy spots on the trail but you can get around them easily. The footing is all sand, so shoes for your horse aren't necessary. There are two trailheads on this trail. The best one is just west of the corner of Burgess and Vollmer Roads on the north side of Burgess Road. There is a porta-potty there but no water source. The other trailhead is on Vollmer Road about 1/4 mile north of the intersection with Burgess.

Both Fox Run Park and Black Forest Regional Park have equestrian trails. Both have sandy trails and shoes are not necessary.

Fox Run Regional Park is in northern El Paso County. Take Hwy. 83 to North Gate Road; go west to Rollercoaster Road. The parking area is on the west side of Rollercoaster just south of the intersection with Baptist Road. There is a rest room and water there. These are lovely trails with some hills to keep it interesting. Horses are not allowed in the picnic areas at the southwest corner of the park.

Black Forest Park is on the north side of Shoup Road at the intersection of Milam Rd. just west of Hwy. 83. The first parking area has no amenities, but is a good place to park and less congested than the second parking area where the soccer fields etc. are located. These trails are also hilly and can give your horse a good workout. El Paso County Parks has maps of these parks.